Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

Chaplin elected as a distinguished fellow of the American Association of Immunologists – UAB News

Chaplin has been chosen as a distinguished fellow by the American Association of Immunologists for his contributions to the field of immunology.

David Chaplin, M.D., Ph.D.David Chaplin, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been elected as a distinguished fellow by the American Association of Immunologists.

This is a very important and prestigious professional award from the AAI, said Frances Lund, Ph.D., chair of the UAB microbiology department. Its designed to recognize scientists who have spent their career working to advance the field of immunology through their research, their service to the larger national research community, and their contributions to educating and mentoring the next generations of immunologists.

Chaplin has had a significant impact on the education, mentoring and training of immunologists at UAB. He served for more than a decade as chair of the Department of Microbiology and mentored numerous junior faculty who have gone on to become successful academic scientists. After stepping down as chair, Chaplin worked with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the School of Medicine Deans Office to organize training academies and workshops for faculty in the early stages of their careers.

The American Association of Immunologists has provided a wonderful professional home for me throughout my career and has offered a way for me to expand my relationships with other immunologists in the field as I serve the scientific community, Chaplin said. Its also been a terrific venue to develop interests outside of my lab, especially through the Committee on Public Affairs. Im deeply humbled and honored to have been designated as an AAI distinguished fellow.

Over his time at UAB, Chaplin and his lab have made key discoveries about the development, structure and function of lymphoid tissues. Additionally, other research he has done has been critical for identifying proteins in the immune system that are now being targeted with immunotherapies. If successful, this method can be used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.

Aside from his role as an educator and in addition to being a distinguished fellow of AAI, Chaplin is a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Society for Microbiology, and holds memberships within six other organizations that are determined to make a difference within the field of microbiology and immunology.

This is the second year that the AAI has elected distinguished fellows. In the inaugural year, Judith Kapp, Ph.D., and Robert Rich, M.D., were the first two from UAB to receive this honor. Rich is a professor of medicine and formerly served as dean of the UAB School of Medicine, and Kapp is professor emeritus in the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

At UAB, Lund holds the Charles H. McCauley Chair of Microbiology.

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Chaplin elected as a distinguished fellow of the American Association of Immunologists - UAB News

Immunology

Understanding how a protein wreaks havoc in the brain in Parkinson’s disease – Engineers Journal

What causes neurons to die in Parkinsons disease?

What causes neurons to die in Parkinsons disease?

Parkinsons disease is a long-term (chronic) neurological condition that affects about 12,000 people in Ireland and between seven and 10 million people worldwide.

The disease affects the way the brain co-ordinates body movements like walking and talking, but cognitive abilities are also affected.

There is currently no cure for the disease, but researchers at Trinity have recently published findings of a study which may lead to better treatments for this debilitating illness. The paper has been published in the international Cell Press journal Structure.

Neurons in the part of the brain called substantia nigra (dark matter) produce and release a hormone called dopamine. This hormone acts as a messenger between these cells in the substantia nigra and other parts of the brain which control body movements.

If these specialised neurons become damaged or die, the amount of dopamine in the brain is reduced. This means that the parts of the brain that control movement cease to function normally, said Amir Khan, associate professor, School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity.

The only treatment for Parkinsons disease in the last 20 years has been dopamine replacement therapy. This involves providing a substitute to try to increase the levels of the hormone in the brain. However, the treatment is not completely effective and can wear off over time, and it also has side effects.

The main reason why we lack new treatments is that we dont understand the fundamental mechanism of how neurons become sick and die. No one knows why these particular neurons in the substantia nigra are affected.

In the last few years, the field has completely changed. We have new insight into a gene called LRRK2, which is the most common cause of inherited Parkinsons disease. Although only 10% of Parkinsons cases are inherited, the enzyme that is produced by the LRRK2 gene seems to be overactive in both inherited and sporadic cases.

In other words, afflicted individuals may not have an LRRK2 mutation, but the enzyme runs amok in their neurons anyway. Inhibitors of this enzyme are now in late clinical trials for treatment of Parkinsons disease.

The team at Trinity has studied the effects that LRRK2 has on other proteins in neuronal cells. To understand how LRRK2 affects the brain and leads to Parkinsons disease, the team has simulated the activity of the enzyme in the laboratory.

