Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

Takeda reports 12.8% rise in FY2022 revenue – Pharmaceutical Technology

Takeda has reported a 12.8% increase in itsreportedrevenue to $29.96bn (Y4,027bn) during the fiscal year 2022 (FY2022) compared to that reported in FY2021.

At a constant exchange rate (CER), the companys core revenue grew by 3.5% compared to the previous year.

In the FY2022 ending 31 March 2023, the company also reported a 6.4% rise in its operating profit to $3.65bn (Y490.5bn) compared to 2021.

Reported earnings per share (EPS) grew by 38.8% to $1.5bn (Y204bn) and net profit for FY2021 increased by 37.8% to $2.36bn (Y317bn).

The same fiscal year recorded a 13% decline to $7.27bn (Y977.2bn) in operating cash flow.

The company has provided commercial updates across its five key business areas: gastroenterology (GI), rare diseases, plasma-derived therapy (PDT) immunology, oncology and neuroscience.

Its GI business reported an 8.7% increase in revenue to $8.145bn (Y1,094.5bn) on a CER basis.

Entyvio, for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohns disease (CD), steered the growth in the revenue of this business.

Rare diseases reported revenue growth of 4.8% to $5.38bn (Y723.4bn) and PDT immunology reported growth of 15.3% to $5.048bn (Y678.4bn), both on a CER basis.

Oncology reported a 14.4% decline in reported revenue on a CER basis to $3.26bn (Y438.7bn).

In neuroscience, reported revenue rose by 12.1% to $4.75bn (Y637.7bn) on a CER basis.

Takeda chief financial officer Costa Saroukos stated: Im pleased to report that Takeda delivered or exceeded management guidance in FY2022 and booked a record core operating profit of almost Y1.2tn.

Our topline and profit performance was driven by our growth and launch products, which grew 19% at a constant exchange rate.

Strong financial discipline and free cash flow have enabled us to deleverage rapidly while investing in growth.

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Takeda reports 12.8% rise in FY2022 revenue - Pharmaceutical Technology

Immunology

Welcoming a new column: Vasso’s corner – The immune system – Neos Kosmos

Vasso is a renowned immunologist, with a focus on medicinal chemistry, cellular biology, and clinical research. She has developed drugs and vaccines through her translational research expertise.

Vasso has held various research positions at prestigious institutions worldwide and has been recognised with over 100 awards and honours. She has published over 500 research papers and is an inventor on 20 patents and over 90 sub-patents. Vassos work has been instrumental in developing vaccines against cancer and applying immunotherapies to multiple sclerosis, type-1 diabetes, drug addiction, Alzheimers disease, and other diseases.

Her research also focuses on understanding mechanisms and developing interventions for mental health issues, chronic diseases, infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and ageing. Immunology is essential in maintaining a healthy immune system and Vasso applies her expertise in immunology to tackle various diseases.

The Immune System

The immune system is part of our blood system those being the white blood cells within blood. These are the cells which are the first line of defence, and constantly come in contact with anything that enters our body; bacteria, viruses, dust, basically anything foreign. They get rid of these foreign substances without even realising.

However, some invaders remain and cause damaging effects, such as bacteria and viruses which result in various infections. The body usually eliminates these invaders within days to a few weeks.

The immune system is responsible for keeping the body in a happy and healthy state. However, if the immune system gets over activated, cytokine storm can occur, inflammation occurs, autoimmune diseases can occur etc. Maintaining a healthy immune system is important to keep well and age healthy.

Diet, regular physical activity, sleep, social activities, sunlight, and relaxation all contribute to keeping an immune system healthy.

Over the next few months, I will be describing various diseases and the role the immune system plays in each of these diseases, and relaxation all contribute to keeping an immune system healthy.

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Welcoming a new column: Vasso's corner - The immune system - Neos Kosmos

Immunology

UC statement on Gov. Newsom’s 2023-24 revised budget proposal – University of California

University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., today (May 12) issued the following statement on Gov. Gavin Newsoms revised 2023-24 budget proposal:

I am grateful that Gov. Newsoms revised budget proposal maintains critical funding for the University of California. This budget reflects our strong partnership with the Governor and his recognition of the Universitys role in maintaining the states economic competitiveness and solving Californias most urgent issues. This level of funding is particularly extraordinary given the many competing priorities the Governor must balance this year.

