Category Archives: New York Stem Cells

A newly-created mouse-human embryo contains up to 4% human cells the most human cells yet of any chimera, or an organism made of two different sets of DNA.

Surprisingly, those human cells could learn from the mouse cells and develop faster at the pace of a mouse embryo rather than a more slowly developing human embryo. That finding was "very serendipitous We did not really foresee that," said senior author Jian Feng, a professor in the department of physiology and biophysics at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Successfully growing human cells in mouse embryos might one day help scientists understand the growth and aging process of our bodies and how diseases such as COVID-19 damage cells and could eventually even serve as a scaffold to grow organs for transplantation, Feng said.

Related: The 9 most interesting transplants

Feng and his team tackled a long-standing issue in creating such chimeras: that in order for human embryonic stem cells and mouse embryonic stem cells to chat and mingle, they needed to be in the same state of development. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can develop into any type of cell in the body.

But "the human embryonic stem cell looks and behaves very differently from the mouse embryonic stem cell," so past attempts to get them to comingle have all failed, Feng told Live Science. At first, researchers thought the failures were due to some kind of species barrier; but after many years of study, they realized that it wasn't a species issue, but rather a maturity one.

The human stem cells were in a later stage of development called a "primed" state, which normally occurs only after the human embryo has already been implanted in the uterine wall. In contrast, the mouse stem cells were in a more "naive" state, which normally occurs when the mouse embryo is still floating around in the fallopian tubes. In the past, researchers weren't able to convert human cells back to this naive state, Feng said.

In their experiments, Feng and his team were inspired by a process called "embryonic diapause" that occurs in hundreds of mammals from bears to mice: When there's some sort of hardship such as a famine or shortage of water, some animals' embryos can remain in the naive state inside a mother's fallopian tubes for months and sometimes over a year for the environment to become more suitable, Feng said.

It's not clear what triggers the embryos to pause in this state, but a protein called mTOR seems to be a sensor that detects when conditions are bad, he said. Feng and his team figured out that they could target this protein inside human stem cells to make the cells think that they were experiencing famine, and needed to jump to a more naive state where they could conserve energy, Feng said.

The protein mTOR normally promotes the production of proteins and other molecules to support cell growth and proliferation, so by inhibiting it, Feng and his team "shocked" the human cells into changing their metabolism and gene expression. "So it behaves pretty much like the mouse cell," Feng said. What resulted was a naive set of human stem cells that could be cultured together with mouse stem cells and "intermingle very nicely," Feng said. The researchers then injected 10 to 12 of these naive human stem cells into mouse embryos.

In most of the mouse embryos, the naive human stem cells successfully developed into mature human cells in all three germ layers: the ectoderm, or the primary cell layers that develop when the embryo is growing and which later develop to form hair, nails, the epidermis and nerve tissue; the mesoderm, or the cells that make up the organs; and the endoderm, or the inner lining of organs. But no human cells spilled over into germline tissue, which develops into egg and sperm cells.

These germ layers then developed into more differentiated cells, and when the researchers stopped their experiment on the 17th day, 14 embryos were between 0.1% and 4% human (some had less human cells and some had more), with human cells found through the embryo, including in the liver, heart, retina and red blood cells.

Related: First pig-monkey chimeras were just created in China

But what was really "surprising" was the speed at which the human cells developed, Feng said. For example, the embryos were able to generate human red blood cells in 17 days, compared to the roughly 56 days red blood cells take to develop in a growing human embryo. Similarly, human eye cells don't develop until much later on in the embryo, whereas within 17 days, human eye cells including photo receptors formed in the chimera. Basically, the human cells "assumed the clock of the mouse embryo," Feng said. Previously, scientists thought this accelerated development was impossible because the tempo of human cell development was always thought to be "kind of immutable," he added.

This paper identifies a "novel way" of turning primed human pluripotent stem cells into a naive state, said Ronald Parchem, an assistant professor in the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, who was not a part of the study. But "the level of chimerism is low in this study," compared to another study that developed chimeras with up to 20% human cells per embryo, he said. That study, however, was published to the preprint database Biorxiv on May 24,and hasn't yet been peer-reviewed. "Together, these studies provide insight into capturing pluripotent states in vitro and highlight the barriers preventing successful cross-species chimerism," Parchem said. "Identifying ways to overcome these barriers has the potential to improve regenerative medicine."

These findings might "stimulate research" in the fundamental understanding of human development, especially how time is measured by biological systems, Feng said. Such chimeras could help scientists understand human diseases. For example, researchers might one day be able to regenerate human blood in a mouse model and study diseases such as malaria. Or if you can create human lung cells, or epithelial cells that line the respiratory tract, that mouse can become a "model system" for studying diseases like COVID-19, Feng said. In other words, mice with human cells can be infected with COVID-19 to understand how the virus attacks the body.

The most cited potential application of such chimeras is organ growth. But this likely won't happen in mice but much larger animals such as pigs, he said. Of course, these applications raise ethical issues, he added. One such ethical consideration is that chimeras blur the lines between species and that makes it difficult to determine the morality or the consciousness that those animals possess. For example, chimeras used in animal testing could be given too many human characteristics and have a similar moral status or consciousness to us, according to a previous Live Science report.

Feng said that much discussion needs to take place before such applications can be considered.

"This field requires much more exploration before this becomes a reality," said Carol Ware, the associate director at the University of Washington's Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, who was also not a part of the study. "A couple of the primary hurdles at this point are determining the host species for these human cells," and public acceptance in the work, she added.

"At this point, it would seem that the speed with which this clinical opportunity will become a reality will not be hindered by the ability to grow human organs," she added. "I would have liked to see," what happens when mTOR is taken away inside the lab dish and these naive human cells are allowed to advance again, particularly to see if some key cellular processes resume again, she added.

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances on May 13.

Originally published on Live Science.

See more here:
New human-mouse chimera is the most human yet - Livescience.com

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Cord Blood Registry (CBR) Systems (US), Cordlife Group Limited (Singapore), Cryo-Cell International (US), ViaCord (US), Cryo-Save AG (Netherlands), LifeCell International (India), StemCyte (US), Global Cord Blood Corporation (China), Smart Cells International (UK), Vita34 AG (Germany), and CryoHoldco (Mexico).

