Category Archives: Biotech

URSAPHARM and CEBINA collaborating to repurpose the antihistamine drug azelastine hydrochloride as a potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic

SAARBRÜCKEN / VIENNA, 17-Feb-2021 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — In the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a large number of pharmaceutical companies are looking for new approaches to combat the pandemic. In addition to vaccines, intensive research and development efforts around the world are focusing on identifying new anti-COVID therapeutics that includes re-evaluation of existing product portfolios with a view to re-purpose drugs that have antiviral properties.

With this goal in mind, URSAPHARM Arzneimittel GmbH, based in Saarbrücken, and the Vienna-based biotech company CEBINA GmbH (Central European Biotech Incubator and Accelerator) are collaborating to repurpose the antihistamine drug azelastine hydrochloride as a potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic. Azelastine has been successfully used for many years in anti-allergic therapy.

Starting with a novel computational drug repurposing prediction method, developed and performed by Prof Dr Robert Konrat (University of Vienna), CEBINA selected already approved active substances for experimental testing in collaboration with Prof Dr. Ferenc Jakab (Virology National Laboratory, Szentágothai-Research-Center, University of Pécs, Hungary). This collaborative effort led to the identification of azelastine as a potent antiviral compound effective against SARS-CoV-2, a finding confirmed by now by several independent research groups. The potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of azelastine was demonstrated in a reconstituted human nasal tissue model and was evident at a lower dose than present in commercially available nasal sprays [1].

A clinical trial has started on February 16th 2021 to verify whether the use of a nasal spray preparation containing azelastine can achieve a reduction in viral load in the the nasal cavity. The aim of the study is to show whether the anti-allergic medication Pollival® Nasal Spray, or a diluted version, can achieve a reduction in the viral load, therefore reducing transmission and positively influencing the course of the disease.

If positive results of the running clinical studies are demonstrated, URSAPHARM Arzneimittel GmbH and CEBINA GmbH believe this will be an important new approach to control viral spread and contain the current pandemic.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Palette Life Sciences unveils 4 international sites for its Deflux online presence

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. / STOCKHOLM, 27-Oct-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Palette Life Sciences, a fully integrated global life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today introduced valuable new online resources for healthcare providers in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. By expanding its Deflux online presence to international audiences, Palette Life Sciences demonstrates its commitment to supporting the global paediatric community.

Deflux.fr is a French-language resource for healthcare providers in France. Deflux.com/de is a German-language site serving practitioners in Germany. Deflux.com/es and Deflux.it are English-language sites serving physicians in Spain and Italy respectively. These new sites offer best-in-class online resources, important information and education about VUR, including symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options, such as Deflux®. All of the European sites provide physicians with access to the global Deflux Learning Center, a leading education platform that features information and training for paediatric urologists and their peers who treat VUR. The Deflux Learning Center includes clinical articles, educational videos, webinars, brochures, downloadable tools and The PedSpace podcast series, created for and presented by paediatric urology healthcare professionals.

The Deflux Learning Center for each respective country also provides downloadable educational materials for parents and caregivers managing children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

“My personal long-term experience with Deflux has proven its effectiveness and safety in reducing VUR and preventing UTI recurrence in patients who fail medical management, thus avoiding use of long-term antibiotics. It is my hope that the new website initiative, which includes helpful resources for physicians, will help raise awareness of this treatment option in patients with primary VUR, troubled by recurrent febrile UTIs,” said Dr. Marie-Klaire Farrugia, Consultant Paediatric Urologist and Service Lead for Paediatric Surgery at Chelsea & Westminster and Imperial College Hospitals.

“We are excited to offer these new online resources to the healthcare community in France, Germany, Italy and Spain,” said Rich Low, Head of Marketing at Palette Life Sciences. “We are confident they will benefit the global paediatric urology ecosystem and serve as valuable resources by providing critical information and access to educational resources through the Deflux Learning Center.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

ShigETEC vaccine candidate has the potential to have a major impact on diarrheal diseases

VIENNA, 24-Sep-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Eveliqure Biotechnologies GmbH, an Austrian biotechnology company, today announces the initiation of clinical testing for its ShigETEC vaccine candidate, with the dosing of the first subject in a Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity study in Europe. ShigETEC is an orally administered vaccine candidate targeting Shigella and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), two of the major pathogens responsible for diarrhoeal diseases in travelers to endemic countries, as well as a major threat to children living in low- and middle- income countries.