If supported by the state Legislature, this budget will provide funding for the urgent priorities we share, increasing California undergraduate and graduate student enrollment, expanding on-campus student resources, building additional student housing, and hiring more faculty and staff.

We are also pleased that the Governors budget includes $100 million for the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA and $2 million for the UC Riverside School of Medicine. These investments will translate into lifesaving research and patient care for many Californians.

The University of California looks forward to working with the Governor and state legislative leaders to achieve a final budget that maintains this critical funding. This state support will allow the University to continue educating the next generation of leaders, producing cutting-edge research for the benefit of our communities, and delivering high quality health care to Californians.

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UC statement on Gov. Newsom's 2023-24 revised budget proposal - University of California

Immunology

Jasper Therapeutics (JSPR) Appoints Stephen J. Galli to its Board – StreetInsider.com

News and research before you hear about it on CNBC and others. Claim your 1-week free trial to StreetInsider Premium here.

Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: JSPR) (Jasper), a biotechnology company focused on development of briquilimab, a novel antibody therapy targeting c-Kit (CD117) to address diseases such as chronic spontaneous urticaria, lower to intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) as well as novel stem cell transplant conditioning regimes, today announced the appointment of Dr. Stephen J. Galli, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and the Mary Hewitt Loveless, M.D. Professor at Stanford Medicine, to the companys Scientific Advisory Board.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Galli to our Scientific Advisory Board, said Ron Martell, CEO of Jasper Therapeutics. Dr. Galli is an internationally recognized researcher who has made pioneering contributions to the field of immunology. His extensive knowledge and research on mast cells and their crucial role in both maintaining health and contributing to various diseases will be invaluable to our research and development efforts. This appointment enhances the already deep expertise resident in our Scientific Advisory Board, and we look forward to his guidance as we advance our development program for briquilimab in chronic spontaneous urticaria and other mast cell diseases.

Dr. Galli is Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology and the Mary Hewitt Loveless, M.D. Professor at Stanford Medicine. He currently is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Stanford Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection. He previously was Chair of the Department of Pathology at Stanford and Co-Director of the Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine. He leads the Galli Laboratory at Stanford Medicine, a lab focused on developing and employing innovative approaches to understanding the development and function of mast cells and basophils. Dr. Galli and his team conduct research in food allergy, asthma, atopic dermatitis and other disorders, with the goal of elucidating the role of these cells in human health and disease.

Dr. Galli earned his BA in biology from Harvard College, a BMS from Dartmouth Medical School and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency and chief residency in Anatomic Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). After postdoctoral training with Harold F. Dvorak at MGH, Dr. Galli joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School as Assistant Professor of Pathology, becoming full professor of pathology. Before joining Stanford, he served as director of the Division of Experimental Pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and was member of the Harvard Medical School Committee on Immunology.

About Jasper

Jasper is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing briquilimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting c-Kit (CD117) as a therapeutic for chronic mast and stem cell diseases such as chronic spontaneous urticaria and lower to intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and as a conditioning agent for stem cell transplants for rare diseases such as sickle cell disease (SCD), Fanconi anemia (FA) and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). To date, briquilimab has a demonstrated efficacy and safety profile in over 130 dosed subjects and healthy volunteers, with clinical outcomes as a conditioning agent in SCID, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), MDS, FA, and SCD. In addition, briquilimab is being advanced as a transformational non-genotoxic conditioning agent for gene therapy. For more information, please visit us at http://www.jaspertherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are sometimes accompanied by words such as believe, may, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect, should, would, plan, predict, potential, seem, seek, future, outlook and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding briquilimabs potential, including with respect to its potential to address diseases such as chronic spontaneous urticaria, lower to intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes as well as novel stem cell transplant conditioning regimes and Jaspers expectations regarding advancing its development program for briquilimab in chronic spontaneous urticaria and other mast cell diseases. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Jasper and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Jasper. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including general economic, political and business conditions; the risk that the potential product candidates that Jasper develops may not progress through clinical development or receive required regulatory approvals within expected timelines or at all; the risk that clinical trials may not confirm any safety, potency or other product characteristics described or assumed in this press release; the risk that Jasper will be unable to successfully market or gain market acceptance of its product candidates; the risk that prior study results may not be replicated; the risk that Jaspers product candidates may not be beneficial to patients or successfully commercialized; patients willingness to try new therapies and the willingness of physicians to prescribe these therapies; the effects of competition on Jaspers business; the risk that third parties on which Jasper depends for laboratory, clinical development, manufacturing and other critical services will fail to perform satisfactorily; the risk that Jaspers business, operations, clinical development plans and timelines, and supply chain could be adversely affected by the effects of health epidemics; the risk that Jasper will be unable to obtain and maintain sufficient intellectual property protection for its investigational products or will infringe the intellectual property protection of others; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in Jaspers filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. If any of these risks materialize or Jaspers assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. While Jasper may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Jasper specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Jaspers assessments of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