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product landscape:

Placental Stem Cells (PSCS), Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCS), Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells (BMSCS), Human Embryo-Derived Stem Cells , (HESCS), Dental Pulp-Derived Stem Cells (DPSCS)

Application landscape:

Sample Preservation and Storage, Sample Analysis, Sample Processing, Sample Collection and Transportation

End user landscape:

Personalized Banking Applications, Research, Clinical Application

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Europe

China

Japan

Southeast Asia

India

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See the article here:
Impact of Covid-19 on Stem Cell Banking Market 2020: Remarking Enormous Growth with Recent Trends | Cord Blood Registry (CBR) Systems (US), Cordlife...

STEM CELL BANKING Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data:Company, Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors, Product Category, Application and Specification with Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin, Main Business/Business Overview.

The report presents a highly comprehensive and accurate research study on the globalSTEM CELL BANKING market. It offers PESTLE analysis, qualitative and quantitative analysis, Porters Five Forces analysis, and absolute dollar opportunity analysis to help players improve their business strategies. It also sheds light on critical STEM CELL BANKING Marketdynamics such as trends and opportunities, drivers, restraints, and challenges to help market participants stay informed and cement a strong position in the industry. With competitive landscape analysis, the authors of the report have made a brilliant attempt to help readers understand important business tactics that leading companies use to maintainSTEM CELL BANKING market sustainability.

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Global STEM CELL BANKING Market to reach USD 11.2 billion by 2025.

Global STEM CELL BANKING Market valued approximately USD 5.4 billion in 2016 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 8.4% over the forecast period 2017-2025. Global Rise in number of births and increase in R&D activities in regards with applications of stem cells, and surge in prevalence of fatal chronic diseases are owing towards a driving force for the growth of the market. The growth in GDP & disposable income is projected to help in increasing the number of stem cell units stored, which in turn boosts the market growth.

The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:

By Application

oSample Collection & Transportation

oSample Processing

oSample Analysis

oSample Preservation & Storage

By Regions:

oNorth America

oU.S.

oCanada

oEurope

oUK

oGermany

oAsia Pacific

oChina

oIndia

oJapan

oRest of the World

Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year 2015

Base year 2016

Forecast period 2017 to 2025

Some of the key manufacturers involved in the market are. Cord Blood Registry, ViaCord, Cryo-Cell, China Cord Blood Corporation, Cryo-Save, New York Cord Blood Program, Cord Vida, Americold, CryoHoldco, and Vita34. Other prominent players in the value chain include Caladrius Biosciences, Cryoviva, Smart Cells International Ltd., Stemade Biotech, Cytori Therapeutics, Cellular Dynamics International, PerkinElmer, and Reelabs Acquisitions and effective mergers are some of the strategies adopted by the key manufacturers. New product launches and continuous technological innovations are the key strategies adopted by the major players.

Target Audience of the Global STEM CELL BANKING in Market Study:

oKey Consulting Companies & Advisors

oLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprises

oVenture capitalists

oValue-Added Resellers (VARs)

oThird-party knowledge providers

oInvestment bankers

oInvestors

Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement?Ask Our Industry Experts!

Table of Contents:

Study Coverage:It includes study objectives, years considered for the research study, growth rate and STEM CELL BANKING market size of type and application segments, key manufacturers covered, product scope, and highlights of segmental analysis.

Executive Summary:In this section, the report focuses on analysis of macroscopic indicators, market issues, drivers, and trends, competitive landscape, CAGR of the global STEM CELL BANKING market, and global production. Under the global production chapter, the authors of the report have included market pricing and trends, global capacity, global production, and global revenue forecasts.

STEM CELL BANKING Market Size by Manufacturer: Here, the report concentrates on revenue and production shares of manufacturers for all the years of the forecast period. It also focuses on price by manufacturer and expansion plans and mergers and acquisitions of companies.

Production by Region:It shows how the revenue and production in the global market are distributed among different regions. Each regional market is extensively studied here on the basis of import and export, key players, revenue, and production.

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Covid 19 Pandemic: STEM CELL BANKING Market 2020 Statistics and Research Analysis Released in Latest Report - 3rd Watch News

Ontario Announces First Phase of Research Projects to Fight COVID-19Ontario-Based Solutions Contribute to the Global Effort against the Outbreak

Ontario is funding the following research on preventing, detecting and treating COVID-19. These projects focus on important areas of research, including vaccine development, diagnostics, drug trials and development, and social sciences.

A Randomized Open-Label Trial of CONvalescent Plasma for Hospitalized Adults with Acute COVID-19 Respiratory Illness (CONCOR-1)Donald Arnold, Principal InvestigatorMcMaster University

CONCOR-1 is a clinical trial that will collect blood plasma from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, known as COVID-19 convalescent plasma. Convalescent plasma contains COVID-19 antibodies, proteins that help fight the virus. Convalescent plasma will be injected into patients currently fighting the infection, to test whether this is an effective treatment for the virus. This clinical trial will enrol patients 16 years of age and older admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and who require supplemental oxygen for respiratory illness.

Partners include 60 hospitals across Canada and three hospitals in New York City, the Canadian Blood Services and Hma-Qubec and the New York Blood Center.

Research and Deployment of Rapid High-Throughput Diagnostic Testing for COVID-19Marek Smieja, Principal InvestigatorSt Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

This project will increase Ontario's COVID-19 testing capacity by deploying robotic liquid handling technology, specimen pooling, and efficient sample preparation, while reducing biological risk and ensuring reliable results. The Disease Diagnostics & Development group in the Research Institute of St Joe's Hamilton (RSJH) is collaborating with the Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program (HRLMP) and other clinical laboratories across the province to quickly develop, validate, and deliver high-throughput, COVID-19 testing, with the goal of testing up to 6,000 samples per lab daily.

Assay Development for SARS-CoV-2 Sero-SurveillanceJennifer Gommerman, Principal InvestigatorUniversity of Toronto

This study will provide a better understanding of the immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19. This approach aims to measure the level and/or types of antibodies induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection in the blood of acute and convalescent patients. In addition, measuring these antibodies in the saliva of asymptomatic infected subjects identified through contact tracing will provide insights into what the early immune response to the virus looks like, and how this may correlate with clinical outcome. This knowledge, as well as the development of a robust serosurveillance platform, represents a powerful weapon in our fight against COVID-19.

