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Summer is a busy time for everyone, guests and listeners alike, so today we're taking stock. This is our Summer Recap — a clips episode pulling together the best moments from conversations you might have missed over the past few months.We'll hear from Randy Teel of Arvinas and Per Lundin of Evox on two very different ways of getting drugs to the brain, and Laurent Lévy of Nanobiotix on outsmarting the liver altogether. We'll meet the founders behind these companies, including Andy Parker of Step Pharma and Gene Mack of Gain Therapeutics, and the unlikely paths that got them there. We'll dig into the science of nonsense mutations with Nerissa Kreher of Alltrna, circular RNA with Lu Gao of Therorna, and a cancer target hiding in human genetics. And we'll close with what these leaders think success actually looks like, years from now.So sit back, and let's revisit some of our favourite moments from the summer.02:32 Solving the delivery problem08:39 Founder journeys15:13 Platform science24:41 Business, money, and geopolitics32:28 Looking aheadInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: Episode 204: The first PROTAC is here. What comes next in protein degradation?Episode 205: Turning cancer cell dependencies into targeted therapiesEpisode 208: Gain Therapeutics: a first-in-class, disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson'sEpisode 209: Why Western pharma is sleeping on China's circular RNA revolutionEpisode 211: Beyond biology: Nanobiotix's physics-first approach to cancerEpisode 213: How Evox Therapeutics is targeting CNS diseases with exosomesEpisode 214: Rewriting the rules of genetic medicine with tRNA therapeutics
About this episode: According to the CDC, rabies cases are on the rise nationwide. This aggressive RNA virus, primarily transmitted through biting, can infect any mammal—including household pets and humans—with horrific and fatal consequences. In this episode: Veterinarians Meghan Davis and Monica Murphy discuss how to identify a rabid animal, why preventing infection is critical to saving lives, and the fascinating cultural history of rabies with ties to werewolves, vampires, and zombies. Guest: Meghan Davis, PhD, MPH, DVM, is a veterinarian and chair of the Master of Public Health program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Monica Murphy, MPH, DVM, is a veterinarian and author of the book "Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus." Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. Show links and related content: Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus—Penguin Random House Disease experts urge safe animal practices amid 'unusual' rabid beaver attacks—Maryland Matters Nationwide Increase in Reported Human Rabies Exposures: Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis Administration—CDC Stopping Dog Bites Helps Stop Rabies—Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Programs Why We Vaccinate Our Dogs and Cats—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. Follow us: @PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @PublicHealthPod on Instagram @JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other intellectual disabilities have become a hot button topic in both medicine and the news as of late, with recent questions about the multifactorial causes of intellectual disabilities, including genetics. Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician Dr. Kendall Abbas is joined by Liliana Amirhosseini and Zoe Gunthert, two fourth year medical students, to discuss presentation, diagnosis, and management of Fragile X, the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. Specifically, they will Explain the genetics and pathophysiology leading to the Fragile X phenotype Discuss the clinic characteristics associated with Fragile X, allowing for prompt evaluation and management of the symptoms Share treatment plans and resources available for those with Fragile X and their families Special thanks to Dr. Rebecca Yang and Dr. Sarah Straka for peer reviewing this episode. Free CME available: Link for CME Credit References: Bailey DB Jr, Raspa M, Bishop E, Holiday D. No change in the age of diagnosis for fragile X syndrome: Findings from a national parent survey. 2009 Aug;124(2):527-533. Hunter JE, Berry-Kravis E, Hipp H, et al. FMR1 Disorders. 1998 Jun 16 [Updated 2024 May 16]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1384/. Mendez A, Mendez M. Fragile X Syndrome: A Review for General Pediatricians. Pediatr Ann. 2024;53(7):e269-e271. doi:10.3928/19382359-20240502-08 Malecki, C., Hambly, B.D., Jeremy, R.W. et al. The RNA-binding fragile-X mental retardation protein and its role beyond the brain. Biophys Rev 12, 903–916 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-020-00730-4. National Fragile X Foundation. Prevalence. https://fragilex.org/understanding-fragile-x/fragile-x-101/prevalence/. Sirois CL, Guo Y, Li M, et al. CGG repeats in the human FMR1 gene regulate mRNA localization and cellular stress in developing neurons. Cell Rep. 2024;43(6):114330. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114330 Spector, Elaine et al. Laboratory testing for fragile X, 2021 revision: a technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Genetics in Medicine. 2021;23(5): 799 - 812. doi: 1038/s41436-021-01115-y .
Paul Bieniasz joins TWiV to discuss his lab's discovery that the coronavirus nuclease NSP15 cuts viral RNA into oligonucleotides that are reinserted elsewhere in the viral RNA, generating insertion mutations at a frequency above 10⁻³ per genome, including new furin cleavage sites at the spike S1/S2 junction. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Genetic innovation in coronaviruses driven by a viral nuclease (bioRxiv) Letters read on TWiV 1357 Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Picks of the Week Kathy – Jurassic Museum of Asturias Alan – Grand Central Winter, by Lee Stringer Vincent – How to Choose REAL Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A Practical Guide and How to Tell if Your Olive Oil is Fake! Quick Kitchen Tip! Listener Pick Shirley – I Told You So! by Matt Kaplan Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
Lily Jay of TikTok asks a bunch of what she seems to think are gotcha questions, most of which have relatively straightforward answers.Cards:Questions for Atheists...Answered!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4mknmx0XVwSources:Ask Ethan: Can We Really Get A Universe From Nothing?: https://tinyurl.com/y2j4fxhxThe Anchor Bible: Genesis: https://tinyurl.com/29p8k7nfEvolutionary transition from a single RNA replicator to a multiple replicator network: https://tinyurl.com/y9tbaxluReligion, spirituality and depression in prospective studies: A systematic review: https://tinyurl.com/2b4rvwkeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/viced-rhino-the-podcast--4623273/support.All my various links can be found here: http://links.vicedrhino.comThis content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Oded Rechavi, a professor at Tel Aviv University who studies genetics, epigenetics and the inheritance of acquired traits. We discuss how DNA, RNA and epigenetic mechanisms determine what information can pass between generations, and why acquired traits are generally not thought to be inherited. We also explain research in C. elegans showing how small RNAs can transmit antiviral resistance and influence behavior across generations, what these findings might mean for mammals and humans, and potential future applications for reproductive health and diagnostics. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Oded Rechavi (00:00:24) DNA, Genome, RNA & Proteins (00:03:43) Somatic vs. Germ Cells; Inheritance (00:06:05) Sponsor: Eight Sleep (00:07:23) Lamarck vs. Darwin, Inheritance of Acquired Traits (00:09:45) Weismann Barrier, Epigenetic Reprogramming (00:13:05) RNA & Transgenerational Inheritance (00:13:54) Model Organisms, C. elegans (00:16:59) Inheritance of Acquired Traits in C. elegans (00:17:14) Sponsor: AG1 (00:18:40) RNA Interference, Small RNAs & Gene Silencing (00:22:46) Viral Resistance Across Generations (00:24:53) Small RNAs, Mammals & Inherited Effects (00:26:00) Brain Activity, Memory & Heritable Information (00:28:46) Neuronal Small RNAs & Behavior Across Generations (00:29:59) Germ Cells, Development & Heritable RNA (00:31:29) Sponsor: LMNT (00:33:11) Future Applications, Exercise, IVF & RNA Diagnostics (00:35:16) Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In today's episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Gretchen Z. explore souls, spirits, and the supernatural with calls ranging from witchcraft to ghost sightings to biblical morality!Robin in KY shares her journey from Christianity through witchcraft to atheism. After years of believing coincidences proved magic was real, her 14-year-old daughter helped her see reason. How do we distinguish between genuine patterns and our brain's tendency to find meaning where none exists? What role does confirmation bias play in supernatural beliefs?Patrick in FL insists RNA and DNA complexity proves God exists as a chemist designer. The conversation becomes contentious as Patrick talks over the hosts and refuses to engage with their responses. Why does complexity necessarily require a designer? What would distinguish a designed molecule from an undesigned one?Ken in VA recounts seeing a Victorian-dressed ghost walk through him 48 years ago in his then-new house. He admits other explanations would be boring and prefers the ghost story. When we favor exciting explanations over mundane ones, what does that say about our relationship with truth?Emanuel in Sweden, a Christian of two years, discusses belief in souls and Jesus. The hosts challenge him on Jesus historicity and the originality of biblical morals. What evidence would demonstrate Jesus was a real historical figure versus a mythological one? Emanuel is encouraged to call back for Atheist Experience.Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.
Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we delve into a series of pivotal advances and industry dynamics that are shaping the future of healthcare. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently granted approval to Ionis Pharmaceuticals' Zanvastro, a breakthrough in treating Alexander disease. This condition, a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the glial fibrillary acidic protein gene, has historically posed significant treatment challenges. Zanvastro, an antisense oligonucleotide therapy, is notable for being the first of its kind to target this protein, marking a monumental step in precision medicine. The success of this therapy not only opens new avenues for treating Alexander disease but also highlights the potential of antisense technologies to address other rare genetic disorders. Ionis Pharmaceuticals is poised to further explore this innovative therapeutic approach in other neurodegenerative conditions like Angelman syndrome, reinforcing their leadership in targeting rare genetic diseases at the molecular level. Meanwhile, strategic partnerships continue to transform the metabolic disease treatment landscape. The Menarini Group's partnership with Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals aims to bring the GLP-1 receptor agonist Bofanglutide to European markets. This collaboration underscores the growing emphasis on GLP-1 therapies for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. With an investment of $72 million upfront and potential milestone payments reaching $771 million, this partnership illustrates the strategic importance of cross-border collaborations in accelerating drug availability and leveraging regional expertise. In parallel, Argo Biopharma has announced promising phase 2 results for its small interfering RNA therapy targeting plasma prekallikrein in hereditary angioedema. This innovative approach offers a prophylactic treatment option for a disease characterized by severe swelling attacks. By harnessing RNA interference mechanisms, Argo Biopharma joins a broader movement within biotech towards gene-silencing technologies that tackle previously challenging conditions. Further emphasizing innovation, Superluminal Medicines has raised $60 million to advance its AI-discovered MC4R-targeting drug for rare obesity conditions. This initiative highlights the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in drug discovery, enabling rapid identification of therapeutic candidates by analyzing extensive datasets and predicting molecular interactions. The focus on rare forms of obesity reflects a broader trend toward personalized medicine, where treatments are increasingly tailored to specific genetic profiles. Regulatory developments also feature prominently with Liquidia Corporation receiving FDA fast track designation for Yutrepia, an inhaled small molecule aimed at treating systemic sclerosis-related Raynaud's phenomenon. This designation will expedite the development and review process for Yutrepia, facilitating quicker access to this potentially life-enhancing treatment for those suffering from autoimmune complications. However, challenges persist within the industry. The FDA issued a warning letter to Fresenius Medical Care over deficiencies related to complaint handling and contamination inspections for sterile injectable products. This action underscores ongoing concerns regarding compliance with safety standards and highlights the critical need for rigorous quality control mechanisms to ensure patient safety. In exploring new therapeutic modalities, psilocybin has shown promise in managing neuropathic pain through preclinical studies. These findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting psychedelics' potential benefits beyond mental health applications, opening new avenues for pain management therapies that could revolutionize treatment protocols. The competitive landscape in weight management sees significant movement with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill and Eli Lilly's Foundayo vying for dominance in oral GLP-1 receptor agonists. As companies race to develop more patient-friendly formulations, these innovations promise to significantly boost adherence and outcomes in obesity management. Lastly, industry trends reveal an evolving marketing landscape where social media collaborations and strategic partnerships are becoming central to engaging patients and advocating medical conditions. For example, Novartis' partnership with a British Olympian aims to enhance multiple sclerosis advocacy by leveraging influential platforms for patient education and empowerment. These developments paint a picture of a dynamic pharmaceutical and biotech sector characterized by scientific innovation, strategic partnerships, regulatory vigilance, and data-driven approaches. As companies continue to navigate these complexities, their ability to leverage cutting-edge technologies and foster global collaborations will be crucial in delivering transformative health solutions. The industry's focus on precision medicine and novel therapeutic modalities promises significant advancements in patient care and disease management in the years ahead. Thank you for joining us at Pharma Daily—your source for the latest news shaping the world of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.Support the show
Join us in this episode with Dr Oksana Zdanska, hearing about her amazing journey from Czech Rep. to Sydney's shores, working in Phase 1 at TKCC and completing her PhD on the patient lived experience. We also hear about her work at Immvirx, which is developing several viral oncololytic RNA therapies for cancers with unmet needs.
Today, I'm thrilled to connect with Dr. Aleksandra Gajer. Dr. Gajer was previously an academic emergency medicine physician who pivoted after realizing ER medicine was functioning less as a place that saves lives and more as a place that manages chronic conditions that should have been caught and addressed years earlier. That observation led her to leave ER medicine and take over an established Northern Virginia internal medicine practice focusing on hormone optimization, peptide therapy, and preventative longevity-oriented care. In our conversation today, we discuss how perimenopause is treatable and suffering through it is optional. Dr. Gajer explains how she manages body composition changes, weight loss resistance, bone health, and orthopedic-related complaints in midlife. We take a deep dive into the sourcing and research limitations of peptides, exploring healing peptides, growth hormone-promoting peptides, and thymic peptides, and also discussing immunosenescence, bioregulators, mitochondrial RNA-coded peptides, pheno age testing, and using low-dose ketamine, when appropriate, for mental health challenges. Stay tuned for a fascinating conversation about the science and limitations of research on peptide therapies, and what Dr. Gajer is looking forward to in the near future. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: The health struggles Dr. Gajer experienced that led her to explore integrative therapies Why women may wake up at 2 or 3 a.m. during perimenopause How hormone changes in midlife can contribute to weight loss resistance Why Dr. Gajer encourages women to have their bone mass assessed earlier than conventionally recommended How declining estrogen and estradiol can contribute to orthopedic-related symptoms during perimenopause and menopause What women need to understand about sourcing peptides and the limitations of peptide research The different ways in which growth hormone-promoting peptides, thymic peptides, epitalon, and MOTC work How GLP-1s can be helpful for midlife women beyond changing their body composition and assisting with weight loss How Dr. Gajer uses low-dose ketamine lozenges for treatment-resistant anxiety and depression Bio: Dr. Aleksandra Gajer is a board-certified physician and founder of The Gajer Practice. In this precision and longevity medicine clinic, she helps high-performing patients optimize their healthspan through a whole-person, root-cause approach. Trained in emergency medicine at the University of Maryland and George Washington University, she brings rigorous clinical thinking to hormone optimization, peptide therapy, metabolic health, and gut healing. Her own journey through Lyme, alongside more than twenty years of contemplative practice, shapes her belief that emotional and spiritual health underlie physical wellness. A recurring Fox 5 DC health expert with more than fifty podcast appearances, she is also building physician education around the responsible, evidence-based use of peptides. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website. Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com. Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. Purchase Cynthia's book, The Menopause Gut. Cynthia's Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line Connect with Dr. Aleksandra Gajer The Gajer Practice
De que maneira a ampliação do escopo preventivo em cardiologia, as novas ferramentas de triagem digital e as terapias de ponta transformam as condutas na saúde?Neste episódio do Afya News, sintetizamos os acontecimentos mais relevantes da semana na prática médica. Abordamos as recomendações atualizadas da Sociedade Europeia de Cardiologia para reabilitação multiprofissional contínua, os dados de aterosclerose subclínica em faixas etárias jovens e a precisão do ultrassom portátil com IA na detecção precoce de valvopatias. Destacamos ainda os novos modelos de rastreio de câncer de colo do útero em domicílio, a racionalização de exames complementares na candidemia invasiva, a vigilância sobre os surtos de sarampo e os marcos biotecnológicos no combate a doenças neurodegenerativas e no desenvolvimento de vacinas nacionais de RNA mensageiro. O Afya News apresenta notícias da medicina com informação confiável e atualizada no seu tempo. Criado pela Afya, o maior hub de educação e soluções para a prática médica do Brasil, nosso propósito é transformar a saúde junto com quem tem a medicina como vocação.Fontes do episódio aqui:https://portal.afya.com.br/podcasts/afya-news/05-09-2026 Conteúdo 100% validado por equipe médica.Médico Responsável: Dr. Guilherme Rodrigues — CRM-RJ 1049461.