John Mullaly (investors)LifeSci Advisors617-429-3548[emailprotected]

Jeet Mahal (investors)Jasper Therapeutics650-549-1403[emailprotected]

Lauren Barbiero (media)Real Chemistry646-564-2156[emailprotected]

Source: Jasper Therapeutics

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Jasper Therapeutics (JSPR) Appoints Stephen J. Galli to its Board - StreetInsider.com

Immunology

DICE Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and … – InvestorsObserver

DICE Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Recent Highlights

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DICE Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: DICE) (DICE or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary DELSCAPE technology platform to build a pipeline of novel oral therapeutic candidates to treat chronic diseases in immunology, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023, and highlighted recent corporate achievements.

Our oral IL-17 franchise continues to advance on multiple fronts. The first psoriasis patient has been dosed in our global, dose-ranging Phase 2b clinical trial of DC-806, said Kevin Judice, Ph.D., CEO of DICE. We also look forward to topline data in healthy volunteers from our Phase 1 trial with our second oral IL-17 inhibitor, DC-853, expected in the second half of 2023. Additionally, we are excited about the progress of our earlier stage research and development (R&D) programs and continuing to utilize our DELSCAPE platform to accelerate the expansion of our pipeline to other validated targets in immunology.

Recent Highlights & Upcoming Events

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

About the DICE Oral IL-17 Franchise DICE is developing orally-available, small molecule antagonists of the pro-inflammatory signaling molecule IL-17, an immune cell-derived cytokine. Blockade of this pathway has proven to be an effective therapy in a number of auto-immune diseases. The anti-IL-17 injectable biologics have been approved for the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

The DICE oral IL-17 franchise includes the lead therapeutic candidate, DC-806, the differentiated fast-follower candidate, DC-853, and the novel scaffold program. DICE is developing its lead therapeutic candidate, DC-806, for the treatment of psoriasis and plans to expand development to additional indications in which the marketed anti-IL-17 injectable biologics have proven to be effective. The Company is considering multiple applications for its differentiated fast-follower, DC-853, including potential development in distinct indications from DC-806, such as hidradenitis suppurativa.

About DICE Therapeutics, Inc. DICE Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary technology platform to build a pipeline of novel oral therapeutic candidates to treat chronic diseases in immunology and other therapeutic areas. DICE is initially focused on developing oral therapeutics against well-validated targets in immunology, with the goal of achieving comparable potency to their systemic biologic counterparts, which have demonstrated the greatest therapeutic benefit to date in these disease areas. The Companys DELSCAPE platform is designed to discover selective oral small molecules with the potential to modulate protein-protein interactions (PPIs) as effectively as systemic biologics. DICEs lead therapeutic candidates are oral antagonists of the pro-inflammatory signaling molecule, IL-17, which is a validated drug target implicated in a variety of immunology indications. DICE is also developing oral therapeutic candidates targeting the integrin 47 for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning the Companys future plans and prospects, the Companys anticipated runway, any expectations regarding the safety or efficacy of DC-806 and other candidates under development, the ability of DC-806 to treat psoriasis or related indications, the planned timing of the Companys clinical trials, data results and further development of DC-806 and DC-853. In addition, when or if used in this press release, the words may, could, should, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, plan, predict and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to the Company may identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that actual results, levels of activity, safety, performance or events and circumstances could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Companys forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including risks and uncertainties related to the Companys ability to advance DC-806, DC-853 and its other therapeutic candidates, obtain regulatory approval of and ultimately commercialize the Companys therapeutic candidates, the timing and results of preclinical and clinical trials, the Companys ability to fund development activities and achieve development goals, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys business, its ability to protect its intellectual property and other risks and uncertainties described under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys annual report on Form 10-Q filed on May 11, 2023,and its otherSECfilings. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein.