Multivalent Antibody Scaffold to Deliver an Exceptionally Potent and Broad Antiviral Against SARS-CoV-2Jean-Philippe Julien, Principal InvestigatorThe Hospital for Sick Children

This project has the potential to develop a unique antibody-based molecule for protection and treatment against COVID-19. Molecular technology will allow these researchers to decipher the vulnerabilities of the virus with the goal of developing a potent and broad antiviral that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and prevents associated COVID-19 symptoms.

Developing Prophylactic Virus-Vectored Vaccines for COVID-19Byram Bridle, Leonardo Susta and Sarah Wootton (Co-Principal Investigators, University of Guelph); Darwyn Kobasa, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada (Collaborator) University of Guelph

This research aims to develop a vaccination strategy for COVID-19. By developing avian avulavirus (AAvV-1) and adenovirus viral-vectored vaccines expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as a target antigen, researchers will test these vaccines in mice to identify a way to induce robust protective mucosal (respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tract) and systemic immunity. Mucosal immunity plays a significant role in preventing pathogens from getting into the body. Systemic immunity clears any pathogens that bypass mucosal barriers. After optimization, these vaccines will be evaluated in a hamster challenge model at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.

The RAPID COVID Study - Application of Point-of-Care COVID-19 Testing to Optimize Patient Care, Resource Allocation and Safety for Frontline StaffDerek So, Principal InvestigatorUniversity of Ottawa Heart Institute

This study will determine the role of point-of-care testing (POC) as a tool to improve care of COVID-19 patients and conserve resources. A major obstacle facing hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak is the inability to quickly diagnose who is infected with the virus. Delayed test results could mean that patients, who ultimately test negative, are treated for days utilising resources that could be better deployed elsewhere. An immediate diagnosis of COVID-19 among carriers could provide more expedient treatment, prevent clinical deterioration and help health care workers avoid unnecessary risk of exposure.

In collaboration with Spartan Biosciences, which has developed a novel point-of-care 45-minute bedside COVID-19 test, and a team of specialists from six centres in Ontario, this research will evaluate the efficacy of POC testing to determine when, how and to who it can be applied.

A Prospective, Observational Research Study on the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Infection from Stool Samples of Children and AdultsNikhil Pai, Jeff Pernica, Marek Smieja (Co-Principal Investigators)McMaster University

Through the development and use of a novel test to diagnose COVID-19 from stool samples, this team will assess up to 4,500 stool samples collected from outpatient clinics, emergency departments and inpatient wards across eight major Hamilton region hospitals and clinics. This work will improve COVID-19 disease detection in children and adults who lack respiratory symptoms, are asymptomatic, or are presumed to have "recovered" from past infection. The researchers hope to expand COVID-19 testing options across Canada and ultimately, better identify patients who carry high risk of community transmission than traditional respiratory testing alone.

Cellular Immuno-Therapy for COVID-19 Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: The CIRCA-19 TrialDuncan Stewart, Principal InvestigatorOttawa Hospital Research Institute

Through a series of trials, this research will rapidly evaluate the safety and efficacy of using mesenchymal stromal/stem cells, or MSCs, to help treat patients with COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Up to 25 percent of all patients admitted to hospital require admission to an intensive care unit, and as many as 40 percent develop severe difficulty breathing due to ARDS.

In total, 27 patients will undergo three sequential trials. The first trial, called the Vanguard study, is designed to quickly determine the optimal dosing strategy of MSCs derived from bone marrow to treat patients experiencing ARDS. The next two trials will use the optimal dose of cells determined by the Vanguard trial, but will administer MSCs derived from the umbilical cord, which is an abundant and readily available source.

Rapid Identification of Immunogenic and T-cell Epitopes to Enable Serologic Testing, Passive Immunotherapy, and Epitope Vaccine for COVID-19Shawn Li, Principal InvestigatorWestern University

To curb the COVID-19 outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, researchers are looking to solve three critical challenges as quickly as possible - detection, treatment, and vaccination. This project will address these challenges by developing a point-of-care blood test to identify infected individuals, including those without symptoms, devising strategies for the production of virus-neutralizing antibodies to treat the severely ill, and identifying viral epitopes to inform epitope-vaccine development.

The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Children with Medical Complexity Technology Dependency: A Novel Research Cohort StudyAudrey Lim, Principal InvestigatorMcMaster University

This study addresses how to effectively manage pediatric patients remotely by identifying the barriers and facilitators of virtual clinics. COVID-19 is placing strain on families of children with medical complexity, medical fragility and technology dependency. Many of these children are dependent on life sustaining technology such as tracheostomy, home mechanical ventilation, and/or enteral feeding tubes. Though accounting for less than 1 percent of all children in Ontario, this group is at increased risk of multiple and prolonged hospitalizations and poorer health outcomes. Normally, these children are seen at a hospital to address their multiple complex needs, however due to COVID-19, all in-person clinic appointments have been replaced by virtual clinics. Parental satisfaction with virtual clinic healthcare teams will also be assessed using a quality improvement tool developed for this study. This research has the potential to advance virtual medicine, beyond COVID-19.

Food Retail Environment Surveillance for Health and Economic Resiliency: FRESHER OntarioJason Gilliland, Principal InvestigatorWestern University

The Food Retail Environment Surveillance for Health & Economic Resiliency (FRESHER) project is a rapid response to the widespread closures of, and modified operating conditions for, many retail food outlets. The FRESHER project will examine the economic and social impacts of COVID-19 in Southwestern Ontario by identifying what businesses modified their operations, temporarily closed or permanently closed during the outbreak and how the outbreak has affected businesses and their employees. This study will help inform policies and programs that will maintain Ontario's food security, incentivize economic growth during the recovery period, and improve resiliency among businesses during future pandemics and emergencies.

Protective Immunity in Individuals Infected with COVID-19Ishac Nazy, Principal InvestigatorMcMaster University

The goal of this research is to determine the makeup, concentration, strength and viral properties of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies to provide insights into the immune response of individuals infected with COVID-19. Working with Dr. Arnold (CONCOR-1 study on convalescent plasma therapy), this team will use samples from recovered patients to test whether antibodies exist, and if they are able to bind and neutralize the virus. This research will determine whether immunity is longstanding or if it wanes over time; and will inform researchers how immune-based treatments work to fight off the virus, including convalescent plasma or future vaccines.