The research allowed us to visualize the 3D structure of a protein complex that is formed when LRRK2 is overactive. From these structural studies of proteins, we can understand how LRRK2 is able to impose its profound effects on neurons. We are the first group to report the effects of LRRK2 in 3-D detail using a method called X-ray crystallography, said Prof Khan.

An overactive LRRK2 runs loose in neurons and wreaks havoc on motor and cognitive abilities. In a way, we are chasing the footprints that LRRK2 leaves in the brain to understand what it does, and find ways to stop it.

We are hopeful that these studies may eventually lead to new treatments for Parkinsons disease, for which there is currently no cure.

What causes neurons to die in Parkinsons disease?Parkinsons disease is a long-term (chronic) neurological condition that affects about 12,000 people in Ireland and between seven and 10 million people worldwide.Cognitive abilities affectedThe disease affects the way the brain co-ordinates body movements like walking and talking, but cognitive abilities are...

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Understanding how a protein wreaks havoc in the brain in Parkinson's disease - Engineers Journal

Immunology

Vir Biotechnology Identifies Two Antibodies That Bind to the Spike Protein of 2019-nCoV, Newly Named as SARS-CoV-2 – Yahoo Finance

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (VIR), a clinical-stage immunology company focused on immune approaches to treating and preventing serious infectious diseases, today announcedthat it has identified two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that bind to SARS-CoV-2 (previously known as 2019-nCoV), which were originally found because they bind and neutralize the original SARS-CoV. The antibodies target the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the region that the virus uses to enter cells through the cellular receptor ACE2. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 causes the newly named disease, Covid-19.

We are in the process of assessing neutralization with a pseudo-virus, said George Scangos, Ph.D., CEO of Vir. In addition, we are working with international partners to assess the capacity of these antibodies to neutralize the live virus, SARS-CoV-2.

The company is moving ahead with research to determine if its antibodies, or additional antibodies that it may be able to identify, can be effective as treatment and/or prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2. To that end, the company is exploring collaborations with a number of other companies and governmental agencies. Amongst these are specific efforts at accessing manufacturing capacity globally.

We are pleased that, using the same platform that was used to isolate mAb114 which has proven to be active against Ebola, we have quickly identified antibodies with potential biological activity against SARS-CoV-2, said Herbert Skip Virgin, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Vir. We are working as rapidly as possible and look forward to sharing more information as we have it.

Vir identified these antibodies from an existing library of 20 fully human antibodies that bind and neutralize related coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV and coronaviruses that infect animals. This library was built through a robust method for capitalizing on unusually successful immune responses naturally occurring in people who are protected from, or have recovered from, infectious diseases, including those caused by rapidly evolving and/or previously untreatable pathogens.

Antibody-based therapies are different from vaccines and have distinct attributes that may make them potentially valuable, particularly in pandemic settings:

Vir is investigating other approaches to identify additional potential therapies for SARS-CoV-2. In addition to testing these two antibodies, the company is also exploring the isolation of new antibodies specific for this virus using its antibody technology platform. These efforts may allow additional approaches to address this rapidly emerging public health epidemic.

About Virs Antibody PlatformVir has a robust method for capitalizing on unusually successful immune responses naturally occurring in people who are protected from, or have recovered from, infectious diseases. The platform is used to identify rare antibodies from survivors that have the potential to treat and prevent rapidly evolving and/or previously untreatable pathogens via direct pathogen neutralization and immune system stimulation. Vir engineers the fully human antibodies that it discovers to enhance their therapeutic potential. This platform has been used to identify and develop antibodies for pathogens including Ebola (mAb114, currently in use in the Democratic Republic of Congo), hepatitis B virus, influenza A, malaria, and others.

About Vir BiotechnologyVir Biotechnology is a clinical-stage immunology company focused on combining immunologic insights with cutting-edge technologies to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. Vir has assembled four technology platforms that are designed to stimulate and enhance the immune system by exploiting critical observations of natural immune processes. Its current development pipeline consists of five product candidates targeting hepatitis B virus, influenza A, human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis. For more information, please visit http://www.vir.bio.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as may, will, expect, plan, anticipate, estimate, intend, potential and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Virs expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding the companys efforts to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus and identify additional potential therapies for SARS-CoV-2, and its ability to address the emerging public health epidemic. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, challenges in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2, difficulty in collaborating with other companies or government agencies, and challenges in accessing manufacturing capacity within China. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Virs filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section titled Risk Factors contained therein. Except as required by law, Vir assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.

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Contact:Vir Biotechnology, Inc.

