Jim Cassella

#News: Halda Therapeutics, a Connecticut-based biotech founded by Yale professor and entrepreneur Craig Crews, announced Monday that it has raised $126 million in a #SeriesB extension to move two candidates into #clinicaltrials for patients with #prostate and #breast #cancer. The #biotech has been developing a new class of #cancertherapies known as #RegulatedInducedProximityTargetingChimeras (RIPTAC). According to Halda, these assets use a “hold and kill” mechanism using two proteins, one cancer-specific and one with an essential function. The candidates are designed to help retract essential cell function and cause the death of the cancer cells while preserving non-cancer tissue. “This financing will enable us to bring to patients our oral, selective and widely applicable cancer cell-killing mechanism that is designed to overcome drug resistance, which is a major shortcoming of many current standard of care cancer treatments,” Kat Kayser-Bricker, Halda chief scientific officer, said in a statement. Read more from BioSpace 👇🏼

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PTC was excited to learn, share and collaborate with other leading RNA experts at the recent 7th Annual RNA-Targeted Drug Discovery & Development Summit in Boston, MA, and the RNA at the Bench and Bedside IV conference in La Jolla, CA. Anu Bhattacharyya, Kerstin Effenberger, and Marla Weetall from our research team presented on ways PTC is leveraging its leading splicing platform to identify promising therapies for rare diseases with high unmet need. Learn more about our splicing platform here: https://bit.ly/4fi4w6L

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Join us at the Drug Discovery Biology Strategy Meeting this November 12th in Boston to hear from Anitha Krishnan, Ph.D, Executive Director of Research at Aviceda Therapeutics. Anitha brings over a decade of innovative scientific expertise in biochemical, immunological, and molecular biology techniques. Her work is pivotal in gene therapy and cell transplantation studies, targeting ocular diseases such as Glaucoma and Age-related Macular Degeneration. She has made significant strides in understanding immune responses in neurodegeneration and autoimmune diseases, particularly through her research on microglial and macrophages and the Fas-FasL system. Anitha will be delving into the "Opportunities and Risks in the Preclinical Development of Molecules that Do Not Cross React with Rodents," offering invaluable insights from her extensive experience in advancing therapeutic approaches from discovery through to clinical trials. Don't miss the opportunity to gain from her comprehensive expertise and her knack for leading innovative preclinical research. #DrugDiscovery #BiomedicalResearch #OcularDiseases #PreclinicalDevelopment #BostonEvents #LifeSciences #StrategyMeetings

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📨 Potential implications exist in regard to #LCM and #strategies regarding market exclusivity, see below, the latest from the FTC, sending warning letters to ten major pharma companies in an attempt to continue challenging and cracking down on #JunkPatents. 📂 The claims are around 'inaccurate or improper' patents in place which essentially block competition and keep drug prices high. Many big-name prescription brands are included in this round of probes. 2️⃣ 0️⃣ : "The FTC is challenging the patents of 20 different brand name products, claiming that their listings in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations—more commonly known as the Orange Book—are improper or inaccurate." 🤔 Are your brands affected? ❓ How might actions against you or your competitors affect your LCM strategy? https://lnkd.in/eVuapvWJ #LifeCycleManagement #RegulatoryAffairs #Policy #FTC #FederalTradeCommission #OrangeBook #PharmaPatents #AntiTrust #Pharma

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We look forward to hearing Christine Rothe, CDO of iOmx, speak at the 6th Annual Macrophage-Directed Therapies Summit in Boston on October 2nd. Christine will provide key insights into IOMX-0675, our highly differentiated, fully human, cross-specific antibody targeting LILRB1 and LILRB2. In the presentation, Christine will discuss how IOMX-0675 effectively repolarizes the tumor microenvironment, resulting in potent tumor cell killing both 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘰 and 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰. Also, Christine will highlight IOMX-0675's unique binding profile, which selectively antagonizes the immunosuppressive receptors LILRB1 and LILRB2 while sparing the immuno-activating family members. This differentiation results in superior macrophage repolarization and immune cell activation compared to other antibodies. 🔬   📢 Stay tuned for further updates!   Hanson Wade Group #CancerResearch #Macrophages #immunotherapy #ImmunoOncology

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An important update on the #BiosecuresAct, which includes a grandfather clause on existing contracts thru 2032, but this new draft prohibits setting up new agreements or extending existing ones. While balancing national security, also to ponder is "the potential fallout could have negative impacts on the supply chains of several drugmakers." https://lnkd.in/ebcE6x4w #Policy #Biotech #Innovation #GovernmentalAffairs #Pharma #Healthcare

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We started out Q1 with cautious optimism and the numbers continue to show the confidence was warranted. Biopharma M&A activity more than doubled nationally during the year’s first three months, coinciding with a rebound in venture capital deals as well as a flurry of IPOs. These are all good signs that the drug development cycle is normalizing and should translate into additional funding being available at the seed and Series A stages. Certain to be on the minds of funders and startups attending #AlignSummit24 on Thursday! https://lnkd.in/erEiJm6S  