Clinical Research on the Therapeutic Benefits of Annexin A5 in Severe COVID-19 PatientsClaudio Martin, Principal InvestigatorLawson Health Research Institute

There are currently no proven therapies to treat COVID-19. In the most severe cases, the disease is complicated by sepsis acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multiorgan failure. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection. While the body normally releases chemicals to fight an infection, sepsis occurs when the body's response to these chemicals is out of balance, triggering systemic inflammation that can damage multiple organs. Many critically ill COVID-19 patients develop sepsis 1-2 days before ARDS, suggesting that sepsis is a major contributor to the development of organ and respiratory failure.

This clinical trial will examine the effects of Annexin A5, in treating critically ill COVID-19 patients who develop sepsis. Annexin A5 is a human protein that has potent anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic (cell death prevention) and moderate anticoagulant (blood clot prevention) properties. The ultimate goal of the trial is to use Annexin A5 to treat sepsis and prevent respiratory and multi-organ failure.

Novel Coronavirus Antiviral Drug Discovery Using High-Throughput ScreeningJean-Simon Diallo, Principal InvestigatorOttawa Hospital Research Institute

Using a novel bio-sensor that detects drugs that disrupt the attachment of coronaviruses to cells, this research will test approximately 1,200 approved drugs to better understand their potential to prevent viral infection in cells and their ability to block the interaction between COVID-19 and its receptor. A second phase of this study will attempt to identify novel antivirals from a small (>220,000) molecule library.

Canada's COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Impact in Low-Income and Homeless or At-Risk for Homelessness Populations in Ottawa (Canada): A Mixed Method StudySmita Pakhale, Principal InvestigatorThe Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Vulnerable populations face numerous social and health inequities that are exacerbated during times of crises. Lessons learned from previous public health crises suggest that inappropriate communication strategies jeopardize risk reduction for vulnerable populations. The objective of this research is to measure the impacts of COVID-19 public health emergency response efforts and communication strategies on Ottawa's low-income, homeless or at-risk for homelessness populations. The findings could help inform public health messaging strategies and pandemic approaches for vulnerable populations.

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Ontario Announces First Phase of Research Projects to Fight COVID-19 - Government of Ontario News

Scientists have made embryosthat are a lot mouse and a little bit human.

With a little help, human stem cells can knit themselves into growingmouse embryos, populating thedeveloping liver, heart, retina and blood, researchers report May 13 in Science Advances.

Finicky human cells dont tend to grow well in other animals. But in one of the new mouse embryos, 4 percent of its cells were human the most thorough mixing between human and mouse yet.

That level of integration isquite striking to me, says Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a stem cell anddevelopmental biologist at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in LaJolla, Calif. If other scientists can replicate the findings, it potentiallyrepresents a major advance, says Izpisua Belmonte, who was not involved in thestudy.

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Such chimeras could helpreveal how a single cell can give rise to an entire organism. More humanizedanimals could also prove valuable in studying diseases such as malaria that affectpeople more than other animals. And with more advances, chimeras couldultimately turn out to be a source of human organs.

Many scientists have hitroadblocks in growing human stem cells in mice or other animals, including pigs and cows(SN: 1/26/17). We have analyzedthousands of embryos but never saw robust chimeric contribution of human stemcells to mouse embryos beyond day 12, says stem cell and developmentalbiologist Jun Wu of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center inDallas, who wasnt involved in the study.

The new methods success comes down to timing, says neuroscientist and stem cell biologist Jian Feng. To grow and thrive in a mouse embryo, human stem cells developmental clocks must be turned back to an earlier phase called the nave stage. You need to basically push the human cells back to that phase, says Feng, of the University at Buffalo in New York.

Feng and his colleagues resetthe stem cells clocks by silencing a protein called mTOR for three hours. Thisbrief treatment shocked the cells back to their nave stage, presumably restoringtheir ability to turn into any cell in the body.

Researchers injected batchesof 10 to 12 of these more youthful human stem cells into mouse embryos containingabout 60 to 80 mouse cells, and allowed the embryos to develop for 17 days.

To outward appearances, these embryos grew normally despite harboring human cells. By tallying DNA that was specific to either mouse or human, the researchers found that human cells accounted for between 0.1 and 4 percent of the total cells in the embryos.

Human cells knittedthemselves into most developing tissues of the mouse, destined to become theliver, heart, bone marrow and blood. Human red blood cells were particularlyabundant in these mouse embryos, the researchers found. A small number of humancells showed up in tissue that will form a brain; one embryo had a swarm of humanphotoreceptors, eye cells that help detect light.

As far as the researcherscould tell, no human cells were among the cells that go on to form sperm andegg. The capacity of chimeras to reproduce is one of the worrisome ethicalquestions surrounding the organisms that scientists are still trying to figureout.

Once inside a mouse embryo, the normally sluggish developmental pace of the human cells sped up to match their hosts. Human stem cells typically are slow to turn into certain types of mature photoreceptors, liver cells or red blood cells, Feng says, but not when the human cells are inside a mouse embryo. You put the same human cells in a mouse embryo, [and] they go fast, Feng says. In 17 days, you get all these mature cells that would otherwise take months to get in a normal human embryo.

Other scientists emphasize that different laboratories need to repeat the results. But if it works a big if here this has big implications, Wu says.

Originally posted here:
New hybrid embryos are the most thorough mixing of humans and mice yet - Science News

() shot up 24% to 17.75p on the back a recent study conducted at Emory University Atlanta in the US.

The study may provide evidence that Immupharmas Lupuzor lupus treatment could help to reduce or prevent the occurrence of the cytokine storm seen in coronavirus patients.

The drug development firm said the findings of the study suggested that coronavirus patients and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sufferers experiencing flares might share similar inflammatory symptoms, underpinned by similar mechanisms.

PLC (), the housebuilder, saw it share price tumble 16% to 310.4p as it reported a huge drop in profits.

The FTSE250 group said it had lost around 184 sales at the end of March when lockdown restrictions were imposed.

These had affected profits by 29mln and pushed up net debt by 83mln.

() tumbled 7% to 1,016.5p after it reported a sharp fall in sales in the first quarter.

The life assurance firms business took a big hit from the effects of coronavirus in China and Hong Kong.

The company said it was continuing to prepare for various ways of spinning off its US arm, Jackson, including a possible minority initial public offer.

(), the learning centres operator, saw its shares dive 16% to 0.4p after a board member resigned.