InvestorsNeera Ravindran, MDHead of Investor Relations & Strategic Communicationsnravindran@vir.bio+1-415-506-5256

MediaLindy DevereuxScient PRlindy@scientpr.com+1-646-515-5730

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Vir Biotechnology Identifies Two Antibodies That Bind to the Spike Protein of 2019-nCoV, Newly Named as SARS-CoV-2 - Yahoo Finance

Immunology

E.A.T Announces Winners of $1 Million Grand Challenge to End Anaphylaxis – Yahoo Finance

New microbiome treatments and targets win Challenge as decided by distinguished panel of scientists, investors and entrepreneurs.

Winners to be awarded on February 27 at an event hosted by Bank of America Private Bank in New York City.

FAIRFIELD, Conn., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --End Allergies Together (E.A.T), a non-profit organization that funds research for the growing food allergy epidemic affecting approximately 32 million Americans, will award an initial $1 Million investment between two efforts. The first is a joint project between Vedanta Biosciences, Inc., led by Rose Szabady PhD, and Massachusetts General Hospital, led by Wayne Shreffler MD, PhD. It will evaluate the immune mechanisms involved in and the effectiveness of VE416, a first-of-its-kind microbiota therapeutic to restore immune balance in the food allergic intestine. The second effort, led by Talal Chatila MD, PhD from Boston Children's Hospital, will look at the protective effect of targeting a new pathway to stop anaphylaxis. Both efforts have significant potential for targeted therapies offering long-term protection against food-induced anaphylaxis while simultaneously promoting oral immune tolerance. The awards event hosted by Bank of America Private Bank will take place on Thursday, February 27 in New York City.

End Allergies Together (E.A.T), a non-profit organization that funds research for the growing food allergy epidemic affecting approximately 32 million Americans, announces winners of $1 million Grand Challenge to end anaphylaxis. The awards event hosted by Bank of America Private Bank will take place on Thursday, February 27 in New York City.

What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Various parts of the body can be affected, and symptoms such as throat tightening or closure, trouble breathing, swollen mouth, hives, dizziness and vomiting can occur within minutes or up to two hours after coming into contact with the allergen. Up to 20 percent of patients have a second wave of symptoms, called biphasic anaphylaxis, hours or even days after their initial symptoms have subsided.

The most common anaphylactic reactions are to foods, but individuals can also react to insect stings, medication and latex. With the rates of food allergy affliction now at 1 in 10 people in the U.S. and over 250 million worldwide, the rate of anaphylaxis is increasing. Further, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 39 percent of people with anaphylaxis may have had idiopathic anaphylaxis, a reaction that can not be explained by a known trigger.

"Anaphylaxis represents one of the most urgent of medical emergencies, in which rapid diagnosis and prompt and appropriate treatment can mean the difference between life and death Although there has been steady progress in our understanding especially in the context of mouse models of the disorder the basic clinical management of anaphylaxis has changed little in decades." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

The impact of anaphylaxis on the individual and their family can be significant. "The first time I saw my child have an anaphylactic reaction, I was changed forever," said Hillary Tolle Carter, Food Allergy Mother and Advocate. "You can no longer accept that food allergies are no big deal. It affects every aspect of your life. Every time food is involved you have to plan ahead, ask questions and be prepared with safe options for your child. The constant fear of that next anaphylactic reaction can take a serious toll on the entire family."

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E.A.T launched the Anaphylaxis Challenge in the spring of 2019 and brings together communities invested in preventing or ending life-threatening anaphylaxis. TheChallenge will accelerate progress by encouraging cooperation among those working within food allergy and across disease states to seek new and better solutions to take the life-threatening fear out of allergic reactions.

Dozens of researchers from private companies and public institutions entered The Challenge by submitting research business plans with potential solutions to help detect, prevent and/or better treat anaphylaxis (other than administering epinephrine). The award money will serve as seed funding to help accelerate andadvance the research and development required to bring these promising treatments closer to commercial viability.

Winner: Massachusetts General Hospital and Vedanta Biosciences, Inc.

"We are grateful for this recognition from E.A.T as we continuetoadvance our microbiome-derived product candidate for the potential treatment of food allergies in collaboration with Dr. Shreffler," said Rose Szabady Ph.D., Associate Director of Immunology, Vedanta Biosciences. "Mounting scientific evidence suggests that the microbiome plays an important role in food allergies, and this award recognizes the importance of further understanding the effects of the microbiota on the human immune system," continued Szabady. "We believe this work willshed light on the mechanisms by which our interventions modulate allergic immune response, and in turn, support continued development of our product candidate for patients seeking options other than avoidance."