DICE THERAPEUTICS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

DICE THERAPEUTICS, INC. Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (unaudited) (In thousands)

Contacts:

Media: Katie Engleman, 1AB katie@1abmedia.com

Investors: investors@dicetx.com

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DICE Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and ... - InvestorsObserver

Immunology

Cannabis-derived products have flooded US market Two … – Down To Earth Magazine

Products likedelta-8 THC and delta-10 THC arerapidly proliferating;there are many unknowns about their safety and psychoactive properties

These days you see signs for delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC and CBD, or cannabidiol, everywhere at gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops and online. Many people are rightly wondering which of these compounds are legal, whether it is safe to consume them and which of their supposed medicinal benefits hold up to scientific scrutiny.

The rapid proliferation of cannabis products makes clear the need for the public to better understand what these compounds are derived from and what their true benefits and potential risks may be.

We are immunologists who have been studying the effects of marijuana cannabinoids on inflammation and cancer for more than two decades.

We see great promise in these products in medical applications. But we also have concerns about the fact that there are still many unknowns about their safety and their psychoactive properties.

Cannabis sativa, the most common type of cannabis plant, has more than 100 compounds called cannabinoids.

The most well-studied cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta-9 THC, which is psychoactive. A psychoactive compound is one that affects how the brain functions, thereby altering mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings or behavior.

Delta-9 THC is the main cannabinoid responsible for the high associated with marijuana. CBD, in contrast, is non-psychoactive.

Marijuana and hemp are two different varieties of the cannabis plant. In the U.S., federal regulations stipulate that cannabis plants containing greater than 0.3 per cent delta-9 THC should be classified as marijuana, while plants containing less should be classified as hemp.

The marijuana grown today has high levels from 10 per cent to 30 per cent of delta-9 THC, while hemp plants contain 5 per cent to 15 per cent CBD.

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of CBD extracted from the cannabis plant to treat epilepsy. In addition to being a source of CBD, hemp plants can be used commercially to develop a variety of other products such as textiles, paper, medicine, food, animal feed, biofuel, biodegradable plastic and construction material.

Recognizing the potential broad applications of hemp, when Congress passed the Agriculture Improvement Act, called the Farm Bill, in 2018, it removed hemp from the category of controlled substances. This made it legal to grow hemp.

When hemp-derived CBD saturated the market after passage of the Farm Bill, CBD manufacturers began harnessing their technical prowess to derive other forms of cannabinoids from CBD. This led to the emergence of delta-8 and delta-10 THC.

The chemical difference between delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10 THC is the position of a double bond on the chain of carbon atoms they structurally share. Delta-8 has this double bond on the eighth carbon atom of the chain, delta-9 on the ninth carbon atom, and delta-10 on the 10th carbon atom.

These minor differences cause them to exert different levels of psychoactive effects.

Delta-9 THC was one of the first forms of cannabinoid to be isolated from the cannabis plant in 1964. The highly psychoactive property of delta-9 THC is based on its ability to activate certain cannabinoid receptors, called CB1, in the brain.

The receptor, CB1, is like a lock that can be opened only by a specific key in this case, delta-9 THC allowing the latter to affect certain cell functions.

Delta-9 THC mimics the cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, that our bodies naturally produce.

Because delta-9 THC emulates the actions of endocannabinoids, it also affects the same brain functions they regulate, such as appetite, learning, memory, anxiety, depression, pain, sleep, mood, body temperature and immune responses.

The FDA approved delta-9 THC in 1985 to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients and, in 1992, to stimulate appetite in HIV/AIDS patients.

The National Academy of Sciences has reported that cannabis is effective in alleviating chronic pain in adults and for improving muscle stiffness in patients with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease.

That report also suggested that cannabis may help sleep outcomes and fibromyalgia, a medical condition in which patients complain of fatigue and pain throughout the body. In fact, a combination of delta-9 THC and CBD has been used to treat muscle stiffness and spasms in multiple sclerosis.

This medicine, called Sativex, is approved in many countries but not yet in the U.S.

Delta-9 THC can also activate another type of cannabinoid receptor, called CB2, which is expressed mainly on immune cells. Studies from our laboratory have shown that delta-9 THC can suppress inflammation through the activation of CB2.

This makes it highly effective in the treatment of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and colitis as well as inflammation of the lungs caused by bacterial toxins.