Currently no effective vaccines against these two pathogens exist and previous attempts to develop vaccines against Shigella and ETEC have failed. Eveliqure has employed a radically innovative approach based on a live attenuated Shigella vaccine strain rationally designed to provide broad, serotype independent protection against both Shigella and ETEC, and is developing the vaccine for both travelers to endemic countries and for children living in resource-poor countries. Following this initial Phase 1 study run in Hungary, further clinical development of ShigETEC will include Phase 1 testing in non-endemic adults, immune characterization of vaccine responses, vaccine formulation studies and clinical testing of ShigETEC in the pediatric population in resource poor-countries. These activities are supported by the EU-funded SHIGETECVAX international consortium of world-leading vaccine organizations – the European Vaccine Initiative, Eveliqure Biotechnologies, University of Gothenburg, icddr,b and PATH.

“Entering clinical development with ShigETEC marks a major milestone for Eveliqure, culminating from our extensive preclinical work performed over the past five years” – commented Gábor Somogyi, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Eveliqure. “We believe that ShigETEC has the potential to reduce the burden of diarrhoeal diseases for travellers, while also saving hundreds of thousands of children in endemic areas of the world”.

“Initiating the Phase 1 study for ShigETEC in adult volunteers is a crucial step towards establishing safety and immunogenicity of our vaccine candidate, and will help us define a well-tolerated, and effective schedule of dosing for our planned Phase 2 human challenge studies”. – commented Frank Malinoski MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Eveliqure.

Compared to single pathogen approaches, ShigETEC has the potential to have a major impact on diarrheal diseases, protecting both travelers to the developing world and children in endemic populations.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Palette Life Sciences unveils an online resource aimed at paediatric urologists, parents and caregivers in the UK dealing with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., U.S.A. / STOCKHOLM SWEDEN, 4-Aug-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Palette Life Sciences, a fully integrated global life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today announced the launch of Deflux.com/UK as part of its global expansion. Deflux.com/UK is a best-in-class online resource developed specifically for healthcare practitioners in the United Kingdom, as well as parents and caregivers managing children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). VUR, sometimes referred to as urinary or bladder reflux, is a serious paediatric urinary condition in which urine flows from the bladder through one or both ureters toward the kidneys.

Deflux.com/UK features important information about VUR, including symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options, such as Deflux®. Comprised of hyaluronic acid (HA) and dextranomer polysaccharides to form a gel, Deflux is a minimally invasive biocomopatible treatment for VUR. Endoscopic treatment with Deflux takes about 15 minutes in a day procedure setting, and generally allows the child to go back to normal activities the next day.

Deflux.com/UK also provides physicians with access to the Deflux Learning Center, a leading global education platform that features information and training for paediatric urologists and their peers who treat VUR as well as other paediatric urology conditions. The Deflux Learning Center includes clinical articles, educational videos and webinars, brochures, downloadable tools and The PedSpace podcast series, created for and presented by paediatric urology healthcare professionals.

“Deflux is an effective, minimally-invasive treatment option that many caregivers simply aren’t aware of,” said Dr. Marie-Klaire Farrugia, Consultant Paediatric Urologist and Clinical Director for Paediatric Surgery at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. “My personal long-term experience with Deflux has proven its effectiveness and safety in reducing VUR and preventing UTI recurrence, thus avoiding use of long-term antibiotics. It is my hope that the new website initiative, which includes helpful resources for both physicians and caregivers, will help raise awareness and utilisation of this treatment option.”

“The entire Palette commercial team is excited to launch Deflux.com/UK, which we believe will help elevate the standard of care for VUR patients in the UK,” said Rich Low, Head of Marketing, Palette Life Sciences. “Deflux.com/UK will serve as a truly valuable resource for caregivers, providing critical information to paediatric urology healthcare professionals through the Deflux Learning Center, and to caregivers, connecting them to highly-trained specialists who provide high quality care.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Palette Life Sciences expands distribution network across Europe

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN / SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., USA, 15-Jun-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Palette Life Sciences, a fully integrated global life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today announced global distribution expansion for two of Palette’s products, Deflux and Solesta. The expansion provides commercial access to more than 20 countries through five distributors around the globe, while adding direct sales in four additional countries: Cyprus, Greece, Hungary and Portugal.

KEBOMED, a leading European distributor of medical devices and equipment, will distribute the products in France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. Stratarium Sarl, will commercialize the products in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland leveraging their urology focused subsidiary, RA Distribution. CJ Medical, a UK-based distributor of innovative technologies specializing in surgical and medical devices, will distribute the products in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Grifols, one of the leading companies in the production and sale of plasma-derived medicines and a top distributor of a broad range of products within their country will cover Spain, and GP Dermal, a specialist with deep ties across urology and pediatric call points will serve as the distributor in Italy and Malta.