Ramasamy Jayapal, a non-executive director, has resigned with immediate effect.

() slumped 28% to 0.215p after it issued equity at 0.2p each.

Precious Metal Capital Group took 25mln new shares as per the share subscription deal announced on 2 April.

The share subscription added 50,000 to the coffers of Tertiary and lifted the number of its shares in issue to just over 792mln.

() saw its shares soar 33% to 0.03p as it announced the appointment of experienced journalist Katharine Lewis as a non-executive director.

The multi-divisional new media and technology business noted that Lewis has more than 20 years' experience in senior roles in the media and technology industries, across the UK, US and Asia.

Few others can combine having been at the hard end of both traditional and new digital media with leaders in the fields. She also understands both technology and the process of taking start-ups and early-stage companies and helping them grow into serious businesses, said John Quinlan, the chief executive officer of Iconic.

PLC () leapt 17% higher to 5.5p in early trade on Thursday after the hygiene products group revealed it has signed two new licensing agreements.

The company has agreed on a technology licence over 24, its long-lasting germ-killing sanitiser spray, with a consortium of investors and experienced market professionals operating under the umbrella of Integrated Resources International LLC, based in Tennessee. The initial licence fee is US$250,000 with the company also receiving royalties on sales.

The second agreement has previously been alluded to in the companys announcements and can now be revealed as being an agreement with SC Johnson Professional Ltd for alcohol-free hand sanitisers.

A contract win at () also sent its shares higher, up 9.5% to 1.15p.

The companys Connaught Access Flooring subsidiary has won a 1.2mln gig to install 30,000 square metres of raised access flooring for a commercial office refurbishment project at Canary Wharf, London.

The project is currently live on-site and methods of working and safety procedures have been tailored to meet the requirements introduced to protect site workers against the impact of the coronavirus.

() has noted the results of a recent study conducted at Emory University Atlanta in the US, which it postulates may provide evidence that its Lupuzor lupus treatment couldhelp to reduce or prevent the occurrence of the cytokine storm seen in coronavirus patients. The drug development firm said the findings of the study suggested that coronavirus patients and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sufferersexperiencing flares might share similar inflammatory symptoms, underpinned by similar mechanisms. As Lupuzor is a modulator ofimmune response and an anti-inflammatory agent that has activity against SLE, ImmuPharma said further exploratory work is ongoing to assess the treatments possible potential and clinical program in [coronavirus] patients.

PLCs (LON:TILS, ) chief executive believes the companys StemPrintER technology has the potential to become an essential prognostic tool in the fight against breast cancer. Kunwar Shailubhais comment followedthe release of a scientific abstract ahead of a poster discussion session at the American Society of Clinical Oncologys (ASCO) virtual conference being held later this month. This poster showed the stem cell biology-based genomic tool had greater refinement [than] and superiority [to] than the current market leader, Oncotype DX, in delivering prognostic information on women with ER+/HER2- form of breast cancer. The results were compiled by the European Institute of Oncology in Milan in collaboration with the Royal Marsden Hospital and Queen Mary University in London.

() told investors that it has successfully agreed to amendments to its 5mln loan, with the lender accepting a deferral of all cash interest payments for 2020. In a statement, the company said the agreement withLombard Odier Asset Management will help it preserve its existing cash resources. A quarterly interest payment was due for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and that will no longer be required, with no cash interest payments now payable before March 31, 2021. Echo Energy said: The amendment is a further important step in the successful restructuring of the company's debts and provides a waiver of default for any non-payment of interest previously due under the loan.

() said it has signed a significantplatform deal with a major global telecoms provider. The mobile commerce specialist said the deal will run for an initial period of three years and is worth at least 1.5mln with the opportunity to earn additional revenues. Under the agreement, the telecoms provider will deliver a range of third party products and services to its customers through the Bango Platform and will use data insights to optimise the targeting of product offers.

PLC () (NASDAQ:VRNA) said it has been given the regulatory green light for two phase III studies of the nebulised formulation of its drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It followed what is called an End of Phase II meeting with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) at which the company was provided clarity by officials on how it should proceed with the trials. Specifically, the FDA provided its input on the dosing, primary and secondary endpoints, patient population and study design.

(), a global leader in fuel cell technology and engineering, has announced the appointment of Mark Garrett as its chief operating officer, joining the executive management board with effect from August 10, 2020. Ceres said Garrett said joins the company from () where he held various positions including chief operating officer and group strategy officer. Garrett succeeds the company's current chief operating officer James Falla, who will leave Ceres in August 2020 to pursue other opportunities.

Holdings PLC () has said findings from one of its studies areto be featured at a prestigious international cancer research conference this month. The immunodiagnostics group announced that its data from profiling tumour associated antibodies in melanoma patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors has been selected as a featured presentation at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 ASCO for short Virtual Scientific Programme, which will take place from May 29 to May 31. The featured presentation will review data assessing samples from patients receiving either Pembrolizumab, Ipilimumab, Nivolumab monotherapy, or combination therapy of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab, which have been analysed on 's proprietary biomarker discovery engine, SeroTag. The data identified that autoantibodies have a role in predicting clinical outcomes or immune-related adverse events (irAEs).

() has said it will present clinical data from an ongoing phase one trial of its MCY-M11 treatment for ovarian cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's upcoming annual meeting. The cell-based therapy specialist said the data, which encompasses the first three cohorts of a dose-escalation trial to demonstrate the safety of MCY-M11 and the feasibility of one-day manufacturing, will be available as a poster presentation in the Developmental Therapeutics: Immunotherapy session from 8am Eastern Time (1pm BST) on May 29. The presentation will be entitled: "Feasibility and preliminary safety and efficacy of first-in-human intraperitoneal delivery of MCY-M11, anti-human-mesothelin CAR mRNA transfected into peripheral blood mononuclear cells, for ovarian cancer and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma."

() has highlighted its resilient business modeland robust financial position in a trading and operations updateahead of Thursday's annual general meeting (AGM). The Kurdistan-focused oil producer noted that it has received US$98mln of cash proceeds in the first four months of 2020, and, as at the end of April, it had US$404mln of cash on account with net cash stated at US$106mln onApril 30, 2020. The group said it spent some US$45mln of capex in the four-month period, though forward expenditure was cut significant as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic took hold. Genel confirmed it is paying US$27.8mln of dividends, at 10 US cents per share, to shareholders on its register on May 29.