However, delta-9 THC has not been approved by the FDA for ailments such as pain, sleep, sleep disorders, fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases. This has led people to self-medicate against such ailments for which there are currently no effective pharmacological treatments.

Delta-8 THC is found in very small quantities in the cannabis plant. The delta-8 THC that is widely marketed in the U.S. is a derivative of hemp CBD.

Delta-8 THC binds to CB1 receptors less strongly than delta-9 THC, which is what makes it less psychoactive than delta-9 THC. People who seek delta-8 THC for medicinal benefits seem to prefer it over delta-9 THC because delta-8 THC does not cause them to get very high.

However, delta-8 THC binds to CB2 receptors with a similar strength as delta-9 THC. And because activation of CB2 plays a critical role in suppressing inflammation, delta-8 THC could potentially be preferable over delta-9 THC for treating inflammation, since it is less psychoactive.

There are no published clinical studies thus far on whether delta-8 THC can be used to treat the clinical disorders such as chemotherapy-induced nausea or appetite stimulation in HIV/AIDS that are responsive to delta-9 THC.

However, animal studies from our laboratory have shown that delta-8 THC is also effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

The sale of delta-8 THC, especially in states where marijuana is illegal, has become highly controversial. Federal agencies consider all compounds isolated from marijuana or synthetic forms, similar to THC, Schedule I controlled substances, which means they currently have no accepted medical use and have considerable potential for abuse.

However, hemp manufacturers argue that delta-8 THC should be legal because it is derived from CBD isolated from legally cultivated hemp plants.

Delta-10 THC, another chemical cousin to delta-9 and delta-8, has recently entered the market.

Scientists do not yet know much about this new cannabinoid. Delta-10 THC is also derived from hemp CBD. People have anecdotally reported feeling euphoric and more focused after consuming delta-10 THC. Also, anecdotally, people who consume delta-10 THC say that it causes less of a high than delta-8 THC.

And virtually nothing is known about the medicinal properties of delta-10 THC. Yet it is being marketed in similar ways as the other more well-studied cannabinoids, with claims of an array of health benefits.

Research and clinical trials using marijuana or delta-9 THC to treat many medical conditions have been hampered by their classification as Schedule 1 substances.

In addition, the psychoactive properties of marijuana and delta-9 THC create side effects on brain functions; the high associated with them causes some people to feel sick, or they simply hate the sensation. This limits their usefulness in treating clinical disorders.

In contrast, we feel that delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC, as well as other potential cannabinoids that could be isolated from the cannabis plant or synthesized in the future, hold great promise.

With their strong activity against the CB2 receptors and their lower psychoactive properties, we believe they offer new therapeutic opportunities to treat a variety of medical conditions.

Prakash Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina and Mitzi Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Cannabis-derived products have flooded US market Two ... - Down To Earth Magazine

Immunology

NYU Langone Health in the NewsFriday, May 12, 2023 – NYU Langone Health

Media Highlights from Dr. Lorna Thorpes Sleep Apnea and Long-COVID Study

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Associated with Increased Risks for Long COVIDNational Institutes of Health May 11-Lorna E. Thorpe, PhD, MPH, professor, Department of Population Health

Sleep Apnea Boosts Odds for Long COVIDThis article was picked up by news websites across the country.HealthDay May 12-Hannah Mandel, senior data scientist, NYU Langone Health

Long COVID Risk Higher in People with Sleep ApneaReuters Health Rounds May 11-Hannah Mandel, senior data scientist, NYU Langone Health*Link is unavailable. Please see full test at end of report.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Associated with Increased Risk for Long COVIDThe Clinical Services Journal May 12-Lorna E. Thorpe, PhD, MPH, professor, Department of Population Health

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Increases Risk of Long COVID in AdultsHCPLive May 11-Lorna E. Thorpe, PhD, MPH, professor, Department of Population Health

At Least 2 Cases of Drug-Resistant Ringworm Infection Found in the U.S., CDC SaysThis article was picked up by news websites across the country.NBC News May 11-Avrom S. Caplan, MD, assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology

Two Cases of Drug-Resistant Ringworm Detected in New York City, CDC Report FindsTODAY May 11-Avrom S. Caplan, MD, assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology

Cases of Drug-Resistant Fungal Ringworm Spotted in New York CityThis article was picked up by news websites across the country.HealthDay May 11-Avrom S. Caplan, MD, assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology-Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine

NYU Researcher Calls Attention to Lack of Health Research on Asian American CommunityNY1 Spectrum News May 11-Stella S. Yi, MPH, PhD, associate professor, Department of Population Health

RSNA Announces Screening Mammography AI Challenge ResultsImaging Technology News May 11-Linda Moy, MD, professor, Department of Radiology, Perlmutter Cancer Center

Community Connections Help Residents Overcome Challenges and Age WellNext Avenue May 11-Marc N. Gourevitch, MD, MPH, the Muriel G. and George W. Singer Professor of Population Health, chair, Department of Population Health, professor, Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry

Adding Exercise to Treatment Programs May Help Reduce Substance Use, Study ShowsHealth May 11-Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry

Is It Safe to Take Allergy Medications Every Day?Verywell Health May 11-Purvi S. Parikh, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, and Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology

Peanut Allergy Skin Patch Shows Promise for ToddlersTODAY May 11-Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

Monkeypox: WHO Says No Longer Global Health EmergencyThis article was picked up by news websites across the country.Fox News May 11-Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine

New Recommendations Lower Age for First MammogramNY1 Spectrum News May 11-Francis Arena, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Arena Oncology

Do Over-The-Counter Varicose Vein Treatments Actually Work?This story was picked up by news websites across the country.HuffPost May 12-Richard W. Schutzer, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Surgery, chief, Division of Vascular Surgery, NYU Langone HospitalBrooklyn

Brooklyn Hospital Bringing Massage Services for Its NursesNews 12 May 11-NYU Langone HospitalBrooklyn

*Reuters Health Rounds, May 11, 2023 Long COVID Risk Higher in People with Sleep Apnea - Obstructive sleep apnea may significantly increase the risk of long COVID in adults, according to a new study. Researchers reviewed information from two National Institutes of Health databases on more than 2 million U.S. adults who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus between March 2020 and February 2022.In one database tracking 1.7 million people with a high rate of chronic health problems, those with sleep apnea had a 75% higher risk for long COVID - with symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue that can last for months after initial infection - than people without the breathing problem, researchers reported on Thursday in Sleep. In a smaller database, with roughly 300,000 adults, those with sleep apnea had a 12% higher risk for long COVID.The increased long COVID risk in people with sleep apnea persisted, but wasn't as high, after researchers accounted for other factors known to increase the risk for lingering symptoms, such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hospitalization at the time of their initial COVID infection. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway intermittently closes during sleep and breathing stops. In North America, approximately 34% of men and 17% of women are affected, according to a 2019 report in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine."People with sleep apnea who get infected with COVID should seek early treatment, pay attention to their symptoms, and keep up with their vaccinations to lower the risk of infection in the first place," study leader Hannah Mandel of NYU Langone Health in New York said in a statement.

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NYU Langone Health in the NewsFriday, May 12, 2023 - NYU Langone Health

Immunology

UNION therapeutics to present at 4th Annual Dermatology Drug … – InvestorsObserver

HELLERUP, Denmark , May 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UNION therapeutics A/S (UNION), a privately held, multi-asset, clinical stage, pharmaceutical development company focused on immunology and infectious disease, today announced that Dr. Kim D. Kjller, CEO of UNION therapeutics will present at the seminar on hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) at the 4 th Annual Dermatology Drug Development Summit Europe on May 22-24, 2023 , in Berlin, Germany . Dr. Kjller will discuss the current HS landscape incl. learnings on new ways to develop better treatments across dermatology and immunology.

Dr. Kjller will also be moderating a pre-conference workshop on "Dermatological Development Strategies: Setting yourself up for success and reducing time to market" on Monday May 22, 2023 , at 1-4pm CEST .

4 th Annual Dermatology Drug Development Summit Europe

Seminar: What's next for hidradenitis suppurativa, new opportunities, new endpoints, new beginnings

Presenter: Dr. Kim D. Kjller, CEO, UNION therapeutics

Date and time: Wednesday May 24, 2023, at 1:00pm CEST .