“This enhanced distribution network allows Palette to ensure our customer and patient needs are adequately met across Europe,” said James Leech, Head of Corporate Development at Palette Life Sciences. “We have selected strong partners with deep experience and relationships in the urology and pediatric setting who will help us serve the product and education needs of physicians and hospitals. Palette and its network of partners are making significant investments within local markets to improve physician access to Palette resources, best management and treatment practices, and renewed product training.”

For more information or to place an order, please contact a Palette Life Sciences representative at eusales@palettelifesciences.com. Contact information for product orders or inquires by distributor are as follows:

KEBOMED: ordre@kebomed.dk
Stratarium Sarl: deflux-solesta@stratarium.com
CJ Medical: office@cjmedical.com
Grifols: jose.sagales@grifols.com
GP Dermal: luigi.galandini@gpdermal.com

SOURCE: EuropaWire

American Hemp Processing To Roll Out Mobile Extraction Units

Sacramento, California, 2019-Dec-10 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — American Hemp Processing (AHP) is excited to announce the design completion of their Mobile Hemp Extraction Unit (MEHU). This is a key step in AHP’s expansion to increase production to 400,000lbs of hemp per month that will be completed 1st quarter 2020. The mobility of the MEHU reduces overall processing costs, mitigates many of the risks associated to transportation, and increases transparency with farmers.

The MHEU units bring significant benefits to the farmer from both a financial and risk mitigation perspective. “Most hemp farms are not close to processing facilities. Transportation is a large cost and increases the risk of degradation and contamination. On top of that, farmers still have to deal with legal issues in states that aren’t familiar with hemp and mistake it for marijuana,” says Andrew Alvarez Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer “Additionally, it increases transparency with farmers and helps educate them along the way to build synergistic relationships”.

“The design of the MHEU was Phase 2 of our strategy,” says Shick Park Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer, “Phase 1 was developing a scalable extraction and remediation process enabling us to create high quality and compliant CBD oil, and Phase 3 is the roll-out of the mobile extraction units on to farms fall of 2020.”

“This caps off a 12 month design process by our engineers and now we go to the assembly phase. These units will take approximately 120 days each to build, and we plan to initially build 3,” says Co-Founder and CEO Tom Richardson. “This has been a very rewarding journey for us, from meeting farmers all over the country, to government legislators, to fine tuning the extraction process, to meeting other processors and sharing ideas, we feel very confident about the Cannabinoid Sector business.”

Via EPR Network
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Parenteral Drug Association’s “ICH Q7 GMP for APIs” online training module is now endorsed by ICH

BERLIN, 22-Nov-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) is proud to announce that its “ICH Q7 GMP for APIs” online training module is now endorsed by the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use as an “ICH Recognised Training Programme.”

The training module received the distinction after PDA demonstrated to ICH that it meets the twelve eligibility criteria for the program. Among these are its mission to serve as a neutral convening platform to engage expert stakeholders from industry, academia, advocacy groups, non-profits, and/or regulatory agencies on critical regulatory topics, and its promotion of regulatory convergence to accelerate innovation and improve healthcare globally.

The free “ICH Q7 GMP for APIs” training module introduces and improves understanding of the ICH quality guideline, Q7: Good Manufacturing Practice Guide for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. The webinar is intended for pharmaceutical professionals working with APIs. More information on the webinar is available here: https://www.pda.org/global-event-calendar/ich-q7-gmp-for-apis.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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First Rhenium-SCT® (Skin Cancer Therapy) treatment in Germany done by Dr. Lutz-Hendrik Holle

HANAU, Germany, 4-Oct-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — OncoBeta®, a Medical Device Company specialized in innovative epidermal radioisotope therapies for Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancers (NMSCs), announced today, that Dr. Lutz-Hendrik Holle, Medical Director of the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine in Hanau, has accomplished the first Rhenium-SCT® (Skin Cancer Therapy) treatment in Germany. This state-of-the-art technology of local radionuclide therapy offers a painless and non-invasive treatment option for patients with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC) and the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine Hanau is the first center in Germany that offers the Rhenium-SCT®.

With approximately 50.000 outpatient examinations annually, the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine Hanau is one of the biggest nuclear medicine service providers in Hesse. The offered services include a variety of different modern treatment and diagnostic methods. The key argument for the expansion of the spectrum was that the Rhenium-SCT® is a new, painless and highly efficient treatment option that also delivers excellent cosmetic results. Besides being a painless alternative to other procedures, the Rhenium-SCT® also allows the treatment of numerous NMSC lesions consecutively in a single session, which was already realized during the first treatment in Hanau. This has also attracted international attention so that an American patient travelled to Hanau for the treatment.