Mineral and Financial Investments Limited () saw its net asset value (NAV) rise 10.4% from a year earlier in the first quarter of 2020. NAV rose to 5.3mln from 4.8mln a year earlier while NAV per share jumped 10.6% to 15.1p at the end of March 2020 from 13.6p at the end of March 2019. What the company calls its tactical portfolio broadly benefited from a 5.5% appreciation of the US dollar versus the sterling. Additionally, gradually increasing its weighting in precious metals from the final quarter of 2018was a net positive for performance, the investment company said.

, the supplier of managed services and technology-based security solutions, racked up its fourth consecutive year of double-digit percentage revenue growth in 2019. Reporting numbers for the year ended December 31, 2019, Westminster said its revenues rose 63% to 10.9mln in 2019, up from 6.7mln in 2018, with a 46% increase in recurring revenues to 5.6mln, up from 3.8mln the year before. It pointed out that the current year so far has been a good one with order intake and revenues ahead of budget. Revenues in the first quarter were up 22% year-on-year at 4.5mln with the company making a healthy profit of several hundred thousand pounds in the quarter both before and after-tax as it begins to benefit from new contracts.

(), specialists in the exploration and production of iodine and manufacturers of speciality chemical products, has announced that its subsidiaries Iofina Chemical Inc., and Iofina Resources Inc., have received loans totalling US$1.09mln from the US government. The loans come under the US Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which is part of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). PPP loans, or a portion of the loan, may be forgivable if loan proceeds are used for eligible purposes, including employee retention and payroll. At this time, the group said, it expects a significant majority of funds received to be eligible for forgiveness under the program.

() has agreed to pay a US$250,000 deposit, in cash and shares, for its previously announced acquisition of an additional 2.25% interest in the OML 113 asset in Nigeria. "Keeping to our stated plan, we have completed the second stage of this agreement with EER, taking us another step closer to concluding the transaction and increasing our position in OML 113, which is a high-quality asset, Osamede Okhomina, ADM chief executive said in a statement. "Despite the wider, global macroeconomic issues, we believe the longer-term outlook remains very positive within our market.We are focused on continuing to execute our strategy and are well placed to do so having recently strengthened our financial position," he added.

() saw its shares rise on Thursday as it completed a share placing at a premium, raising around 1.14mln. The risk management software firm said it had raised the proceeds through the issue of around 3.8mln new shares at a price of 30p each, a 27.7% premium to its closing price last Thursday, the last trading day before Monday when it unveiled that it had exceeded its fundraising target. KRM22 also said its executive chairman and chief executive, Keith Todd, chief financial officer Kim Suter and non-executive director Steve Sparke intend to make a further equity investment of around 135,000 in the company through asubscription for 499,998 new shares at the placing price. The company said the proceeds of the fundraising will be used for general working capital purposes.

() chairman Simon Oddie has told investors he is encouraged by the progress being made with the onshore Wressle oil field project in Lincolnshire. It comes after the project operator provided an update on the site work, which has been continuing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Four groundwater monitoring boreholes were completed at the Wressle site, as required under the projects approvals, and a three-month period of monitoring and analysis will now take place.

(), a multi-divisional new media and technology business, has announced the appointment of Katharine Lewis a non-executive director. It noted that Lewis has more than 20 years' experience in senior roles in the media and technology industries, across the UK, US and Asia including with Bloomberg in New York, at several digital media start-ups, including eBay, and with Fremantle, one of the world's largest TV and entertainment companies. In 2016 Lewis left Fremantle to create FutureSmartMedia, a media consulting business which advises some of the industry's leading content distributors, publishers and producers. Commenting on her appointment, John Quinlan, chief executive officer of Iconic Labs, said: "We are delighted that Katharine has agreed to join the board, as not only will her seniority and experience help us further improve our corporate governance, but we will also be able to benefit from her considerable sector experience and contacts. Few others can combine having been at the hard end of both traditional and new digital media with leaders in the fields. She also understands both technology and the process of taking start-ups and early-stage companies and helping them grow into serious businesses."

Seeing Machines Limited (), the advanced computer vision technology company that designs AI-powered operator monitoring systems to improve transport safety, said it has appointed Michael Brown as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Brown is a highly experienced financial markets professional based in London and comes to the Seeing Machines board with a deep knowledge of the AIM market and small to mid-cap technology companies, as well as previous plc non-executive and observer board roles. He is currently a portfolio manager within the Volantis team at Lombard Odier Investment Managers. Kate Hill, Seeing Machines chair commented: "We are delighted to welcome Michael to the board of Seeing Machines and look forward to leveraging his deep knowledge and experience of the financial markets in London and New York, and particularly, the AIM market, skills which will nicely complement those of our existing board members. He has been closely associated with the company over the past few years as Lombard Odier's interest has gradually increased and I know Seeing Machines will benefit from his contribution."

Salt Lake Potash Limited () () has announced the appointment of Matt Bungey as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Bungey is a chemical engineer with over 20 years' experience in Natural Resources and was most recently a managing director and Head of Mining and Metals with Barclays Investment Bank in London. He commenced his career as a Process Engineer with BHP at the Centre for Minerals Technology in the United States where he was responsible for process design and research into bacterial leaching of copper-sulphide ore. He then spent several years in the Marketing Division of BHP Billiton based in The Hague. Bungey has worked as a consultant to SO4 since the beginning of 2019 and has played a key role in the advancement of the Lake Way Project. Tony Swiericzuk, Salt Lakes chief executive officer commented: "Since 2019, Matt has made a significant contribution to the rapid advancement of our Lake Way Project. He brings wide-ranging experience in chemical engineering, mining finance and corporate strategy to the SO4 board and is a valuable appointment."

(), specialists in the exploration and production of iodine and manufacturers of speciality chemical products, has announced that its subsidiaries Iofina Chemical Inc., and Iofina Resources Inc., have received loans totalling US$1.09mln under the US Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which is part of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). PPP loans, or a portion of the loan, may be forgivable if loan proceeds are used for eligible purposes, including employee retention and payroll. At this time, the group said, it expects a significant majority of funds received to be eligible for forgiveness under the program. As previously reported on May 4, 2020, brine to Iofinas IO#8 plant has been reduced and the plant is currently not operating at this time. Whilst not certain, the company said it expects viable brine volumes to return to IO#8 in the third quarter of 2020 as the US economy recovers and oil prices stabilize. The company added that its four other IOsorb iodine plants are unaffected and continue to operate as expected.