Winner: Boston Children's Hospital

"We are most honored that our project was chosen by E.A.T's Panel. By targeting an immune mechanism central to the pathogenesis of food allergy and anaphylaxis, we aim not only to prevent this life-threatening complication but also to restore the immune system's tolerance to the allergenic foods," said Talal Chatila MD, PhD from Boston Children's Hospital. "We anticipate our studies will help bring forth a novel set of therapeutics for the treatment of food allergy-related anaphylaxis to the benefit of the patients and their families."

Honorable Mentions

The Challenge is a multi-year, multi-investment process whereby E.A.T, in collaboration with its Panelists, will provide funds, guidance and hands-on support to the most promising efforts. These include both the immediate awarding of $1 Million to the Winners as well as a commitment to partner with and consider future funding for a select group of Honorable Mentions which includes:

Dr. Joon Yun, M.D., an E.A.T Challenge Panelist and president of Palo Alto Investors explains the benefit of the Challenge model: "Grand Challenges can help nurture innovations in areas of unmet needs. The excitement and momentum associated with Grand Challenge competitions can help attract more attention, people, ideas, and funding to the issues of life-threatening anaphylaxis and food allergies."

Other distinguished Challenge Panelists include:

"I am extremely grateful to our Panelists who committed immense time, thought, analysis and heart to this process over the past six months," said Elise Bates, President and Cofounder of E.A.T. "With their guidance and expertise, we have an exciting outcome for this first phase of our Challenge. Both winners have a clear path ahead based on positive results from initial animal and human studies."

Kindly hosted by Bank of America Private Bank on Thursday, February 27, the awards event will feature the winners and their work as well as a discussion about investing in food allergies with E.A.T Panelists Dr. Eric Edwards and Dr. Joon Yun as well as a representative from Bank of America.

To inquire about this event, please email Tania@endallergiestogether.org

About End Allergies Together (E.A.T)

E.A.T is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused solely on raising money for food allergy research. E.A.T was cofounded in 2015 by Elise and Greg Bates and Kim and Tom Hall, who have children with severe food allergies, to help bridge the significant gap in research funding for this growing epidemic now affecting nearly 1 in 10 Americans and 250 million people globally. Since inception, E.A.T has committed to eleven promising research efforts across thirteen leading institutions.

Press Contacts: Kriskey + Lane Communications Susan Kriskey, susan@kriskeylane.com Marni Lane, marni@kriskeylane.com

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Immunology

Allergy & Asthma Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary with the Launch of New Website – P&T Community

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Allergy & Asthma Center, the largest specialty practice serving pediatric and adult patients across the DMV, today unveiled its redesigned website commemorating its 25 years of dedication to delivering state-of-the-art allergy and asthma care for patients in a new up-to-date, highly-engaging website.

The new launch of premierallergist.com comes at a critical time when a patients' experience with a medical practice's website is just as important as their experience with the care they receive. Allergy & Asthma Center understood this, which prompted them to make an array of changes, not only in where their site lives and how it functions, but how visitors interact with content and, most important, the safety of patient information.

The most noted changes include:

"Launching the new website alongside celebrating our 25 years in business has been a great way to start the year," said Dr. Prasad Nataraj, Medical Director for Allergy & Asthma Center. Prospective patients deserve the best of both worlds their experience with our practice online and when they walk through our doors. This patient-centric thinking is what we strive to improve so that we can thrive for another 25!"

The new website was developed by PracticeBeat's best-in-class patient access, acquisition, and retention platform. For more information visit http://www.practicebeat.com.

About Allergy & Asthma CenterAllergy & Asthma Center, one of the largest single allergy, asthma and clinical immunology practices in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., was established by Prasad M. Nataraj, M.D. in 1995. Our experienced team of healthcare professionals offer treatment to both adults and children of all ages, and our 20 convenient locations span across Maryland and the DC Metro area. Both our staff and our specialists are passionate about adhering to core principles that make our practice exceptional, including: Patient-centered care, accessibility and availability, compassionate medical council, innovative medicine, attention to the underlying source of the problem, and patient empowerment and education. http://www.premierallergist.com

Media Contact:

Kathy Ruxton703.340.6343 234034@email4pr.com

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Immunology

Bacteriophages may play a role in childhood stunting and be able to help treat it – McGill Newsroom

New research spearheaded by McGill University has discovered that bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) found in the intestinal tracts of children may play a role in childhood stunting, a significant impediment to growth that affects 22% of children under the age of five around the world.