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🎤 uBriGene Presents Exclusive Sessions at SAPA 2024 @Philly CGT Annual Conference 🎤 🚀 We're thrilled to announce our participation at 2024 @Philly Cell and Gene Therapy Annual Conference with two exclusive sessions aimed at revolutionizing the field: 1️⃣ An Innovative Technology for High Yield and More Stable #CRISPR Guide RNA: Discover how our innovative approach of using in vitro transcription (IVT) in producing guide RNA (#gRNA) that can simplify the process while being more cost-effective and free of organic chemicals. Join us to delve into the future of precision gene editing. 2️⃣ How Could CDMO and Technology Innovations Make CGT Affordable: Dive into the intersection #CDMO of and technological advancements with uBriGene. Learn about our strategies to drive down costs without compromising quality or efficacy. Let's explore how cutting-edge technology can make #CellandGeneTherapy more accessible to all. 2024 @Philly Cell and Gene Therapy Annual Conference brings together the innovators and business leaders to foster collaborations and advance cell and gene therapy in the #GreaterPhiladelphia area. 💡 Join #uBriGene to be at the forefront of innovation and collaboration in the dynamic world of cell and gene therapy and let's make cutting-edge cell and gene technology more accessible!

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🔍 ApoB: A Critical Marker in Cardiovascular Health 🔍 At UDS, we include ApoB in our advanced heart biomarker panel, paired with a comprehensive metabolic panel, during wellness visits for Firefighters and law enforcement officers. 🫀 Why ApoB Matters: ApoB reflects the number of atherogenic particles in the blood, making it a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol alone. 👮‍♂️ Protecting Those Who Serve: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading health risk for first responders. By detecting it early through ApoB testing, we empower departments to take proactive steps for better health outcomes. ✅ Prevention starts with data—The action begins with awareness. #ApoB #CardiovascularHealth #WellnessScreening #LawEnforcement #EarlyDetection #UDS #HealthBiomarkers

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At October’s #GRxBiosims meeting, we sat down with Joshua Salsi, Biocon Biologics' Head of North America, to discuss how the organization faces the rapidly evolving regulatory and #biosimilar market access environment. The conversation involved the difficulties in making strategic decisions about molecules that may launch many years in the future, as well as the #sustainability of the industry through challenging times. #averagesalesprice #ASP #pharmacybenefit #medicalbenefit https://wp.me/p7gt6c-7Qs

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With Mental Health America, we're humbled to announce the launch of the new Equity Impact Zone (EIZ) grant program designed to address mental health equity gaps within local New Jersey communities. Understanding that factors such as housing, income, food security, safety, and freedom from discrimination are known to be key social drivers of mental health inequity, the mission of the EIZ program is to empower community-based organizations to implement resources tailored to the unique needs of their members. Recipients of the inaugural grants are Young Audiences (YA) New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania in Burlington County, and the Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHANJ) in Trenton. At Otsuka, we hold a deep respect for the value of every mind. We will not rest until mental illnesses and brain diseases are recognized as chronic diseases that warrant early, equitable, and accessible intervention for patients and caregivers everywhere. Read more about the recipients: https://lnkd.in/e4kZ6GV3

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oops! Gene editing needs to be undone, pronto...You can't make this up. DARPA on X: "We are soliciting innovative proposals to develop and demonstrate rapid methods to identify and optimize #novelmolecules that counteract gene editing technologies. To learn more, visit https://t.co/3L2HAUQgFy #BiotechInnovation #InnovationInScience https://t.co/or9N5S5aD6" / X

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Sharing Allucent's Hot Topic Blog on Psychedelics and CNS indications. #Allucent #Psychedelics #CNSResearch #Neuroscience

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Roche's three discontinued MAGE-A4 programs appear to have been based on TCR domain molecules. Could CDR-Life Inc.'s CDR404 - a bispecific and bivalent antibody fragment-based T-cell engager (TCE) targeting MAGE-A4 - yield different results? While antibody-based approaches may exhibit higher affinity for their targets than TCR-based approaches, it's important to note that higher affinity doesn't necessarily translate to improved efficacy. CDR404 is currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials (NCT06402201). https://lnkd.in/gQw5ziHF

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🚨 New insights on rare disease innovation! Tufts CSDD Executive Director Ken Getz and Senior Fellow Marc Blaustein, present a groundbreaking framework in Pharmaceutical Executive: "ROI and Rare Disease: Retooling the ‘Gene’ Value Machine." Their strategies aim to overcome the economic and operational hurdles of personalized and genetic therapies, paving the way for more curative solutions.  📖 Dive into the full article here: https://lnkd.in/en2v7Uai 🔬 Explore more from Tufts CSDD: https://lnkd.in/evgdAAG9 #Biotech #RareDiseases #GeneticTherapies #HealthcareInnovation 

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