“This therapy is particularly suitable for tumor localizations where good cosmetic results are to be achieved. The fact that the treatment is completely painless and can be performed in just one session is a great advantage”, says Dr. Lutz-Hendrik Holle, Medical Director of Nuclear Medicine in Hanau.

“We are very happy and proud to be able to offer our revolutionary treatment to patients in Germany now. The interregional professional association of nuclear medicine in Hanau is an excellent partner for NMSC patients in the fight against NMSC”, said Shannon D. Brown III, CEO and Managing Director of OncoBeta® GmbH. “Unfortunately, Germany is one of the countries that has experienced a drastic increase in newly diagnosed NMSC cases in recent years. Our highly qualified team strives to provide physicians and patients with a non-invasive and affordable solution to treat NMSC, while focusing on the needs of the patient.”

The global incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers has been drastically increasing over the past decades. Depending on the source, it is estimated that there are over 5 million non-melanoma skin cancer cases reported globally each year. In certain analyzed areas of Germany there was an increase in the incidence between the year 2005 and the year 2014 by about 30%1. To serve the increasing medical need for innovative therapies in this field and to improve the quality of patients’ lives, OncoBeta® GmbH has developed its innovative Rhenium-SCT® which only require a single application in most of the cases, applied in one single session with excellent aesthetic outcomes.

Via EPR Network
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CoapTech and Fidmi Medical to Collaborate on Groundbreaking G-Tube Systems

Baltimore, MD, 2019-Sep-18 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — CoapTech LLC (Baltimore, MD) and Fidmi Medical, Ltd. (Caesarea, Israel) announced today that they will be collaborating on bringing to market a set of next-generation products for the initial placement and long-term maintenance of gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes). The collaboration between CoapTech and Fidmi will focus on integrating the company’s two technologies and expanding their collective market opportunities.

Gastrostomy tubes, which help patients receive long-term nutritional support, are typically placed endoscopically and need to be replaced every 3-6 months.

CoapTech’s PUMA-G System allows initial gastrostomy tube placement by non-surgeons/ gastroenterologists, outside of the endoscopy suite, using point-of-care ultrasound at the patient bedside. This novel approach can be performed in the ICU, emergency room, and eventually outside of the hospital setting, substantially reducing costs for tube placement.

Fidmi Medical’s innovative low-profile gastrostomy system is unique in that it can be utilized for both initial placement and replacement and has several features which make it more durable and comfortable for patients. Gastrostomy tubes very often get dislodged, clogged, or infected, and need to be replaced frequently. Fidmi’s improved low-profile gastrostomy tube is placed just like any standard PEG tube but has an easily replaceable inner tube which can be changed by patients without the need to re-enter the healthcare system for replacement procedures. This will result in fewer complications with patients’ g-tubes, therefore potentially reducing healthcare costs for payers and healthcare systems; as well as providing a substantial improvement in quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

Fidmi Medical Chairman, Lloyd Fishman, commented, “We are excited to collaborate with CoapTech in development and marketing. Both companies have developed cutting-edge technologies that will improve patient care and contribute to the ease, efficiency and confidence of clinicians’ work in the gastrostomy field.”

Dr. Steven Tropello, CoapTech’s founder and CMO said, “In combination these systems will be compatible with Push or Pull methods, be implantable in a wide variety of clinical settings, and require minimal readmission to the hospital and fewer visits to the ER. The synergy will reduce both front and back-end costs for hospitals and payers, and make care safer and more patient-centered.”

Via EPR Network
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2019 PDA Europe Biomanufacturing Conference in Munich: new speakers announced

2019 PDA Europe Biomanufacturing Conference in Munich: new speakers announced

BERLIN, 14-Aug-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) today announced representatives of seven health authorities have been invited to speak at the 2019 PDA Europe Biomanufacturing Conference, 3-4 September 2019 in Munich, Germany. The following health authorities have confirmed speakers:

  • Danish Medicines Agency
  • Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board
  • European Medicines Agency
  • European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare (EDQM)
  • Swedish Medicines Agency

Mats Welin, Medical Products Agency, Sweden, and Dolores Hernan, European Medicines Agency, will provide an opening plenary talk on Accelerated Access and discuss the results of a 2018 EMA/FDA workshop on quality considerations for early access approaches. Those intrigued by Accelerated Access can learn more in the follow-up session, moderated by Martjin van der Plas, Dutch Medicine Evaluation Board. Welin and Hernan will participate in a panel discussion ending that session.