The study, published today in Cell Host & Microbe, also suggests that because they affect the abundance and diversity of bacterial communities in the gastrointestinal tract, these viruses could also be used to improve health. The researchers believe this work offers hope of developing new cost efficient therapies for populations where nutritional interventions, which have been shown to work, are difficult to implement and sustain in vulnerable human populations.

Phages, bacteria and stunting

Earlier studies had suggested that the gut microbiome might play a role in stunting by showing that stunted children have increased numbers of disease-causing bacteriaassociated with impaired digestive and absorption functionsliving in their gastrointestinal tracts.

But while much research has focused on the bacteria present in our gut and the influence they can have on human health, little attention has thus far been paid to other very common residents of our gastrointestinal tract bacteriophages.

Phages or bacteriophages, which are bacterial viruses, are naturally found in every environment where bacteria are found, and the human gut is no exception, says Corinne Maurice, an assistant professor in McGills Department of Microbiology and Immunology and senior author of the new study. Because phages are as abundant as their hosts, they might be involved in regulating them in many ways by killing specific bacteria, transferring virulence or antibiotic resistance genes to them, for example, but we currently dont have a clear understanding of what they do and how they do it. This is a fairly new and exciting field of research.

Distinct viruses in healthy and stunted children

To understand how these viruses might play a role in stunting, Maurices team, in collaboration with the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research in Bangladesh, collected fecal samples from 30 non-stunted and 30 unrelated stunted Bangladeshi children aged between 14 and 38 months.

Using a combination of microscopy, ribosomal gene sequencing, and metagenomics, they were able to determine that the phages found in the gut of non-stunted and stunted children are distinct. Furthermore, when gut bacteria from non-stunted children were exposed to phages from the guts of stunted children in vitro, they found that bad bacteria, suspected of being involved in stunting, proliferated.

By showing that phages can change the bacterial community in children between 6 and 23 months, our work shows the potential of phages for reestablishing the gut bacterial community in stunting, says Mohammadali Khan Mirzaei, a former postdoctoral student in the Maurice lab and first author of the new study.

Stunting has lifelong consequences (health/socioeconomic) and can be transferred from mother to child, says Maurice, who is also Canada Research Chair in Gut Microbial Physiology and a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar. If phages can change bacterial communities in a specific way and long-term during child development, this could be a cheap treatment with no risk of antibiotic resistance.

Though the findings now need to be validated using a larger sample and in animal models, Maurice says that by understanding interactions between bacteria and viruses in the human gut, we might be able to one day manipulate them to improve human health.

Image caption: Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria.credit:iStock / Getty Images Plus

Bacteriophages isolated from stunted children can regulate gut bacterial communities in an age specific manner by Mohammadali Khan Mirzaei, Anik Ashfaq Khan, Prakash Ghosh, Zofia E. Taranu, Mariia Taguer, Jinlong Ru, Rajashree Chowdhury, Mamun Kabir, Li Deng, Dinesh Mondal and Corinne F. Maurice was published in Cell Host & Microbe.

This study was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Canada Research Chair Program.

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canadas top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

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Immunology

Plasma Fractionation Market – 2020 Share, Size, Growth, Trends, Business Insights, Competitive Landscape, Opportunities, Segments, Key Players,…

According to Plasma Fractionation Market 2020 Global Industry Forecast to 2026 Report published by Fortune Business Insights, the Global Plasma Fractionation Market size to reach $9.5 billion at CAGR of 10% by 2026. Market for Plasma Fractionation segmented by Product Type (Instruments and Reagents & Consumables), Technique (Hematology, Immunohistochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Diagnostic Imaging, Clinical Biochemistry, and Others), Animal Type (Livestock and Companion), End-user (Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, Veterinary Reference Laboratories, and Others) and Regional Forecast 2019-2026.

According to Plasma Fractionation Market 2020 Global Industry Forecast to 2026 Report published by Fortune Business Insights, the Global Plasma Fractionation Market size to reach $38.65 billion at CAGR of 6.2% by 2026. Market for Plasma Fractionation segmented by Product Type (Instruments and Reagents and Consumables), Technique (Hematology, Immunohistochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Diagnostic Imaging, Clinical Biochemistry, and Others), Animal Type (Livestock and Companion), End-user (Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics, Veterinary Reference Laboratories, and Others) and Regional Forecast 2019-2026.