── Interview 1: Richard Gage — RichardGage911.org / Turning the Tide Conference ──────────────────────────────────────────[00:07:04]Building 7 Came Down at Freefall in 7 Seconds — No Steel Frame High-Rise Has Ever Collapsed Due to Fire47 stories, 100 feet from the North Tower; fires few, scattered, burned out; not one of 82 columns gave any resistance during the fall.────────────────────────────────────────[00:35:30]FEMA Found Never-Before-Observed Eutectic Reactions Melting Steel — Fire Cannot Do This; Thermite CanSteel from Building 7 turned to Swiss cheese; rapid oxidation and sulfidation at over 3,000 degrees; FEMA included it and it was suppressed.────────────────────────────────────────[00:09:07]"Turning the Tide" — 40 Speakers; New York September 10-13; Live Streamed on RedactedRoger Waters, architects, structural engineers, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks team; largest 9/11 Truth conference ever; next false flag: a nuclear bomb in LA blamed on Iran. ── Interview 2: Pfizer's Former Chief Toxicologist ──────────────────────────────────────────[01:37:43]Spike Protein Still Present in Tissues Three Years Later — mRNA Was Modified to Remain Active Much LongerTold it would stay in the muscle and disappear within days; it spread systemically; the modification making RNA more durable was the mechanism of prolonged damage.────────────────────────────────────────[01:38:07]We Are Living Under a Sword of Damocles — Especially for Constantly Boosted People; It Is Not OverMyocarditis became a household word; children require ECGs before sports; people are accepting this as normal; it is not normal and will not go away.────────────────────────────────────────[01:40:18]Doctors Who Spoke Out Had Their Careers Destroyed — After Retirement People Dared to SpeakIf you can't publish and risk jail, you stay silent; people no longer dependent on the system spoke up; the few who did were purged in Europe and the US.────────────────────────────────────────[01:41:42]Trump's First Day: Partner With Oracle to Design Custom mRNA Using AI — Doubling Down, Not Pulling BackKnight: where's the off switch? For many it hasn't turned off; Trump only sees business opportunities; the acceleration is deliberate.────────────────────────────────────────[01:43:16]Do Not Vaccinate Children Before Age Three — Period of Greatest Brain Development and SensitivityThis one change would reduce the harm enormously; the pro-vaxxers will not change their minds; wake up everyone else: do not get boosted again.────────────────────────────────────────[01:47:42]Fauci Is the Scapegoat — The Real Culprit Is an Institutional Mafia; Francis Collins Never Gets ScrutinizedBiden gave Fauci a pardon; Trump gave him a commendation; responsible from 2014 when gain of function funding began; safe target so the bigger network is never discussed. ──────────────────────────────────────── Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.
Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we're diving into a series of fascinating updates that are shaping the future of medicine and patient care. First on our agenda is uniQure's ambitious step toward accelerated U.S. marketing approval for AMT-130, a gene therapy targeting Huntington's disease. This move signifies a potential breakthrough in treating rare neurological disorders with genetic roots. The approval of AMT-130 would highlight gene therapy's transformative power, not just for Huntington's disease but also for a broader range of genetic conditions, offering hope to patients where traditional treatments have fallen short. In the realm of oncology, Summit Therapeutics, in collaboration with Akeso, has reported that their bispecific antibody ivonescimab has surpassed Merck's Keytruda in a Phase 3 trial for non-small cell lung cancer. The trial revealed superior overall survival and progression-free survival rates, marking a significant milestone in cancer treatment. Bispecific antibodies like ivonescimab open new avenues for targeting multiple pathways simultaneously, potentially leading to more effective therapies with reduced side effects. Collaboration continues to be a pivotal strategy in drug development. GSK and Hutchmed have formed a licensing agreement for HMPL-A830, an innovative cancer therapy. This partnership involves an upfront payment of $110 million, with the potential to reach $1.3 billion based on performance milestones. Such alliances highlight the importance of strategic partnerships in accelerating therapeutic advancements and expanding the arsenal of available cancer treatments. Moving to regulatory milestones, Samsung Bioepis has secured approval in Japan for its biosimilar ustekinumab, aimed at treating moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease by targeting IL-12/IL-23 pathways. This approval is part of a larger trend towards biosimilars as cost-effective alternatives to biologics, increasing access to essential treatments for autoimmune diseases. In cardiovascular health, Everest Medicines has received China NMPA approval for Cardamyst (etripamil), a self-administered nasal spray for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The approval underscores innovations in patient-centric drug delivery systems that offer easier administration methods and empower patients to manage their conditions effectively. On the business front, Fortrea has acquired Worldwide Clinical Trials' early-phase division for $45 million. This acquisition aims to bolster Fortrea's clinical research organization platform, reflecting the growing demand for comprehensive clinical pharmacology services that can accelerate drug development timelines. Meanwhile, Pfizer's divestment of its Seagen antibody-drug conjugate PF-08046031 to Medicus Pharma in a deal exceeding $1 billion exemplifies strategic realignments within large pharmaceutical companies. These transactions allow companies to streamline operations and focus on core therapeutic areas where they can make the most impact. Research advancements are also making headlines as Revolution Medicines reports promising Phase 1/2 data for Rasonque (daraxonrasib) in NSCLC patients with KRAS mutations. KRAS has been notoriously difficult to target, so these findings highlight Rasonque's potential as a breakthrough small molecule therapy addressing critical needs in oncology. Despite these strides forward, challenges remain evident. Ultragenyx's GTX-102 did not meet primary or secondary endpoints in its Phase 3 Angelman syndrome study. This setback highlights the complexities involved in developing effective treatments for rare neurological conditions and underscores the inherent risks in high-stakes clinical trials. Turning our attention back to regulatory dynamics, FDA deliberations over Replimune's melanoma treatment revealed nuanced decision-making processes balancing clinical evaluation with strategic considerations. Even amidst internal disagreements, FDA leadership endorsed an accelerated nod for Replimune's therapy—an illustration of how complex these processes can be. In terms of funding innovation, ARPA-H's substantial $125 million investment into personalized RNA-based drug production reflects a commitment to advancing RNA therapeutics despite recent challenges. The initiative could become a catalyst for new approaches in personalized medicine by leveraging RNA technologies to tailor treatments more precisely to individual profiles. Additionally, Roche is making headway in obesity treatment with its UCN2 analog, which shows promise in reducing weight without sacrificing lean muscle mass—an essential factor given obesity's global health implications. This development may introduce new mechanisms of action that could revolutionize existing therapies by overcoming metabolic challenges inherent in obesity treatment. Overall, these developments underscore a dynamic period within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors characterized by rapid scientific progress and strategic realignments responding to evolving market demands. As companies navigate these changes, their ability to leverage new technologies and refine their strategic focus will be crucial in maintaining competitive advantage and driving future growth—all while aiming to improve patient outcomes globally.Support the show
PRP. Stem cells. Now exosomes. Are they the next breakthrough in regenerative medicine—or is the hype getting ahead of the science?Exosomes are tiny biological messengers involved in cell-to-cell communication, carrying signals such as proteins, lipids and RNA. But as exosome therapy grows in popularity, patients are spending thousands of dollars without always knowing exactly what they're getting.Neurosurgeon and regenerative medicine specialist Dr. Jeff Gross returns to Crackin' Backs to break down the science behind exosomes, stem cells and PRP—and what patients should know before considering treatment.We get into 50 billion vs. 500 billion exosomes, why 5 mL may tell you almost nothing, product quality and sourcing, timing after injury, PRP vs. stem cells vs. exosomes, joint degeneration, recovery, and where regenerative medicine may be heading next. Gross explains that volume alone doesn't tell you the source, particle count, processing, quality or protein content of a product. Most importantly:How do you know if what you're being sold is legitimate?Gross explains what he believes patients should ask about experience, sourcing, testing, particle counts and the certificate of analysis before spending the money. If you're interested in exosomes, PRP, stem cells, MUSE, regenerative medicine, longevity, joint health or recovery—this is a conversation you'll want to hear.