After a the first-day luncheon, Nanna Kruse, Danish Medicines Agency, will peel away some of the mystery surrounding the forthcoming International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Guideline Q12: Technical and Regulatory Considerations for Pharmaceutical Product Lifecycle Management. In a parallel track, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (speaker TBD) will intrigue the audience with a review of challenges regulators routinely face with the advent of new vaccines and innovative biologics.

Bright and early on 4 September, the EDQM’s Gwenael Cirefice and the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board (speaker TBD) turn the attention to ICH and advances in test methodologies. In a parallel track, Martjin van de Plas returns to the podium to review regulatory ideas regarding quality by design and control strategies. Hernan takes the mic as the conference’s last speaker to discuss EMA’s 2025 regulatory science strategy.

The meeting will close with a panel discussion including all the regulatory representatives participating.

Learn more about the topics that will be examined in-depth and/or to register. https://www.pda.org/global-event-calendar/event-detail/biomanufacturing-conference

Members of the press are welcome to apply for a press pass. https://www.pda.org/about-pda/press-pass-request-form

SOURCE: EuropaWire

2019 Red Herring North America Top 100 Winner: New recognition of OncoBeta’s success in developing and providing an innovative therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer patients

Pasadena, CA, U.S.A., 6-Jul-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — OncoBeta®, a Medical Device Company specialized in innovative epidermal radioisotope therapies for Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancers (NMSCs), announced today, that it was honored as a Red Herring Top 100 North America Award winner recognizing the continent’s most exciting and innovative private technology companies. After being recognized with the Red Herring Top 100 Europe Award earlier this year, this is now the second recognition obtained by Red Herring.

The winners, celebrated at a special awards ceremony at the Westin Pasadena hotel, have been chosen from thousands of entrants, whittled down to hundreds making the trip to California. The ceremony, led by Red Herring chairman Alex Vieux, was preceded by two days of keynote speeches, discussions and finalist presentations.

Companies were judged by industry experts, insiders and journalists on a wide variety of criteria including financial performance, innovation, business strategy, and market penetration. Winners ran the gamut of verticals, from FinTech and Marketing to Security, IoT, and many more industries.

Red Herring’s editors have been evaluating the world’s startups and tech companies for over two decades. It gives them the ability to see through the industry’s hype to pick firms that will continue on a trajectory to success. Brands such as Alibaba, Google, Kakao, Skype, Spotify, Twitter and YouTube have all been singled out in Red Herring’s storied history.

“2019’s crop of Top 100 winners has been among our most intriguing yet,” said Vieux. “North America has led the way in tech for so many years, and to see such unique, pioneering entrepreneurs and companies here in California, which is in many ways the heartland of the industry, has been a thrilling experience.”

“What has excited me most is to see so many people forging niches in high-tech and cutting edge sectors,” added Vieux. “Some of the technical wizardry and first-rate business models showcased here at the conference has been fantastic to learn about. We believe OncoBeta® embodies the drive, skill and passion on which tech thrives. OncoBeta® should be proud of its achievement – the competition was incredibly strong.”

“Being named as one of the Red Herring’s Top 100 North America award winner in addition to the Top 100 Europe is a great honor for us.” states Shannon D. Brown III, CEO of OncoBeta®. “The spirit of the award aligns perfectly with our team’s mission in the fight against non-melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) with the Rhenium-SCT®.”

The complete list of the 2019 Red Herring North America Top 100 Winners can be found here in alphabetical order: https://www.redherring.com/2019-rhna-top100-winners/

Red Herring’s press release is available online at https://www.redherring.com/red-herring-2019-top-100-north-america-winners-press-release/

SOURCE: EuropaWire

EMA, MHRA and U.S. FDA among regulatory agencies participating at PDA’s 4th Annual European Meeting in Amsterdam

BERLIN, 10-Jun-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) is excited to host its 4th Annual European Meeting: Global Healthcare of the Present and the Future, June 25-26 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the new location of the European Medicines Agency, where industry and regulatory agencies will present their perspectives on the transformation unfolding in the pharmaceutical sector regarding the digitalization and automation of manufacturing processes.

From the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Felix G. Rebitschek will deliver the keynote speech, “Decision-Making Under Uncertainty.” Following him, the opening plenary “Regulatory Updates – Current Situation” will discuss understanding regulatory frameworks in an atmosphere of rapid change and provide the opportunity to participate in conversation with regulators and industry representatives.

Regulatory agencies sharing industry updates include the European Medicines Agency, U.S. FDA, WHO, MHRA and HPRA, PIC/S.

A series of parallel tracks will offer the chance to learn about topics ranging from virtual reality, data quality management, manufacturing technologies and much more.