Plasma Fractionation Industry Key Players Analyzed in Report Are:

CSL, Octapharma, Grifols, S.A., Kedrion S.p.A., Biotest AG, Shire, Baxter, LFB.

Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/plasma-fractionation-market-101614

Global Plasma Fractionation Market Insights:

The Global Plasma Fractionation Market is expanding at notable growth rate; this market growth is attributed to factors such as Increasing Prevalence of Congenital Disorders and Rising Usage of Plasma Proteins.

Fortune Business Insights in a new report, titled Plasma Fractionation Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Albumin, Immunoglobulin (Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin), Coagulation Factors (Factor IX, Factor VIII, Prothrombin Complex Concentrates, Fibrinogen concentrates and Others), Protease Inhibitors and Others), By Application (Immunology and Neurology, Hematology, Critical Care, Pulmonology and Others), By End User (Hospitals and Clinics, Clinical Research Laboratories and Others (Academic Institutes, etc.)) and Geography Forecast, 2019-2026 states that the market was worth USD 24.07 Billion in the year 2018 and is likely to reach USD 38.65 Billion by 2026.

The process of separating several plasma components is called plasma fractionation. These components are separated with the help of processes such as ethanol fractionation and cryoprecipitation. Rising prevalence of congenital disorders is driving the global plasma fractionation market. Unlike pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, plasma fractionation industry uses human blood plasma or living cells as raw materials to manufacture critical drugs. These life-saver products help in the treatment of severe health conditions caused by congenital metabolic deficiencies, immunological disorders, and trauma. This, along with increasing FDA approvals, will create lucrative growth opportunities for the market.

Plasma Fractionation Market Segmentation:

Plasma Fractionation Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Albumin, Immunoglobulin (Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin), Coagulation Factors, Protease Inhibitors and Others), By Application (Immunology and Neurology, Hematology, Critical Care, Pulmonology and Others), By End User (Hospitals and Clinics,), and Geography Forecast 2019-2026

Regional Insights:

Report analyzes Global Market for Plasma Fractionation by North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Among regions, North America is anticipated to maintain its dominance in the global plasma fractionation market in the forecast years. As per the research report, the market was valued at USD 10.08 Billion in 2018. The market in this region is expanding with the rising support from government regarding new plasma facilities. Increasing research activities on plasma fractionation processes with well-established healthcare infrastructure majorly contributes to the growth of the market in this region.

Following North America, Europe is the second-most leading region in the market owing to the rising sales of plasma proteins. In addition to this, the increasing prevalence of plasma indications and advanced improvements in the plasma fractionation process are encouraging growth in the market in this region. The market in Asia Pacific is prophesized to rise at a higher CAGR owing to the rising adoption of blood plasma fractionation in countries such as India and China.

Plasma Fractionation Market Growth Factors:

As per the data published by the National Institutes of Health, every year around 40,000 kgs of intravenous immunoglobulin and approximately 5,00,000 kgs of human albumin is produced all across the globe. This shows that the usage of immunoglobulin is increasing at a rapid rate, which is one of the primary factors responsible for driving the market. These immunoglobulins act as antibodies. Moreover, the adoption of immunoglobulins is increasing as play a crucial role in the detection and destruction of viruses and bacteria. They have been tested for the RandD of autoimmune disorders or Alzheimers. The demand for IgG products is fueling across several regions, which in turn, is increasing the sales of these products. All the above mentioned factors are anticipated to contribute to the growth of the market in the

Highlights of the Report:

In-depth analysis of various insights, namely, Plasma Fractionation Market trends, growth drivers, opportunities, and other related challenges.

Comprehensive details of key market players, their core competencies, and Plasma Fractionation Market share.

The potency of suppliers and buyers to make better business decisions.

Lists out the market size in terms of volume.

Table of Content:

1.1. Research Scope

1.2. Market Segmentation

1.3. Research Methodology

1.4. Definitions and Assumptions

3.Market Dynamics

3.1. Market Drivers

3.2. Market Restraints

3.3. Market Opportunities

4.1. Number of Cataract Surgeries - For Key Country/Region

4.2. Pipeline Analysis

4.3. Key Industry Developments - Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships

4.4. Technological Advancements in Ophthalmic Surgery

4.5. Introduction of New Products / Approvals (by Major Players)

Continued

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Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges.