BUFFALO, NY — September 3, 2026 — A new #research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging on August 12, 2026, titled “Indy reduction decreases aging-related dysbiosis in Drosophila.” The study was led by first author Danielle N. A. Lesperance from the University of Connecticut. Corresponding authors Blanka Rogina and Nichole A. Broderick are affiliated with the University of Connecticut Health and Johns Hopkins University, respectively. Broderick is also affiliated with the University of Connecticut. The Indy gene—short for “I'm not dead yet”—encodes a plasma membrane citrate transporter in Drosophila melanogaster. Previous research has shown that reducing Indy activity can extend lifespan and preserve metabolic and intestinal health in flies. Because aging is also associated with disruption of the gut microbiota, the researchers investigated whether changes in intestinal microbes contribute to the longevity effects associated with reduced Indy activity. The researchers compared control flies with Indy heterozygous flies under conventional conditions and axenic conditions, in which microbes were absent. They also examined bacterial load and microbiota composition and performed RNA sequencing of the midgut to investigate molecular pathways connecting Indy, the microbiota, intestinal homeostasis, and aging. Full press release - https://www.aging-us.com/news-room/indy-gene-reduction-linked-to-healthier-gut-microbiota-and-longer-lifespan-in-fruit-flies DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206408 Corresponding authors - Blanka Rogina - Rogina@uchc.edu, and Nichole A. Broderick - nbroder1@jhu.edu Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0PfTj_Pg7U Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://aging.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Faging.206408 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts Keywords - aging, Indy, host-microbe interactions, lifespan, Drosophila melanogaster To learn more about the journal, please visit https://www.Aging-US.com and connect with us on social media at: Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/aging-us.bsky.social ResearchGate - https://www.researchgate.net/journal/Aging-1945-4589 X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/AgingUS/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Aging-US Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1X4HQQgegjReaf6Mozn6Mc MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM
How do biotech companies move QA from late-stage gatekeeper into an early, risk-appropriate technical partner? Dr. Andrea Bell, a VP and Global Head of Quality Assurance, breaks down what phase-appropriate quality looks like across the lifecycle and why the barriers to getting there are cultural rather than procedural.Andrea and Nick get into the real cost of late QA involvement, how risk-based rigor differs from uniform rigor, what makes a quality management review actually function, and how QA earns credibility with technical teams.A few of Andrea's key takeaways:Late QA involvement costs money and removes the option to remediate cheaplyMost of the cost of poor quality sits below the waterline in scrap, cycle time, investigations, and reputationEarly means early in the decision forums, not just early in the lifecycleRisk-based rigor isn't looser rigor. Uniform checklists are a weaker position and agencies will challenge themThe barriers to embedding QA earlier are quality culture and reporting structure, not procedureData only makes QA proactive if people are empowered to act on itQA earns credibility by co-authoring the argument you'll make to the regulator, not by signing off at the endAbout Andrea BellAndrea Bell is a Vice President and Global Head of Quality Assurance with more than 25 years in biotechnology building quality and CMC organizations across RNA, biologics, and small molecule programs. She holds a doctorate in global public health, a master's in quality assurance and regulatory affairs, an MBA in international business, and a bachelor's in biology.About The FDA GroupThe FDA Group helps life science organizations rapidly access the industry's best consultants, contractors, and candidates. Our resources assist in every stage of the product lifecycle, from clinical development to commercialization, with a focus on staff augmentation, auditing, remediation, QMS, and other specialized project work in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Operations. Learn more: https://www.thefdagroup.com/
Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. The current landscape in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries is a tapestry of dynamic mergers, clinical trial advancements, regulatory approvals, and strategic partnerships. A major highlight is Eli Lilly's acquisition of Merida Biosciences for up to $2.9 billion. This move exemplifies the industry's strategic focus on expanding portfolios specifically in autoimmune and allergic diseases. Merida's precision degradation platform is set to significantly enhance Eli Lilly's capabilities, offering potential novel therapies that could address unmet needs in these therapeutic areas. Regulatory developments continue to shape the trajectory of this industry. The FDA's approval of Protagonist Therapeutics' Mimrylo (rusfertide) for polycythemia vera marks a significant advancement in peptide therapy. This hepcidin mimetic offers a novel approach to regulate hematocrit levels, addressing a critical need in managing this blood disorder. Additionally, the FDA has expanded PharmaEssentia's Besremi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b) label to include essential thrombocythemia regardless of genotype, broadening its applicability in myeloproliferative neoplasms. The approval of Stelara (ustekinumab) for pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis underscores an ongoing commitment to developing therapies for autoimmune conditions by utilizing monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-12/IL-23 pathways. Clinical trial outcomes continue to underscore the potential transformative impact of advanced therapeutics on patient care. Jazz Pharmaceuticals' Ziihera (zanidatamab) achieved a second overall survival win in a Phase 3 trial for HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, reinforcing the promise of bispecific antibodies in oncology. In cardiovascular health, AstraZeneca's AZD5462, an oral relaxin agonist, demonstrated promise in a Phase 2 trial for chronic heart failure, showcasing the potential of small molecule therapeutics in this field. Additionally, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals' Redemplo (plozasiran) Phase 3 data supports label expansion efforts for severe hypertriglyceridemia through RNA interference technology targeting the ApoC3 gene. The industry also continues to witness promising partnerships aimed at leveraging cutting-edge technologies. Mission Therapeutics and Neurolight are collaborating to deploy brain function biomarkers in Parkinson's disease trials, linking diagnostics and digital health innovations. Meanwhile, Create Medicines and Westgene Biopharma are advancing in vivo CAR therapies using targeted lipid nanoparticle delivery technology—a significant step forward in cell and gene therapy. Despite these positive developments, challenges persist. BioNTech's halt of its Phase 2 trial of an mRNA vaccine for colorectal cancer due to futility highlights the inherent uncertainties in drug development, particularly within innovative domains like personalized neoantigen therapies. Financial strategies remain pivotal as companies like Electra Therapeutics file IPOs to advance their immunology and cancer pipeline assets, indicating robust investor interest in these high-potential areas. Quoin Pharmaceuticals' planned $50 million private placement signifies strategic capital infusion towards rare and orphan disease development. In terms of sustainability, efforts within healthcare are gaining momentum as organizations like UCI Health and Kaiser Permanente explore electrification as part of their environmental agendas. These initiatives reflect a broader trend towards reducing healthcare's carbon footprint, highlighting the sector's role in addressing climate change. Finally, regulatory landscapes continue to evolve with legal challenges as Florida's Attorney General sues Express Scripts and Prime Therapeutics over alleged price-fixing. This lawsuit underscores ongoing scrutiny over pharmacy benefit managers' practices, potentially prompting regulatory reforms to ensure fair pricing mechanisms within the pharmaceutical supply chain. Overall, these developments illustrate a dynamic landscape where scientific innovation and regulatory maneuvers intersect to shape future pharmaceutical and biotech trajectories. The implications for patient care are profound as new treatments offer hope while industry players navigate complex regulatory and market environments. As these trends continue to unfold, they hold significant implications for future drug development processes and healthcare solutions worldwide. Thank you for tuning into Pharma Daily; we'll continue to bring you critical insights into this ever-evolving industry.Support the show
Inceptive CEO Jakob Uszkoreit goes Inside the ICE House to challenge the foundational assumptions of modern drug discovery, arguing that AI will enable medicines that work with the body's natural complexity rather than against it. He discusses Inceptive's partnership with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and why their RNA interference platform and rich data history make them a uniquely powerful AI collaborator. Uszkoreit explains why partnerships are essential for a small company with broadly applicable technology, and why the long-term prize is therapies that are gentler, earlier, and truly personalized.
Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we explore groundbreaking advancements, regulatory updates, and strategic partnerships shaping the future of patient care and drug development. Revolution Medicines has achieved a significant milestone with the FDA approval of its RAS inhibitor, daraxonrasib, for metastatic pancreatic cancer treatment. This approval follows an impressive presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting that garnered widespread acclaim. Targeting one of the most challenging cancers, this advancement offers renewed hope for patients with limited treatment options and sets a potential new standard in pancreatic cancer therapy. In another promising development, Amgen and AstraZeneca have successfully completed a Phase 3 trial for their drug Tezspire in eosinophilic esophagitis. This success positions Tezspire as a formidable contender in the competitive landscape of inflammatory disease treatments, directly challenging Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent. The focus on biologics targeting specific inflammatory pathways underscores ongoing innovation in this area, offering enhanced treatment options for patients. On the regulatory front, the FDA has expanded its authorization for Tivicay, an HIV medication, to include newborns. This move aligns with global efforts to advance pediatric HIV treatment and address public health challenges. Additionally, Roche has secured further FDA approval for diagnostic tests linked to Jazz Pharmaceuticals' oncology drug Ziihera, emphasizing the critical role of companion diagnostics in personalized medicine. Meanwhile, strategic initiatives are also taking shape in pricing agreements. The Trump administration is preparing to announce "most favored nation" pricing agreements with mid-sized biopharma companies as part of ongoing efforts to tackle drug pricing issues. Although these arrangements could lead to lower drug prices, they may also face industry resistance due to potential impacts on revenue. Flagship Pioneering's Profound Therapeutics has partnered with the Gates Foundation in a $35 million effort to discover new drug targets for preeclampsia—a dangerous pregnancy complication. Such collaborations are vital in accelerating research and offering innovative solutions to complex health problems. Artis Biosolutions is expanding its synthetic DNA and mRNA production capabilities with a new facility in Spain. This development highlights the growing importance of genetic medicines and reflects an industry shift towards next-generation therapies like gene editing and RNA-based treatments. On a global scale, CEPI is supporting Minapharm's Ebola vaccine candidate advancement into clinical trials amid a growing outbreak. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance epidemic preparedness through rapid vaccine development and deployment. Another significant move comes from McKesson's $2.25 billion acquisition of Precision Medicine Group. This acquisition aims to strengthen McKesson's oncology and biopharma segments, emphasizing precision medicine's growing role in personalized cancer treatment. In the context of geopolitical dynamics, concerns about Chinese dominance in clinical trials and supply chains have been raised by Congressman Nathaniel Moran. This highlights strategic dependencies and underscores the need for robust domestic capabilities in biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing. In clinical developments, Bausch + Lomb faced setbacks with its phase 2 trial combining dry-eye disease drugs Xiidra and Miebo but remains optimistic as it advances to phase 3 trials. Conversely, Spyre Therapeutics is deprioritizing its anti-TL1A antibody approach following underwhelming phase 2 results for rheumatoid arthritis—a testament to the rigorous validation process required before new therapies can reach patients. Akeso's success with its PD-1xVEGF bispecific antibody ivonescimab in biliary tract cancer demonstrates innovative biologics' potential to expand treatment options beyond traditional indications. In regulatory news concerning Capricor Therapeutics' Duchenne muscular dystrophy therapy, an extended FDA review period reflects careful regulatory evaluation following additional data submissions. These developments paint a picture of a dynamic landscape where scientific innovation is paralleled by regulatory challenges and strategic partnerships aimed at addressing both market demands and pressing health issues. The continued focus on personalized medicine, competitive dynamics in biologics, and global collaboration efforts underscores a transformative period for pharmaceuticals and biotech industries. As these sectors evolve, they hold the promise of delivering more effective treatments worldwide while addressing unmet medical needs across various domains.Support the show
On this week's episode, Daphne Zohar, Eric Schmidt, Sam Fazeli, and Graig Suvannavejh open with a strong week for biotech, partially driven by M&A, noting it's already past 2025's full-year total. The group turns to Moderna, whose melanoma cancer vaccine data sent shares up nearly 200% and stirred some mixed feelings from investors. Contrastly, BioNTech's decision to halt its colorectal cancer vaccine trial was also noted. In data news, Revolution Medicines' FDA approval of daraxonrasib (RASONQUE) for pancreatic cancer drew attention for its potential first-line use and implications for trials behind it, while Akeso/Summit's ivonescimab was approved in China for NSCLC and also reported positive Phase 3 data in biliary tract cancer, reinforcing the case for VEGF/PD-1 bispecifics. Also in data news, AstraZeneca's full dataset of eplontersen for ATTR-CM raised doubts about the class of RNA-targeted silencers over currently marketed drugs that “silence” TTR proteins, while EyePoint's Phase 3 miss in wet AMD sent shares down about 70%. The conversation shifts to policy, where the group discusses pros and cons of FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton, the HHS plans for two new deputy roles, alongside concerns over declining U.S. IND filings versus China's rising trial volume. The episode concludes with Amylyx raising over $500 million on strong avexitide data in post-bariatric hypoglycemia, and J&J's Imaavy earning a second indication, expanding the anti-FcRn class. *This episode aired on August 28, 2026.
Welcome to this week's Midlife Minute episode! Statistically, one in three women will die of heart disease. So, today, we're answering some of the many questions I received about lipids and heart health. Although I've done other lipid-focused Midlife Minutes before, this episode is yet another dedicated to Dr. Tom Dayspring, as I've received such a vast number of questions on this particular topic. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Why understanding your ApoB and Lp(a) is an essential part of assessing your cardiovascular risk Why treatments for lipid abnormalities should be individualized to fit each specific abnormality Essential lifestyle measures for supporting overall cardiovascular health How CAC scoring, CT coronary angiography, and Clearly AI-assisted imaging differ, what each test measures, and their limitations How cardiovascular disease can sometimes present differently in women Why are premature atrial contractions and premature ventricular contractions often benign when the heart is structurally normal? How the roles of statins, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, GLP-1 medications, and emerging RNA therapies differ, and why they should not be considered interchangeable How declining estrogen impacts cardiovascular health Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website. Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. Purchase Cynthia's book, The Menopause Gut. Cynthia's Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line
We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message.On episode 136 of Cell & Gene: The Podcast, Host Erin Harris welcomes back Dr. Panteli Theocharous, FIBMS, M.S., Ph.D., FRCPath to discuss why autoimmune CAR T is moving rapidly from an emerging concept toward a potentially transformative treatment approach. They talk about the very different benefit-risk calculus in autoimmune disease compared with oncology, the patient and caregiver burden of conditioning, apheresis and long-term monitoring, and the need to rethink clinical trial endpoints around meaningful outcomes. They explore the potential of in vivo CAR T and circular RNA to eliminate some of the biggest barriers in the current treatment pathway, while discussing the scientific and durability questions that remain.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple | Spotify | YouTubeVisit my website: Cell & GeneConnect with me on LinkedIn
A renowned scientist at UMass Chan Medical School is moving his lab to Canada. The Canadian government named RNA researcher Phillip Zamore among the first recipients of awards that will total more than $1 billion, aimed at drawing “world-leading researchers” to the country.
Microgravity causes a ton of changes in the human body and there's been a lot of research showing how these changes affect astronauts. One bodily function that hasn't been studied during an active space mission? Menstruation. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Manju Bangalore, an astronaut-in-training and reproductive scientist aiming to research how the human body menstruates while in microgravity. But there's other space news in the science world so before that, Sam explores what it will take for NASA to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. Later, she looks into how some asteroids contain the raw ingredients for DNA and RNA. Link to Show Notes HERE Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
James Sapirstein, CEO of CoCrystal Pharma, is developing a platform of antiviral therapies to treat norovirus, influenza and other viruses. Norovirus, commonly transmitted on cruise ships and in dormitories, currently lacks effective vaccines or treatments. CoCrystal's oral small-molecule approach aims to treat active infections by reducing viral shedding duration and provide prophylactic prevention using a novel mechanism that targets viral entry points to prevent replication. James explains, "At CoCrystal Pharma, we have a platform of antiviral programs. The first program is for norovirus, and we have another program for influenza A. And then we also have a platform for rhinovirus, which is also many times referred to as the common cold. There's really not much out there." "Norovirus is commonly known on cruise ships and in dormitories, college dormitories, and really it spreads by touch. That's why, when cruise ships have an outbreak of norovirus, if people haven't washed their hands or they touch an area where someone has touched that area before with active norovirus, they can get infected. And because people touch their faces over a thousand times, literally in a couple of hours, it's easy to transmit the virus." "But there's also chronic norovirus, which people don't really talk about much because it's mostly in the nursing homes and assisted living areas, where some of these patients really suffer, and they're septic for a very long period of time. And they're not tested to see if they have norovirus because they have so many other health issues that people just aren't tested correctly." "Most antivirals, for the most part, work on the RNA. They cleave off the RNA, or they cleave off the cell membrane so that it doesn't replicate and the virus dies off. For us, it's much more specific. We like to call it a pocket where the virus enters the cell. We design a drug to specifically kill the virus at certain aspects within the virus, and then it doesn't allow it to replicate. And that's the way it's designed." #CoCrystalPharma #Norovirus #Antivirals #DrugDiscovery #InfectiousDiseases cocrystalpharma.com Listen to the podcast here