Contacts

Morten Boesen , Chief Financial Officer, UNION therapeutics A/S +45 2381 5487 morten.boesen@uniontherapeutics.com

Sarah Toft-Jrgensen, Director of Communications and IR, UNION therapeutics A/S +45 5385 3044 stj@uniontherapeutics.com

About UNION therapeutics

UNION therapeutics is a privately held, mid- to late-stage, pharmaceutical development company advancing novel treatment options within immunology and infectious diseases, two large and fast-growing therapeutic areas. UNION is headquartered in Hellerup, Denmark , and led by an international team combining biotech entrepreneurs and seasoned pharma executives, with a track record of developing and launching more than fifteen marketed drugs. Read more at http://www.uniontherapeutics.com

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UNION therapeutics to present at 4th Annual Dermatology Drug ... - InvestorsObserver

Immunology

Russell Investments Decreases Stake in Argenx SE by 20% in Q4 … – Best Stocks

Russell Investments Group Ltd., a prominent investment management firm, has decreased its stake in argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) by 20.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the companys latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm now owns 32,603 shares of argenx stock after selling 8,150 shares during the quarter. This has reduced Russell Investments Group Ltd.s ownership of argenx from 0.08% to 0.06%. At current market rates, this 20% decrease corresponds to $12,351,000 in value.

This recent move by Russell Investments shows a shift in their investment strategy towards minimizing risks and increasing profitability for their investors. The sale of stocks indicates that Russell Investments no longer perceives argenx as profitable or anticipates a decline in its market performance.

Argenx SE is a biotechnology company that specializes in developing antibody-based medications for autoimmune diseases and cancer treatments. Its research focuses on understanding immunology and identifying new targets for treatment options.

Currently traded at $406.85 on NASDAQ, argenxs market capitalization stands at $22.65 billion with a P/E ratio of -43.79 and a beta of 0.75. As per its fifty-two week chart analysis, argenxs high was $407.93 while its low was recorded to be $281.65 indicating significant growth potential over the preceding year.

Investors can assess changes made by other hedge funds to consolidate their own portfolios using HoldingsChannel.com which provides comprehensive information about insider trades and the latest SEC filings for all publicly traded companies.

In conclusion, this reduction in ownership of argenx could spearhead possible volatility according to financial experts since hedge funds actions often drive significant price movements in publicly traded stocks such as that owned by arnex SE (NASDAQ:ARGX). The long-term implications of this move by Russell Investments Group Ltd. will undoubtedly dictate the future outlook for argenx and investors will surely be keeping a close eye on any developments moving forward.

Argenx SE, a global immunology company that focuses on improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases, has seen an increase in hedge fund and institutional investor activity in the stock. Many funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company, including JPMorgan Chase & Co., which grew its position by 143% in the first quarter. Hedge funds and institutional investors now own more than half of Argenxs stock.

Despite this surge of activity, Argenx has received mixed reviews from analysts. Truist Financial boosted its target price on shares of Argenx to $440.00, while JMP Securities reduced its target price from $448.00 to $445.00. Bank of America raised its price target to $446.00, and 888 maintained a maintains rating on shares of Argenx.

In March, Argenx reported earnings per share (EPS) of ($0.70) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($3.08) by $2.38. The business had revenue of $182.12 million for the quarter and is expected to post -8.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Argenx operates globally with offices in Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United States of America. Through its Immunology Innovation Program (IIP), argenx aims to translate breakthroughs in immunology into novel antibody-based medicines to help people suffering from autoimmune diseases worldwide.

Overall, while hedge funds and institutional investors seem bullish on Argenxs potential growth opportunities in immunology research and development space, there remains uncertainty surrounding how this translates into financial performance indicators for shareholders going forward as mixed reports suggest varying levels of confidence regarding this stocks future performance prospects amidst stiff competition within a rapidly evolving industry landscape characterized by ongoing innovation and technological disruption trends among key healthcare players globally seeking to maintain their competitive edge.

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Immunology

How my training helps me to address health disparities in multiple … – Nature.com

Irene Ghobrial (front, centre, blue dress) leads a multidisciplinary team that addresses health disparities in multiple myeloma at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Credit: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Irene Ghobrial leads the Stand Up To Cancers Multiple Myeloma Dream Team, part of the research charity that investigates conditions that could lead to this type of bone marrow cancer, which kills 106,000 people annually. Ghobrial, a medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, Massachusetts, describes her journey as an immigrant woman of colour to the United States. She explains why translational research is key to advancing personalized treatments and how her team addresses health disparities.