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Immunology

Ex-Pfizer oncology R&D lead lands at Fierce 15 winner Vividion Therapeutics – FierceBiotech

Pfizers former longtime cancer research head Robert Abraham, Ph.D., has become the new chief scientific officer at a San Diego biotech after leaving the Big Pharma last year.

He moves over to 2017 Fierce 15 winner Vividion Therapeutics, a biotech looking to increase the number of proteins small molecules can target. Last April, it got off a $82 million series B financing round.

Its platform is based on the work of Benjamin Cravatt, Phil Baran and Jin-Quan Yu at the Scripps Research Institute and is designed to identify new sites in the proteomewhich is distinct in each cellthat can be drugged.

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Vividion spun out of Scripps back in 2017; its still pretty quiet on specifics of its pipeline, but it's looking to work on cancer and immunology through its selective small-molecule therapeutic platform.

RELATED: FierceBiotech's 2017 Fierce 15 | Vividion Therapeutics

Abraham will now help lead these efforts. Its a major get for the small biotech and will likely be a bit of a culture shock for Abraham, who joins Vividion from a 10-year tenure at Pfizer where he most recently served as senior vice president and group head, oncology R&D.

He "retired" from Pfizer last year, and was replaced by Calico's Jeff Settleman, Ph.D. last July.

We are delighted to have Bob join the Vividion family. His deep scientific expertise and experience managing a large and complex portfolio at Pfizer will help us successfully advance our broad and promising pipeline of selective small molecule programs, said Diego Miralles, CEO of Vividion.

Our proprietary platform has generated a diverse portfolio addressing several highly sought-after targets in the areas of oncology and immunology, and we look forward to leveraging Bob's insights as we create the small molecules of the future.

I am extremely excited to join the exceptionally talented and innovative team at Vividion," added Abraham.

The success the company has had in generating and progressing multiple compelling programs over such a short period of time is impressive. I look forward to helping Vividion realize the full potential of its technology platform to deliver highly differentiated, impactful medicines to patients.

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Ex-Pfizer oncology R&D lead lands at Fierce 15 winner Vividion Therapeutics - FierceBiotech

Immunology

Moms Role to Protect From Childhood Allergic Sensitization – Physician’s Weekly

For most children, immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization to food and respiratory allergens begins during the first few years of life. However, maternal allergen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) is transferred to offspring during pregnancy, thereby possibly averting the evolution of allergic sensitization. Using IgE reactivity profiles from asymptomatic children in early life, it is possible to predict both the likelihood of a child developing symptoms later in life and the severity of those symptoms.

Several factors are known or suspected to have an impact on allergic sensitization in children, both in terms of protection from, and facilitation of, IgE formation, says Christian Lupinek, MD. From allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), allergen specific IgG antibodies that block IgE binding to the respective allergen are known to be beneficial, as they can reduce symptom load in an allergen-specific manner when the patient is exposed to an allergen.

For a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr. Lupinek and colleagues analyzed IgG reactivity to more than 160 microarrayed allergens in mothers during pregnancy, cord blood samples, breast milk, and infants in the first years of life (6 months, 12 months, and 5 years), exploring whether maternal allergen-specific IgG could protect offspring from IgE sensitization. The samples allowed studying both mother-to-child transferring of allergen-specific IgG and the subsequent production of allergen-specific antibodies in the infant.

Children with IgE-sensitization also have higher IgG levels to the same respective allergen, says Dr. Lupinek. This demonstrates an obviously high general propensity in allergic subjects to mount an antibody response to harmless environmental antigens.

The study showed a high correlation among allergen-specific IgG reactivity profiles in mothers, cord blood, and breast milk. Maternal allergen-specific IgG remained for some children at 6 months. The data clearly visualize the decline of the passively transferred maternal allergen-specific IgG, which are present at birth but hardly remain at 6 months of age, says Dr. Lupinek.

Compared with nonsensitized children, those who were IgE sensitized against an allergen at age 5 showed monumentally elevated allergen-specific IgG levels at the same age. By contrast, mothers with elevated levels of IgG antibodies against an allergen in their blood exceeding 30 ISU-G had children without allergic IgE sensitizations toward that particular allergena finding consistent for all 164 tested allergens. In comparison, only children of mothers with lower allergen-specific IgG antibodies had IgE sensitization to allergens. This implies that induction or passive transfer of allergen-specific IgG in pregnant women may facilitate prevention of allergic sensitization in their offspring, says Dr. Lupinek.