James Sapirstein, CEO of CoCrystal Pharma, is developing a platform of antiviral therapies to treat norovirus, influenza and other viruses. Norovirus, commonly transmitted on cruise ships and in dormitories, currently lacks effective vaccines or treatments. CoCrystal's oral small-molecule approach aims to treat active infections by reducing viral shedding duration and provide prophylactic prevention using a novel mechanism that targets viral entry points to prevent replication. James explains, "At CoCrystal Pharma, we have a platform of antiviral programs. The first program is for norovirus, and we have another program for influenza A. And then we also have a platform for rhinovirus, which is also many times referred to as the common cold. There's really not much out there." "Norovirus is commonly known on cruise ships and in dormitories, college dormitories, and really it spreads by touch. That's why, when cruise ships have an outbreak of norovirus, if people haven't washed their hands or they touch an area where someone has touched that area before with active norovirus, they can get infected. And because people touch their faces over a thousand times, literally in a couple of hours, it's easy to transmit the virus." "But there's also chronic norovirus, which people don't really talk about much because it's mostly in the nursing homes and assisted living areas, where some of these patients really suffer, and they're septic for a very long period of time. And they're not tested to see if they have norovirus because they have so many other health issues that people just aren't tested correctly." "Most antivirals, for the most part, work on the RNA. They cleave off the RNA, or they cleave off the cell membrane so that it doesn't replicate and the virus dies off. For us, it's much more specific. We like to call it a pocket where the virus enters the cell. We design a drug to specifically kill the virus at certain aspects within the virus, and then it doesn't allow it to replicate. And that's the way it's designed." #CoCrystalPharma #Norovirus #Antivirals #DrugDiscovery #InfectiousDiseases cocrystalpharma.com Download the transcript here
Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we delve into the latest happenings in these dynamic sectors, where scientific advancements, regulatory decisions, and strategic business initiatives are continuously reshaping the landscape of healthcare. Starting with a significant regulatory update, the FDA has granted Capricor Therapeutics a three-month extension to review Phase 3 data for Deramiocel, a promising treatment targeting upper limb functionality in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This decision underscores not only the complexity of analyzing data in neuromuscular diseases but also highlights the stringent requirements for treatments that aim to improve quality of life for patients with conditions like DMD. In other regulatory news, Johnson & Johnson has expanded the label for its monoclonal antibody IMAAvy (nipocalimab) to treat warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. This approval is based on compelling Phase 2/3 clinical data and emphasizes the growing role of monoclonal antibodies in targeting autoimmune disorders. These developments offer promising new therapeutic avenues and signify a shift towards more precise treatment options. Moving to infection control, GSK's Hibsago (bepirovirsen) has received approval in Japan for chronic hepatitis B. This antisense oligonucleotide aims for a functional cure by targeting the hepatitis B surface antigen, representing a significant leap forward in infectious disease management. Similarly, Biocon Biologics' biosimilar pegfilgrastim has been approved in Japan for supportive care in neutropenia, crucial for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. These approvals highlight the global acceptance of biosimilars as effective and cost-efficient alternatives. The business landscape is also evolving with noteworthy partnerships and acquisitions. Lundbeck and Eversana are expanding their AI-driven commercialization efforts across the U.S., reflecting how advanced technologies are becoming integral to marketing strategies. Meanwhile, McKesson's $2.25 billion acquisition of Precision Medicine Group underscores the strategic focus on oncology and personalized medicine—an area poised for substantial growth. Innovation continues with AC Immune's positive Phase 1 data for ACI-19764, an oral NLRP3 inhibitor targeting chronic inflammatory disorders. This advancement could potentially revolutionize treatments for inflammation-related conditions affecting cardiovascular and neurological health. In ophthalmology, Bausch + Lomb is pushing forward with its combination eye drop therapy into Phase 3 trials for dry eye disease, demonstrating resilience and commitment despite earlier challenges. Shifting focus to obesity treatment, Eli Lilly's launch of Foundayo in the UK presents formidable competition to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. This move signifies an intensifying race in obesity management, with potential implications for market dynamics and revenue streams. On the financial front, Hansa Biopharma is gearing up for a potential Nasdaq IPO as it awaits FDA decisions on its kidney transplant drug candidates. Amidst this backdrop, Massachusetts has seen a 25% surge in biotech venture funding this year despite challenges faced by startups. Turning to scientific breakthroughs, Jazz Pharmaceuticals has secured FDA approval for its HER2 bispecific antibody Ziihera as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive stomach cancer. This represents not only a new treatment paradigm but also positions Jazz Pharmaceuticals favorably within an estimated $2 billion market potential. In judicial updates, Merck and AstraZeneca's legal challenges against Medicare's drug price negotiation authority have been dismissed. This outcome supports efforts to reduce healthcare costs through negotiated pricing—a move that could reshape pharmaceutical pricing strategies significantly. Meanwhile, Sentivera's licensing deal focused on inflammatory diseases illustrates the financial potential and therapeutic promise of targeting inflammation—a pathway implicated in numerous serious health conditions. Geopolitical dynamics also play a role as concerns arise about China potentially outpacing U.S. companies in biotech innovation. Such developments may influence future policy decisions regarding international collaborations and domestic investments. Finally, scientific exploration continues to push boundaries with advancements such as human brain organoids providing new insights into neurological disorders and potential therapies. Eli Lilly's collaboration on trans-amplifying RNA vaccines further highlights RNA technology's expanding role post-mRNA vaccine success during COVID-19. As these stories unfold, they paint a picture of an industry marked by relentless innovation and strategic foresight aimed at improving patient outcomes globally. From regulatory hurdles to cutting-edge science, each development contributes to a healthcare environment that is increasingly dynamic and poised for future breakthroughs. Stay tuned as we continue to track these important stories impacting the world of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.Support the show
In this episode of Behind the Genes, we explore how personalised cancer vaccines are being developed, and how genomics and AI could help make these treatments more precise. Our host, Florence Cornish is joined by: Dr Victoria Goss, Associate Professor of Early Diagnosis and Translational Research at Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and head of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit Cancer Vaccine Launchpad team Professor Lennard Lee, Associate professor at the University of Oxford, Consultant Medical Oncologist, NHS Ali Richards, a participant who took part in a cancer vaccine clinical trial Together they discuss how cancer vaccines train the immune system to recognise cancer, how genomic information can help identify the unique features of an individual's tumour, and how AI could help researchers analyse genomic data and accelerate the development of new cancer vaccines. “The reason I said yes was because my treatment really was punishing. It was so many side effects to it. The cancer never made me feel sick, but the treatment made me really sick. So I said yes because I just wanted to help other people not have to go through what I went through.” Transcript [00:00:00] Florence: What if a vaccine could help treat cancer? Hello and welcome to Behind the Genes, the podcast that brings you the stories, research, and innovations shaping the future of genomic healthcare. Today, we're going to be talking about cancer vaccines, how they're being developed with the help of AI, what role genomics has to play, and what it could mean for patients. [00:00:23] Florence: I'm Florence Cornish, and joining me today we have Dr Victoria Goss, who leads cancer vaccine research at Southampton Clinical Trials Unit; we have Professor Lennard Lee, who is a medical oncologist and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford; and Ali Richards, who took part in the Southampton Cancer Vaccine Programme. [00:00:45] Florence: I think before we get into cancer vaccines specifically, it might be good to start with the basics. So vaccines are something most of us have heard of and probably experienced as well, but we don't always necessarily understand how they work. So Lennard, can I come to you to explain what a vaccine actually is, how it works with our immune system, maybe at the most basic level for those who might not have a scientific background? [00:01:19] Lennard: Thanks, Florence. What's a vaccine? Very, very simply, something that protects your body from disease. We've had a few when we were younger, like which protects you against meningitis or hepatitis or different types of infections that can affect children. [00:01:36] Lennard: And it really does show that your immune system is really powerful. Every day, it looks around trying to work out what's there which shouldn't be there and takes care of it. And ideally, your immune system just works in the background without causing any problems. And so what a vaccine does is it really helps the body understand something that's abnormal. [00:01:55] Lennard: And the vision here is that you can use this technology to hopefully patrol against cancer, because half the people out there will never get cancer. They are the maybe the lucky ones or maybe the ones with a good immune response. And so a vaccine is basically giving your immune system a wanted poster: [00:02:11] Lennard: "This is what threat looks like. This is what you need to control". [00:02:16] Florence: And I think you mentioned some great examples there. There are lots of common examples of vaccines people might have heard of. I think maybe the flu vaccine is probably a common one that people are thinking about in the wintertime. I think another one is maybe the HPV