Silence Therapeutics PLC (LON:SLN), a leader in the discovery, development and delivery of novel RNA therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases, has announced that its chief financial officer, Dr Rob Quinn will be participating in a fireside chat at the 2020 RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Virtual Conference on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at 10.55am EDT (3.55pm BST). A live webcast of the event can be accessed via the Investors section of the company's website at http://www.silence-therapeutics.com . An archived replay of the webcast will be available for 60 days on the website after the conference.

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Immupharma lifted by US university study - Proactive Investors UK

As a skin-care brand, Augustinus Bader prides itself on releasing products not out of frivolity or trying to up its bottom line, but out of necessity. As Charles Rosier, cofounder and CEO of Augustinus Bader, puts it: "We want to only add product when we feel we are relevant," he tells Allure via phone from Paris, France, where he is currently self-isolating. "Our latest initiative was a reaction to something that we felt was needed by the consumer by everyone."

The brand's newest offering, The Hand Treatment, is meant to be just that. As it stands, given the current COVID-19 situation, we are all washing our hands (or should be) much more than we might otherwise normally do so. However, as you've also likely experienced dry skin and flaking cuticles, just as is the case with everywhere else on the body, overwashing the skin on our hands can bring on a host of issues all their own. Even if you forgo washing for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, the effects can be just as profound if not more so.

"We are seeing more and more hand dermatitis," explains New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, who is not affiliated with Augustinus Bader. "By overwashing, we strip the good oils from our skin and leave it dry and susceptible to breakdown."

Our skin's moisture barrier is responsible for keeping the good things in (like hydration and natural oils) and the bad things out (like allergens and bacteria). When the lipid barrier on the hands (or anywhere on the body) becomes too dried out, it can literally start to break down and lose functionality. Simply put, in order for our skin to function and remain healthy, its barrier must be intact. However, we're not saying that you should stop washing your hands just that it's equally important to replenish hydration after doing so.

That's where Augustinus Bader's new Hand Treatment comes into play. It's formulated with a blend of ultra-nourishing ingredients, including vitamin E, glycerin, and shea butter, as well as honey and white peony extract both of which also have natural antibacterial properties. However, as with all Bader products, the key ingredient is something called TFC8, which stands for its proprietary Trigger Factor Complex-8.

For those unfamiliar with the brand, TFC8 is not one singular ingredient but rather, a proprietary blend of "natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins, and synthesized molecules naturally found in skin," cosmetic chemist Ginger King (who is not affiliated with the brand) previously told Allure. In a nutshell, TFC8 provides an ideal environment in which our skin's stem cells can naturally regenerate it acts as a sort of guide, helping to set the skin's inherent repair system back on track.

"The TCF8 technology focuses on intrinsic repair processes based in intrinsic repair cells, which we call stem cells," Bader explains. "We wanted to develop a hand cream with our technology, which helps to protect and care for the skin."

The results of using TFC8 topically, according to Augustinus Bader himself, a German stem-cell scientist, and his many devotees (our own editor in chief among them), read like a laundry list of skin-care goals: Increased hydration, a strengthened skin barrier, faded fine lines, and dark spots. The proprietary ingredient is, of course, also formulated into the brand's other offerings: two creams for the face, one for the body, and most recently, a makeup primer collaboration with Victoria Beckham Beauty.

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Augustinus Bader Launches The Hand Treatment in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Exclusive Details - Allure

NEW YORK, May 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BeyondSpring (the Company” or BeyondSpring”) (NASDAQ: BYSI), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative immuno-oncology cancer therapies, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted the Company a new patent, U.S. 10,596,169, for methods of treating severe chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) from Taxane in cancer patients by administering its lead asset Plinabulin, with protection through 2033.

This is the first U.S. patent establishing Plinabulin’s beneficial effects in reducing CIN associated with taxane, one of the most commonly used chemotherapies,” said Dr. Lan Huang, BeyondSpring’s Co-founder, Chairman and CEO, and the inventor of this patent. Plinabulin’s CIN reduction benefit gives oncologists the potential to optimize care for their patients and give them a better tool to aid in their fight against cancer. This patent is the first of a series of patents that protect Plinabulin’s novel benefits in reducing CIN.”

Plinabulin is currently in Phase 3 global clinical development for CIN prevention and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. BeyondSpring currently owns 74 patents related to Plinabulin and its analogs, which have been granted in 36 jurisdictions, including 16 U.S. patents, with protection through 2036.

About BeyondSpring BeyondSpring is a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative immuno-oncology cancer therapies. BeyondSpring’s lead asset, first-in-class agent Plinabulin as an immune and stem cell modulator, is in a Phase 3 global clinical trial as a direct anticancer agent in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and two Phase 3 clinical programs in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN). BeyondSpring has strong R&D capabilities with a robust pipeline in addition to Plinabulin, including three immuno-oncology assets and a drug discovery platform using the ubiquitination degradation pathway. The Company also has a seasoned management team with many years of experience bringing drugs to the global market.

About Plinabulin Plinabulin, BeyondSpring’s lead asset, is a differentiated immune and stem cell modulator. Plinabulin is currently in late-stage clinical development to increase overall survival in cancer patients, as well as to alleviate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN). The durable anticancer benefits of Plinabulin have been associated with its effect as a potent antigen-presenting cell (APC) inducer (through dendritic cell maturation) and T-cell activation (Chem and Cell Reports, 2019). Plinabulin’s CIN data highlights the ability to boost the number of hematopoietic stem / progenitor cells (HSPCs), or lineage-/cKit+/Sca1+ (LSK) cells in mice. Effects on HSPCs could explain the ability of Plinabulin to not only treat CIN but also to reduce chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and increase circulating CD34+ cells in patients.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Words such as "will," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "believe," "design," "may," "future," "estimate," "predict," "objective," "goal," or variations thereof and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on BeyondSpring's current knowledge and its present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors including, but not limited to, difficulties raising the anticipated amount needed to finance the Company's future operations on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all, unexpected results of clinical trials, delays or denial in regulatory approval process, results that do not meet our expectations regarding the potential safety, the ultimate efficacy or clinical utility of our product candidates, increased competition in the market, and other risks described in BeyondSpring’s most recent Form 20-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this release and BeyondSpring undertakes no obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as otherwise required by law.