Learn more about the topics that will be examined in-depth.

Registration (https://store.pda.org/Meetings/Login.aspx?ID=4520) can be completed until June 24.

Bona fide members of the press are welcome to apply for a press pass.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

2019 PDA EU Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products: Cell and Gene Therapy – From Promise to Cure Conference

BERLIN, 28-May-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) is pleased to announce the speaker lineup for the 2019 PDA EU Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products: Cell and Gene Therapy – From Promise to Cure Conference, in Vilnius, Lithuania, June 4-5. Expert speakers representing industry, government and academia will cover the full breadth of scientific and regulatory considerations for successfully launching and manufacturing cell and gene therapies.

Lithuanian University of Health Science professor Romaldas Maciulaitis will get the meeting off to a quick start with his presentation, “Development and the Use of ATMPs in EU/Lithuania.”

Following him in the opening plenary session is Alistair Gibb from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, presenting “ATMPs System-wide Challenges from Innovation to Uptake – Pragmatic Supportive Regulation and Standards.”

The Paul-Ehrlich Institute’s Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding takes the podium after her British counterpart with, “From Individualized to Standardized Microbiological Quality Control in ATMP Manufacturing.”

The PDA EU ATMP Conference comes just a month after PDA’s successful Cell and Gene Therapy Conference in Long Beach, Calif., May 6 – 7. That conference drew 200 participants. Earlier this year, PDA published Technical Report No. 81: Cell-Based Therapy Control Strategy.

Go here to see the full speaker lineup.

Press passes are available here to bona fide members of the press.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

The interregional professional association for nuclear medicine in Hanau has become the first treatment center in Germany to offer the Rhenium-SCT® (SCT= Skin Cancer Therapy)

GARCHING N. MUNICH, Germany, 13-May-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — OncoBeta® GmbH, a commercial stage Medical Device Company specialized in innovative epidermal radioisotope therapies for Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancers (NMSCs), is pleased to announce that the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine in Hanau now offers the Rhenium-SCT ® (SCT= Skin Cancer Therapy) as the first treatment center in Germany.

With approximately 50.000 outpatient examinations annually, the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine Hanau is one of the biggest nuclear medicine service providers in Hesse. The offered services include a variety of different modern treatment and diagnostic methods which are state-of the art in science and technology.

“Offering NMSC skin cancer patients a highly efficient, painless, innovative therapy with excellent aesthetic results was the driving reason to establish this treatment method in our clinic,” says Dr. med. Lutz-Hendrik Holle, Medical Director of Nuclear Medicine in Hanau.

“We are delighted that our innovative skin cancer therapy Rhenium-SCT® is now being offered by the Nuclear Medicine in Hanau and we are looking forward to this collaboration”, states Shannon D. Brown III, CEO and Managing Director of OncoBeta® GmbH. “For us, this is an important step to offer the treatment method in addition to Italy, South Africa and Australia now also in Germany. In order to provide our treatment to as many skin cancer patients as possible, it is of course our goal to offer the availability of the therapy nationwide in Germany in the future.”

The global incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers has been drastically increasing over the past decades. Depending on the source, it is estimated that there are over 5 million non-melanoma skin cancer cases reported globally each year. In Germany the number of newly diagnosed patients is about 200,000 annually and it is assumed that this number increases within the next years. To serve the increasing medical need for innovative therapies in this field and to improve the quality of patients’ lives, OncoBeta® GmbH has developed its innovative Rhenium-SCT® which only require a single application, applied in one single session with excellent aesthetic outcomes.

If interested, patients and doctors can either contact the interregional professional association for nuclear medicine in Hanau directly or OncoBeta® GmbH.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Mr RICHARD GUILLAUME IS APPOINTED TO THE DIAFIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RENNES, FRANCE, 2019-Apr-08 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — DIAFIR, a medical technology company focused on the development, manufacture and sale of innovative diagnostic solutions in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and septic arthritis announces today the appointment of Mr Richard Guillaume to its Board of Directors.

Mr Guillaume has a wide experience of over 30 years in international management and operations in the pharmaceutical industry as well as in the medtech. Drawing on his experience and knowledge in the field of medical devices and diagnosis, Mr Guillaume will advise and help the Company in its development.

Alongside his role at Diafir, Richard Guillaume has been the General Manager of Echosens from 2008 until 2013. He was previously Executive Vice President Global Sales and Marketing at Blatchford, a UK medical device company. He was also member of the board. Prior, he held various positions such as Director Global Marketing of Abbott International in Chicago and Director Category Development Europe of Mead Johnson. Richard holds a Master in Business Administration from Poitiers University and a DESS in Marketing from Paris Dauphine completed by a general management program at INSEAD.