vaccine. [00:02:29] Florence: Lennard, could you explain a bit more to our listeners about the HPV vaccine? What it is, how it works? I think people often think of it as a type of cancer vaccine, but actually it's targeting a virus. Is that right? [00:02:41] Lennard: Yeah, that's correct. So this is now a vaccine which has been rolled out across the NHS, and it's actually worked really well to get rid of a few cancer types, which is incredible. [00:02:51] Lennard: And why is that important? Well, cancer can be caused by many, many different things. Sometimes it's because you've done things like smoking or weight plays a role or just bad luck or the genes that you've inherited. But some cancer types are caused by viruses. And so many people nowadays are getting the HPV vaccine to stop cancer types like cervical cancer, hopefully head and neck cancer, and many of the rarer cancer types. [00:03:21] Lennard: And so again, what you're doing here is you're taking the immune response, telling it the body shouldn't get this virus and hopefully prevent some of the bad consequence of getting this viral infection, like cancers. [00:03:33] Florence: Thank you. That's really helpful to understand. So we've talked about how vaccines can be used to treat viruses, and I think most of us, when we hear the word ‘vaccine', we probably do associate it with something that stops us from getting ill. [00:03:46] Florence: Victoria, could you tell us about how vaccines could be used to treat cancer? [00:03:50] Victoria: Yeah, absolutely, and it is great to be here today. Thank you. So Lennard's already sort of spoken about preventative vaccines, and when we think about cancer vaccines, we're thinking about therapeutic vaccines. So we're thinking about training the immune system to recognise the cancer as something that needs to be dealt with because cancer is really tricky because it's our own cells that have gone wrong, if you like. [00:04:16] Victoria: But that means it also is very good at evading those signals which tell the immune system that it needs to be cleared. So the analogy that Lennard has already given of a cancer vaccine sort of creating a wanted poster sort of builds on an analogy from one of your previous podcasts where they described the immune system as like the police almost trying to catch criminals, which are the cancer cells. [00:04:41] Victoria: And the cancer vaccine analogy builds on that. So you've created a wanted poster which is training and giving the police more information about what those cancer cells look like. And then when we think about building on that with sort of personalised cancer vaccines, which is an incredibly exciting step when we think about the development of how cancer vaccines can be used, sort of really individualised therapy going forward, that wanted poster gets even more specific. [00:05:07] Victoria: It's almost like giving a phone number or an address for that specific cancer type that is very specific to that patient. So the therapeutic vaccine is, is targeting the immune system. It's training our immune system to recognise the cancer as something that needs to be dealt with. [00:05:26] Florence: It's funny you mentioned that analogy because I was just about to point listeners to that episode. If anyone wants to learn more about cancer vaccines specifically, you can check out our previous Genomics 101 podcast episode called ‘What Are Cancer Vaccines?' So Ali, I think I'd love to bring you in at this point because you have experienced this from the patient side of things. [00:05:49] Florence: Could you tell us a little bit about your journey, your cancer diagnosis and treatment, and maybe more about the clinical trial you were part of, if you feel comfortable sharing that? [00:05:57] Ali: Yeah, sure. Hi, Florence. It was Christmas 2015, and I felt a lump in my neck. And maybe because I'm a woman and we're always taught to treat lumps seriously, in the January I made an appointment with the GP, and she very quickly fast-tracked me through to the hospital. [00:06:19] Ali: And January 2016, I got a diagnosis. It was a tumour on the base of my tongue at the left, and I was told it was caused by a variation of the HPV virus. So yeah, that was all a bit of a shock. I was shocked and I was scared, but I was also really angry because I look after myself. I eat well, all those things. [00:06:45] Ali: It's just bad luck that it was a virus that my body couldn't deal with. I just, I felt guilty as well because of what I was gonna put the family through. So I had various scans and tests. I had an operation to remove my tonsils, although we soon discovered there weren't any left anyway. And they took a biopsy, which I didn't know at the time, but turned out to be important later on for the trial. [00:07:15] Ali: Then I had to have a whole load of prep beforehand because of the impact of the treatment. So I had to have restorative dentistry, audiology tests. I had a PEG fitted, that's a feeding tube, in my stomach, and I thought, "Surely it's not going to be this bad." But that PEG, that feeding tube was a blessing in the end. [00:07:40] Ali: And I had a mask made, and the mask fits you and basically pins you down to the radiotherapy table so you don't move when... because it's very precisely targeted at your tumour. So yeah, I went on to have five sessions of chemo, which felt quite easy. The radiotherapy was the really, really tough part. I had, uh, seven weeks of it, 35 sessions. [00:08:08] Ali: So that was, yeah, that was a challenge. [00:08:11] Florence: Thank you, Ali. Thank you for sharing that. I think it's always really valuable to get that patient perspective when we're talking about things like this. Lennard, I wanted to come back to you now to talk about the different types of vaccines that exist and which ones are being used specifically in the treatment of cancer. [00:08:30] Lennard: Um, thanks, Florence. And Ali, are you 10 years now down the line since your diagnosis? [00:08:34] Ali: Yeah, it feels good. [00:08:37] Lennard: Congratulations. [00:08:38] Ali: Yeah, yeah. It feels good. I really valued the follow-up checks that I had, both from my oncologist, but also I got some through the trial, and it really helped restore some confidence in myself and my body to deal with things and to be able to move on as well. [00:08:56] Lennard: Oh, well done. That's fantastic because you telling us that story just really brings it to life about how scary this can be and also the fact that you had to go through all those sessions, thirty-five sessions and, um, and now you're 10 years down the line and still talking and giving hope- [00:09:11] Ali: Yeah ... [00:09:11] Lennard: that new technology still comes, so thanks, Ali. [00:09:13] Ali: That's a pleasure. [00:09:14] Lennard: Um, yeah, so Frances, this is what's really exciting. What types of vaccines are there? Well, first thing to say is that we're really good in this country about vaccine research. If you look around the world, what are we good at? Well, everyone knows that we developed the pandemic vaccine, and actually that technology is something that we can control. [00:09:31] Lennard: We're world leaders at. It's quite cheap technology, and it's something that we are really good at bringing to patients. And Ali's our testament where she got on the trial, she helped test it and really pioneered new ways of research. So what types of vaccines are there? Well, I think we talked to the first bit where Victoria taught us that some of them can treat cancers and some of them can maybe prevent cancers. [00:09:53] Lennard: And the HPV's one which is maybe be able to do both one day, which is brilliant. What would like... what else do people know about? Well, people might know that there are different types of technologies. So if we think back a few years now, back to 2020, there are some which are viral-based, and some which are mRNA based. [00:10:12] Lennard: Both of these were new technologies which the whole population of the world came together to create and some of them are peptide-based. So there's probably three different types here. The protein ones or peptide one, which you always had, and then in the last five years, it's an incredible time to be alive, where new vaccine technology comes through, it's more effective and safer. [00:10:32] Lennard: These are the viral ones and mRNA ones, and everyone's now pursuing all of these to try and make sure that we can maybe treat cancer in future. [00:10:41] Florence: Can I possibly pick your brain a little bit more about the mRNA ones specifically? I think as you mentioned, lots of people might have heard of those during COVID. [00:10:50] Florence: Could you maybe explain a little bit more about those and how they work? [00:10:53] Lennard: Yeah. So this is going to take us all the way back to GCE biology now. If you remember - and we are Genomics England, so we, we got to work out why genomics is important, and we'll probably get to this. But remember, genes make RNA, which then makes protein. [00:11:11] Lennard: And so if you're trying to reprogramme the immune response, you could give your body a protein, the back end of it. You can maybe give it an RNA, which is a blueprint too. And so what an mRNA vaccine is, it's a way of giving the blueprint or the instructions to the body of what to recognise, what the cancer looks like, um, um, or what the virus looks like, and target it. [00:11:32] Lennard: If you want the analogy, well, for those people who had the pandemic vaccines, the ones which was mRNA based was, uh, the Pfizer one, and that worked really, really well. Cheap to make, easy to produce, and, uh, it's just a jab. And so people are now exploring that for cancer treatment now. Take new technology, which has only been developed five years ago, technology, which is just a blueprint, cheap to make, easy to update, and now we're targeting cancer. [00:11:59] Lennard: Um, so that's basically what an mRNA vaccine is, giving the body the blueprint or the instruction of what a cancer looks like and trying to target that cancer. [00:12:08] Florence: And you kind of alluded to it a little bit in your answer, but, um, it would be good to know more about where genomics comes into all of this. You know, why is it such an important part of developing vaccines? [00:12:18] Lennard: And that's a great question, and really comes back to our second strengths, which is that we're really good at vaccine research, and yet we are also world leaders at genomic research. It's a really exciting time because, um, when Victoria and me and Ally at school, we would-- we, we learnt about that race to sequence the first human genome. [00:12:38] Lennard: It was really exciting because for the first time, we can see every single genetic base in every human, and that used to cost billions of pounds to do that, and it would take many months or years to do that Fast-forward a few years, and then now Genomics England delivered the next success for humanity. [00:12:57] Lennard: I think it was about 2015 to 2017 where they, they did 100,000 Genome Project, where the UK led the world in sequencing 100,000 people, including people with cancer, to try and understand what caused their cancer, what the risk factors are. And why is that relevant now? Well, it's because if you know what a cancer looks like, then you know what the abnormality is, well, then you can vaccinate against it. [00:13:22] Lennard: So we've now gone from this amazing arc of discovery here, where when we were at school, we worked out what the human genome looks