I graduated in medicine from Cairo University in 1999 and moved to Detroit, Michigan, for training opportunities that were inaccessible to me in Egypt. I faced many challenges and mistreatment, sometimes driven by discrimination towards me as a woman and an immigrant. The chances of getting into elite training programmes when you belong to a minority group are slim. Sometimes, I was oblivious to these barriers, and not knowing about them helped me to persevere and persist.

Outlook: Multiple myeloma

I couldnt have dreamt of this life when I was younger. Sometimes, I pinch myself and say, Im living the American dream, right? as an Egyptian immigrant and woman of colour who is now an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. But, as the saying goes, it took a village. My parents and mentors inspired me to dream big. And despite barriers to success faced by minority groups, the US system still allows people to thrive regardless of where they came from and who they are.

In 2000, I worked in an immunology laboratory run by Karen Hedin at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, looking at chemokine receptor signalling in immune cells. Ive been in love with research ever since. As a clinician-researcher, you can take samples from your patients, do whole-genome sequencing, get the answers you need and use them to personalize treatment. This back-and-forth is gratifying and exciting.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, white blood cells that make antibodies. In myeloma, these cells grow uncontrollably in the bones and produce an overabundance of abnormal immunoglobulin proteins.

Collection: Co-production of research

Myeloma develops in about 160,000 people every year worldwide. Although rare, it is the most common blood cancer in African Americans, who are twice as likely to have it as white Americans. Theyre also likely to develop it at a younger age.

Myeloma might cause no symptoms in its early stages, but people with more-advanced forms of the disease can have bone pain, fractures, recurring infections, hypercalcaemia (higher-than-normal calcium levels) and anaemia.

The condition is not yet curable. But there are treatments to prevent and manage symptoms, slow disease progression and improve a persons quality of life. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and other cancer-fighting drugs, as well as steroids, bone-modifying medications and bone-marrow transplants.

Confronting racism in Black maternal health care in the United States

I trained at Mayo with Robert (Bob) Kyle, whom I call the grandfather of myeloma, who influenced my interest in multiple myeloma. He named two of the precursor conditions that cause no symptoms but might develop into myeloma: monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smouldering multiple myeloma (SMM).

Unlike many of his peers in the 1970s, Bob didnt dismiss these conditions simply because they seemed benign. Instead, he focused on understanding what causes them to develop into myeloma, and he emphasized that people with precursor conditions should be monitored closely.

Our patients need our research to answer their health concerns, not in the next 10 or 15 years, but now. If we can diagnose and treat myeloma early, we can make a difference.

My team works fast and hard to sequence and do mass spectrometry to analyse patient samples and get the data back to them. Working this way takes a lot of effort but its also a lot of fun.

My team is multidisciplinary and includes people with MDs or PhDs, as well as students. They work in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, epidemiology, medicine and statistics. Every person on the team is complementary to the others.

Our team received a US$10 million award and began work in April 2018. Our study, called PROMISE, focuses on understanding these precursor conditions to predict the risk of developing myeloma. We will screen 30,000 individuals at risk of myeloma, including African Americans, people of African descent and people with first-degree family members who have had blood cancer.

How I fused passions for art and medicine into a medical illustration career

To help potential participants gain trust and confidence in our research, we educate them about multiple myeloma and its prevalence in African Americans, and explain that screening for precursor conditions can improve survival outcomes.

In July 2022, we screened 200 African American people at a health-fair event in Indianapolis. One woman was scared because she had a relative with myeloma. After convincing her, she took the test. Her results showed that she might have gone on to develop myeloma with kidney failure in a few weeks. We therefore referred her for standard myeloma therapy that week, which should protect her from developing myeloma and kidney damage.

We published results1 for the first 7,600 patients screened by mass spectrometry for monoclonal gammopathies, the abnormal immunoglobulins in the blood. We were surprised that 13% of the participants had MGUS, a high proportion compared with the 35% prevalence expected in the general population.

We also found that another 20% of participants had very low levels of these abnormal proteins, and we named this new precursor condition monoclonal gammopathy of indeterminate potential, or MGIP. Now, were trying to understand what MGIP is. So far, our findings suggest that it might be a sign of early B-cell malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. If so, its possible that MGIP could be treated and cured in some people, before it progresses to later stages of blood cancers. Its exciting that we have the potential of understanding MGIP better, to help prevent the progression of blood cancers.

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How my training helps me to address health disparities in multiple ... - Nature.com