When examining allergens against which children at age 5 were sensitized, the study team observed that to most allergens, no mother had mounted an IgG-response that exceeded a level of 30 ISU-G (Table). According to Dr. Lupinek, This implies that both the spectrum and the level of allergen-specific IgG spontaneously formed in mothers would not be sufficient to convey protection from sensitization to their offspring.

The study produces significant evidence that throughout pregnancy, elevated maternal allergen-specific IgG levels protect offspring from allergic sensitization, potentially providing new solutions in the prevention of allergic diseases. The initial post-natal months appear to be a key period for allergic sensitization, as levels of maternal IgG antibodies transferred to the child are already low at 6 months. The observation that the passive transfer of allergen-specific IgG from mother to child may protect the child from getting sensitized to the respective allergens allows us to develop new strategies for the prevention of allergic sensitization says Dr. Lupinek.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (via vaccination) and passive immunization with IgG isolated from subjects with elevated levels of allergen-specific IgG can both increase the number of protective IgG antibodies in the plasma of pregnant women. AIT treatment of pregnant women can avert offsprings development of IgE sensitization against correlating allergens. In this context, says Dr. Lupinek, it seems to be relevant for the treatment to be effective that IgG-levels exceed a particular threshold (ie, 30 ISU-G).

Lupinek C, Hochwallner H, Johansson C, et al. Maternal allergen-specific IgG might protect the child against allergic sensitization. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019;144(2):536-548. Available at https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(19)30106-X/fulltext.

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Moms Role to Protect From Childhood Allergic Sensitization - Physician's Weekly

Immunology

‘We’re responding to this threat’: University of Alberta works to help stop novel coronavirus – Calgary Herald

The University of Albertas Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology says a drug once used in an Ebola outbreak could fight the novel coronavirus.

Remdesivir will be tested against the virus, known as 2019-nCoV, at the institute in Edmonton. Although there are regulatory hurdles related to getting samples of the coronavirus into the country, lab work has already begun, said D. Lorne Tyrrell, founding director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology.

The prospects for developing an antivirus that can be used in patients is very good, and it may happen in the next few weeks and be readily available some compounds that are already on the market for their viruses that might work (against) this virus, said Tyrrell.

The institute is aiming to raise up to half a million dollars in funding, including rapid response grants from the Canadian Institute of Health Research, to go towards work on the novel coronavirus, Tyrrell said.

No one at the institute specializes in coronavirus at the moment. That is going to change very quickly, said Tom Hobman, professor of medical microbiology and immunology at the university, who noted that experts on coronaviruses have been recruited.

Since it can take years to get a brand new drug to market, researchers at the institute hope to find a drug thats already been developed to fight the virus.

Remdesivir, one of the drugs they will test, was used in the emergency treatment of patients with Ebola virus infection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The drug has shown activity in animal models against the viral pathogens MERS and SARS, which are coronaviruses that are structurally similar to the novel coronavirus, and has been used on a small number of patients.

Since the outbreak of the new coronavirus, it was just logical to ask whether this drug will work against the new coronavirus. The good thing was that its been tested, with tons of pre-clinical data, as well as in very difficult clinical settings, said Matthias Gtte, chair of the department of medical microbiology and immunology.

We are interested, always, not in the entire virus, but in the little machines the enzymes that help the virus to propagate. As soon as you shut down the machine, you shut down the virus, and you have a drug, said Gtte. Now, the goal is to see if the mechanism works the same way against the novel coronavirus.

If youre trying to respond very quickly to an outbreak, you dont really have the luxury of time to develop something completely new, said Dave Evans, professor of medical microbiology and immunology.

The challenge with all drug development is making sure it works and is safe, so its a common approach to test drugs that are known to be safe on new viruses, said Evans.

Viruses change, and new viruses are always emerging, said Tyrrell.

Public health efforts to contain the novel coronavirus have been more challenging than in other outbreaks, including SARS, but the mortality rate is so far much lower, he said. There have been at least 40,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus worldwide, and 910 deaths, according to The World Health Organizations latest numbers.

(The institute) has been designed to look after major outbreaks in the world like this, and I just want you to know that were responding to this threat, said Tyrrell.

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'We're responding to this threat': University of Alberta works to help stop novel coronavirus - Calgary Herald