 

Via EPR Network
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The LentiGlobin application for cMAA at the EMA from bluebird bio still in review process by CHMP

LONDON, 27-Mar-2019 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The LentiGlobin application for Conditional Marketing Authorization (cMAA) at the EMA from bluebird bio is still in the process of being reviewed by CHMP during their 25-28 March 2019 meeting. An opinion for the cMAA is expected to be released soon.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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University of Pretoria Prof. Mike Sathekge is First in South Africa to Treat Non-Melanocytic Skin #Cancer Patients with Rhenium-SCT®

Garching n. Munich, Germany, 26-Nov-2018 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — OncoBeta® GmbH, a commercial stage Medical Device Company specialized in innovative epidermal radioisotope therapies for Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancers (NMSCs), announced today that Prof. Mike Sathekge from the University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital Nuclear Medical department and his clinical team has treated the first non-melanocytic skin cancer patients in South Africa with the innovative Rhenium-SCT® skin cancer treatment System. This next-generation radionuclide therapy technology applied by the nuclear medicine physician offers a new singles session, painless treatment for patients suffering from Basal Cell – and Squamous Cell Carcinomas (BCCs and SCCs).

The global incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers has drastically increased over the few past decades. Depending on the source, it is estimated that there are over 5 million non-melanoma skin cancer cases reported globally each year. Approximately 80% of non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas with South Africa having one of the highest incidence rates in the world.

Prof. Mike Sathekge and his team at the University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital are focused on providing patients with personalized care using state-of-the-art technology that can deliver high-precision therapy and diagnostics with minimal side effects. The specialized team of experts in the nuclear medicine and medical physics, work closely with other disciplines within the university hospital, referring physicians, and other institutions, to ensure patients receive the best possible treatment for their specific type of cancer.

Martin Magwaza, CEO of Tautomer (PTY) LTD Oncobeta®’s distribution partner for the Rhenium-SCT® in Africa, is dedicated to providing South Africans with new innovative and effective therapies across the continent, coordinating with representatives from all levels of government and state for the health care landscape.

“The start of the Rhenium-SCT® in South Africa is a significant milestone in the international expansion of our ground-breaking treatment for BCCs and SCCs.,” said Shannon D. Brown III, CEO and Managing Director of OncoBeta® GmbH. “Our vision of bringing a revolutionary affordable skin cancer therapy to physicians and patients all over the world has come one step closer today”.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Dr. Christina Marrongelli chosen by the World Congress on Pharmacology & Chemistry of Natural Compounds to moderate their 2018 conference in Paris

Dr. Christina Marrongelli chosen by the World Congress on Pharmacology & Chemistry of Natural Compounds to moderate their 2018 conference in Paris

Marrongelli selected for her expertise in Botanical Drug Development

LONDON, Jun-16-2018 — /EPR Healthcare News/ — As a leading expert in her field, Dr. Christina Marrongelli, PharmD has been chosen by the World Congress on Pharmacology & Chemistry of Natural Compounds to moderate their 2018 conference: Exploring New Trends & Innovations in Pharmacology and Natural Compounds. The conference is being held in Paris, France on June 18, 2018.

Dr. Marrongelli, who is an adjunct professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in the department of drug discovery and biomedical sciences will also present “Developing and Marketing Botanical Drugs in the United States”.

The United States, which has the largest pharmaceutical market in the world, demonstrates a strong demand for the use of botanicals as medicine. However, to date only two prescription botanical drugs are currently approved for use in the USA: Veregen® (sinecatechins) and Mytesi™Â (crofelemer).

Marrongelli attributes this disconnect between supply and demand to hidden barriers. She notes that with the worldwide herbal drug market is expected to reach nearly $86.74 billion by 2022, businesses must identify and address these barriers so that heterogeneous botanical drug products can obtain the approvals necessary to meet the consumers growing expectations and demands for botanical medicines.

To further explain the barriers to regulation of botanicals, Marrongelli points to the Botanical Drug Development Guidance for Industry from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) that was last updated in 2016. According to publication, regulation of botanicals in the U.S. is different from regulation in the rest of world. The U.S. does not have a separate regulatory category for traditional or herbal medicines: A botanical product may be classified as a food (including a dietary supplement), drug (including a biological drug), medical device, or cosmetic under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Whether an article is a food, drug, medical device, or cosmetic depends in large part on its intended use.