Media Contacts Caitlin Kasunich / Raquel Cona KCSA Strategic Communications 212.896.1241 / 212.896.1276 ckasunich@kcsa.com / rcona@kcsa.com

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BeyondSpring Granted New U.S. Patent for Plinabulin to Treat Severe Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia from Taxane in Cancer Patients - Stockhouse

When legendary hedge fund Louis Bacon returned his clients capital last year, possibly to avoid distraction from the destruction of his Bahamian neighbor and bte noire, he probably couldnt have known with certainty just how bad tings would get for Canadian discount fashion mogul Peter Nygard. Hed already seen their battle over tony Lyford Cay end in an arrest warrant for Nygard and the seizure of his impossibly garish and tasteless estate thereon. Since then, Bacons efforts to have Nygard exposed as a notorious sex criminal and human trafficker have exceeded beyond his wildest dreams: his company in bankruptcy and sold for parts; dozens of women alleging impossibly horrible assaults; and now a book to memorialize all of it and more.

Throughout the day, hed ask a particular girl if shed like to stay the night. If she said no? Ross alleged, Then theres always drugging. She even has alleged that Nygard went so far as to kill her family dog. The New York Times found that Nygard actually wired her $10,000 at one point, emailing Ross: I sent you money to buy a new dog..

I may be the only person in the world, he bragged, who has my own embryos growing in a petri dish.

One of his girlfriends, Suelyn Medeiros, wrote in her 2014 memoir about a trip she took with Nygard to Ukraine, where he was having stem cell research done.

He asked, Suelyn, do you know what the best stem cells are? she writes.

She did: Embryos.

Correct! she says Nygard responded. If you got pregnant and had an abortion, we could use those embryonic cells and have a lifes supply for all of us: you, your mother and me. A lot of people are doing it.

Well, if youre wondering just how much Bacon is enjoying all of this, why, take a look:

Billionaire investor Louis Bacons Moore Capital has gained 17 per cent so far this year, according to people familiar with the figures, which would rank it among the worlds best-performing hedge funds. Moores gains, which would rank among its biggest annual returns over the past decade, come as macro hedge funds enjoy a long-awaited revival.

Louis Bacons Moore Capital makes big gains after going it alone [FT]Fashion Mogul Peter Nygard Business Properties to Be Sold [WSJ]Canadian woman says fashion mogul Peter Nygard drugged and raped her in Bahamas [CBC]Inside the twisted world of rapist designer Peter Nygard: book [N.Y. Post]

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Louis Bacon Is Having The Time Of His Life - Dealbreaker

The adaptable FLASH-CAR platform can be used to create personalized cell therapy from a patients own cells, as well as off-the-shelf cell therapy from a universal donor

(NASDAQ: AVCO) announced Friday that it is advancing its next-generation immune cell therapy to treat blood cancers using FLASH-CAR technology co-developed with strategic partner Arbele Limited.

The adaptable FLASH-CAR platform can be used to create personalized cell therapy from a patients own cells, as well as off-the-shelf cell therapy from a universal donor.

Currently, the Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cellular immunotherapy platform is available. It involves a patients own T-cells a type of white blood cell that protects against infections and other diseases including cancer that are turned into personalized cancer-fighting cells.

The T-cells are removed from the patient, reprogrammed in the lab using a viral vector to target cancer cells, and infused back into the patient as a cancer immunotherapy.

But in contrast to these existing therapies, Avalon said its FLASH-CAR platform uses next-generation CAR technology to modify patients T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells using a ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based platform rather than a viral vector.

Similar to T-cells, NK cells are a type of white blood cell, also able to attack cancer cells, but utilize different mechanisms. By using RNA molecules rather than a viral vector, Avalons RNA-based CAR technology is designed to rapidly create personalized CAR therapies in 1 to 2 days compared to the 10- to 14-day bio-manufacturing time necessary to generate currently available CAR-T cellular immunotherapy.

Avalon said its FLASH-CAR technology is also designed to reprogram the immune cells to hone in on multiple crucial cancer cell targets, called tumor antigens, to potentially achieve superior therapeutic effect. Avoiding the use of viral vectors and complicated bio-processing procedures significantly reduces manufacturing costs, resulting in a more affordable and potentially breakthrough therapy for cancer patients.

The FLASH-CAR technology can also be used to generate off-the-shelf,universal cell therapy that has the potential to reach even more patients.

Avalons first FLASH-CAR platform candidate, AVA-011, targets both CD19 and CD22 tumor antigens on cancer cells.

Pre-clinical research on AVA-011, including tumor cytotoxicity studies, has been successfully completed and Avalon said it is immediately entering the process development stage to generate clinical-grade CAR-T and CAR-NK cells for use in human clinical trials.

Avalon and Arbele have jointly filed for US patents for this RNA-based CAR platform cellular therapy and for other applications.

Avalon expects to begin a first-in-human clinical trial with AVA-011 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the first quarter of 2021. The goal is to use AVA-011 as a bridge to bone marrow stem cell transplant therapy, currently the only curative approach for patients with these blood cancers.

Avalon GloboCare is committed to decreasing the time it takes to deliver cellular immunotherapies to cancer patients, as well as lowering the cost of manufacturing by building on our unique RNA-based CAR platform that does not require using a viral vector, said CEO Dr David Jin.

We are accelerating our innovative discovery and development plan, as well as delivering precise clinical execution and leadership in cellular immunotherapy. Our pre-clinical studies are encouraging and we are excited for AVA-011 to enter the clinical development stage, including multi-center clinical trials following completion of process development to generate the cell therapy.

Arbele CEO John Luk added: Through this strategic partnership with Avalon GloboCare, we envision an accelerated scientific and clinical development of the RNA-based FLASH-CAR technology platform with great potential to generate 'off-the-shelf'immune effector cell therapies to treat both hematologic and solid malignancies.

Avalon, based in Freehold, New Jersey, specializes in developing cell-based technologies and is involved in the management of stem-cell banks and clinical laboratories.

The companys stock recently traded up 10% to $1.99a share in New York.

--UPDATES stock price--

Contact the author: [emailprotected]

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham

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Avalon GloboCare advancing immune cell therapy to treat blood cancers using FLASH-CAR technology - Proactive Investors USA & Canada