To learn more about the issues and barriers to the development of botanical drugs, please contact Dr. Marrongelli at Marronge@musc.edu or DrM@pharmD.expert.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark, Fraunhofer Institute Portugal and ProjectRay named the winners of the European Silver Economy Awards 2018

Winners of the first European Silver Economy Awards: Boaz Zilberman (ProjectRay), Anne Friis Hansen (Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark) and Ana Vasconcelos (Fraunhoder Institute Portugal)

BRUSSELS, Belgium, 20-May-2018 — /EPR Healthcare News/ — On Thursday May 3, the first edition of the European Silver Economy Awards has celebrated its winners under the patronage of Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, and Markku Markkula, First Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions. The ceremony took place at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels and has been designed as an event that brings together key speakers and innovators from both the public and private sector.

The first prize in the category Public Authorities has been awarded to the Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark (Denmark) for their Generic Telemedicine Platform. The Fraunhofer Institute Portugal (Portugal) submitted a tool for fall prevention and detection (GoLive Solutions) and was the winning Non-for Profit Organisation. Introducing a smartphone solution (RAY Solutions) for visually impaired people, ProjectRay (Israel) has won in the category For Profit Organisation.

The Silver Economy Awards have been launched to recognise and reward innovative ICT solutions from all sectors, to raise awareness of the potentials of this section of the economy and to bring together European stakeholders under a common goal: supporting and improving the quality of life of older persons in society. On behalf of Commissioner Gabriel, Cabinet Member Manuel Mateo Goyet described the first Silver Economy Awards as representing a “milestone on our way towards becoming a truly age-friendly Europe”, and promoted the ceremony as “a unique occasion to send a very positive message on how we see the future of ageing” showing “the true value of collaboration in Europe”.

Celebrating the nine finalists and their dedication to making Europe an age-friendlier place, Markku Markkula, host and moral patron of the Silver Economy Awards, declares his acknowledgement: “I want them in my region”. More than 95 applications coming from 22 countries have been submitted for consideration in three awards categories referring to the type of organisation. Over 40 Silver Economy experts were involved in the three-staged evaluation process to determine Winner, Second and Third.

For more details on the winner entries and an overview of the final ranking of the first European Silver Economy Awards 2018 edition please visit www.silvereconomyawards.eu/sea/2017/awards#Winners.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

FINALLY, A REAL INNOVATION IN DENTAL CARE – THE ONLY DUAL MODE LIGHT THERAPY ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH LAUNCHES ON KICKSTARTER

Los Angeles, California, 2018-Mar-26 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Bristl combines proven science of light therapy with sonic vibration to improve oral care. The company also offers a subscription service to replace brush heads, so having the best oral health is also convenient.

Available on Kickstarter on Monday, March 26th at 9am (PST)

The combination of Bristl’s features, convenience, and style make for true market disruption:

Gum Health
Visible Red light (620–750 nm in wavelength) has been clinically proven to heal gum tissue and prevent inflammation. The same technology is often used in skincare; Bristl is bringing it to the everyday tooth brushing routine.

Kill Bacteria
Visible blue light (450–495 nm in wavelength) has been clinically proven to kill and prevent oral bacteria that causes gingivitis and other gum disease. This safe and natural blue light is proven to be effective, and Bristl is proud to bring it to market.

Get Rid of Plaque
Bristl has three sonic vibration modes: regular, gentle, and off. Sonic vibration is recommended by dentists as it has the highest cleaning ability without damaging gums. The brush head is also particularly designed to reach in crack and crevices while letting light pass through the bristles.

A Few Stats
According to a study published in the Journal of Periodontology and Implant Science (Vol. 44: pp. 280-287), Bristl’s technology (even with only red light) was effective in achieving the following:

  • 86% reduction in bacteria that causes destruction of tooth supporting tissue
  • 117% improvement in PPD (Periodontal Pocket Depth) which indicates gum health
  • 80% improvement in CAL (Clinical Attachment Level) which is another metric for gum health

Why Us?
The Bristl Science team consists of a group of innovators and scientists looking to use advanced technology to improve everyday lives. While we of course wish to build a successful business, we are doing so responsibly; Bristl has committed to donating a percentage of every sale to America’s Toothfairy to provide underserved children with dental care. Whether a customer or an underserved child, we’re on a mission to maximize oral health everywhere.

This is just the beginning. The Bristl Science team will work tirelessly to innovate and build products that improve lives, maximize health, and promote good. The Bristl light therapy toothbrush is just the first step toward a healthier future.

Clinical backing, photos, founders quotes, and more information can be found in our Media Kit:
http://bit.ly/2HtKTJ8

Campaign Preview: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/574806194/565862801?ref=450743&token=dbd4feaa

Via EPR Network
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