like. We can sequence it end to end and see in all its detail. Then a, an amazing organisation came out the ground called Genomic England, which shows that you can run it in the NHS. [00:13:39] Lennard: 100,000 people could do it. And now we're making the next big jump now, which is it's not just going to give you a diagnosis, but maybe becomes a drug and a vaccine in future. And actually, probably it already has because Ali's that example, a success example of it happening. [00:13:54] Florence: Yeah, I wanted to actually ask you about that, Ali. [00:13:56] Florence: So just as you were saying, Lennard, it kind of... The cancer vaccine sounds quite futuristic, but as you said, it's, it's sort of already happening. So Ali, do you remember kind of how you first heard about the cancer vaccine trial? [00:14:11] Ali: Yeah. I had a bit of an unfortunate time because after all that radio and chemo, my cancer still hadn't gone, and I had to have an operation to remove lymph nodes. [00:14:22] Ali: But my oncologist at Poole Hospital, who's a fantastic woman, she had been involved, unknown to me, in the some of the thinking behind the trial, and particularly that she could recruit people because they were sat in her office. So she asked me if I'd like to take part, and without knowing anything, I said yes. [00:14:49] Ali: And the reason I said yes was because my treatment really was punishing. It was so many side effects to it. The cancer never made me feel sick, but the treatment made me really sick. So I said yes because I just wanted to help other people not have to go through what I went through. I didn't really understand it, if I'm perfectly honest. [00:15:16] Ali: I didn't really know what was going on, but then I'm not, you know, a super brain like Lennard and Victoria. I knew that I just wanted to do something to help people going forward, not having to deal with the same. So yeah, I put my hand up and there I was on the trial. [00:15:37] Florence: So you mentioned there the, the really horrible side effects that you got from your original treatment. Did you have, um, what was your experience with side effects with the vaccine? Was it similar? Was it different? [00:15:47] Ali: Oh, no, the, the vaccine was like a holiday compared to the treatment. Absolutely. At, at worst, in the first few treatments, you felt a bit like you had a cold, bad cold coming on, maybe slightly flu-y, but you took, you were given Ibuprofen at the same time as you had the vaccine. [00:16:10] Ali: So no, it, the treatment with the vaccine was an absolute breeze. Which is kind of like, yes, this is what I want for people. You know, not, not the radiotherapy, not the chemo. So yeah, it was, it was really very easy by comparison. [00:16:29] Florence: Oh, I'm so glad to hear that that was your experience. I'm just curious now also, was there anything that surprised you about the trial? [00:16:35] Florence: You said there that you didn't really, like, have an understanding of cancer vaccines. You, you agreed to it straight away. Was there anything that maybe, like, you weren't expecting or surprised you? [00:16:45] Ali: I think it surprised me that it was really quite easy. [00:16:48] Florence: Yeah. [00:16:49] Ali: Uh, I was delighted to have the team I had looking after me because they were fantastic. It all felt very simple. [00:16:59] Ali: And how nice that was. You know, if I could've had that instead of all my previous treatments, um, it would've, it would've made everyone's life so much easier. And I guess, I don't know about the cost of drugs, but I guess the cost to the NHS would've been less because I wasn't in and out of hospital, I wasn't having to have all these extra things done, and all this extra support like dieticians and so on because I had to have my feed tube replaced. [00:17:35] Ali: So all of that is impacts on the NHS, whereas this was very simple. [00:17:40] Florence: I wanted to come to you now, Victoria, and ask you about the outcomes of this trial that Ali took part in or other trials like it, and whether we know yet what the broader implications of, of these advances might be. [00:17:55] Victoria: So I think what we need to think about when we're thinking about developing these treatments and sort of evaluating the treatments at each stage is that it goes through a very clear pathway of progression, and Ali was involved in one of the, the earliest stages of that progression. [00:18:09] Victoria: And it's, it's always amazing to me to hear your story, Ali, and to know that patients are willing to take part in the research and that's what allows us to develop these treatments. So the trial that Ali was part of has now gone on to develop into a, a larger scale study which will be evaluated again. [00:18:27] Victoria: And that all starts to form the evidence for how these treatments can be shown to be effective, and also how they can show... Also, you know, Ali's already touched on there about the cost implications, so how we can show that that can be beneficial as well. And then we can start to think about how they can be taken up and become part of routine standard of care for patients like Ali, as she was describing. [00:18:50] Victoria: And all of that evidence comes together, which then gets evaluated and then it, and then it moves forward through that progression. But it's-- we have very clear, um, you know, a, a route that each new, new treatment has to go through, um, to be able to, to become part of standard of care. [00:19:07] Florence: And Victoria, you also play a key role in the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad. [00:19:12] Florence: For any listeners who might not be familiar with the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad, could you maybe tell us a little bit more about it? [00:19:18] Victoria: Absolutely. So in its simplest terms, the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad is designed to help find patients who might be eligible to take part in trials like the one that Ali was part of. [00:19:30] Victoria: It's an incredible project. Cancer Vaccine Launchpad is quite long, so we tend to abbreviate it to the CVLP, which I'll do from now on, if that's okay. The CVLP to me really demonstrates the power of collaboration because it's brought together so many different teams that have been necessary to make sure that, that what we're trying to achieve, so finding as many patients as possible for these trials, is possible. [00:19:52] Victoria: We deliver this project on behalf of NHS England. I know that Lennard was involved right from the start as well. The reason that we need the CVLP is because one of the biggest challenges in research of these new treatments is finding the patients who might be eligible. So one of the reasons for that is because when we are running the trials to test these new treatments, there's a lot of different infrastructure that's needed to support the delivery of those trials. [00:20:19] Victoria: So you need special pharmacy services, special research nurses. All of that has to come together to be able to deliver trials of new treatments. And actually, that means that actually those studies can often only take part in a small number of hospitals. So historically, you only had the opportunity to take part in those trials if you lived near one of those hospitals, which is, you know, like Ali did. [00:20:42] Victoria: So what the CVLP is, what, what it has done, it has created a formalised network which enables referrals to happen from ... we're opening 83 hospitals now across England. We've just expanded out to the devolved nations as well, which is a really exciting development, and it creates that, that network which allows patients who might live further away from a hospital delivering one of those vaccine or immunology trials to be able to be referred in to see if they might be eligible. [00:21:09] Victoria: So essentially, it's a bit like creating a big funnel. So you're finding all of the potentially eligible people that could take part in that trial, and you're funnelling them into the trial site to find those patients who are eligible. [00:21:22] Florence: And what impact do you hope that this could have for the NHS and also for, like, individual patients as well? [00:21:29] Victoria: So we've seen such positive results from the CVLP so far. The first study that we worked with was for a colorectal cancer vaccine trial. Before the CVLP started working with this trial, only 17% of the eligible patient population in England had the opportunity to take part because they lived near one of those hospitals delivering the trial. [00:21:52] Victoria: After the CVLP started working with it, we had increased that to over 60% of the eligible patient population. So you could really see how it has expanded out access, and that's just a fantastic opportunity to be able to bring, to bring patients. We also were able to show that the UK was screening, so looking for patients at three times the global average. [00:22:14] Victoria: So we really were able to see how the CVLP is supporting and accelerating recruitment to those trials I think the key thing for me has been the patient enthusiasm that we have seen though. So when we open up to a new trial where, that the CVRP is working with, we are always inundated with people who contact us to find out how they can be part of this network because they want the opportunity to take part. [00:22:40] Victoria: We know that some patients have travelled for two hours to a trial site to find out if they could be eligible because actually they want the opportunity. So the CVRP has really sort of enabled that patient choice, which is a fantastic thing to be able to do. But it also builds on what Lennard was talking about earlier, which is the UK is really good at this research and actually what the CVRP is then doing is showing how we can really support recruitment to these trials to accelerate these trials and that only brings more trials to the UK which again creates more opportunities for patients which is exactly what we're trying to do. [00:23:14] Victoria: We're trying to create more and more opportunities for patients to take part in these studies if they want to. [00:23:20] Florence: Yeah. That's really incredible. Thank you for sharing that with us. I wanted to ask you a question now, Ali, because I think when we were talking about trials and projects like this, as Victoria said, we often think about kind of the high level impact, but also it's an opportunity to create connections as well between patients and families and, and I know that you, you had a patient's family reach out to you about advice as to-- about whether they should take part in a trial. Is that right? [00:23:47] Ali: Yeah. I think it was the wife of a guy up in Liverpool who had throat cancer, and, um, she must have done some really good research on the internet. I'd done various bits of publicity both for Southampton Uni and cancer research around the trial. So she obviously found me and then stalked me on Facebook , which was absolutely fine. [00:24:13] Ali: I didn't have a problem. So her husband was down to go on the trial, which is the next stage that Victoria had spoken about, and she just wanted to know, would I recommend it, would-- what was it like, that kind of thing. So I said to her, "I would absolutely recommend it, of course," and told her what my experience was. [00:24:35] Ali: I couldn't guarantee his would be the same, of course, because things might have moved on. But it was a really, it was a kind of a nice feeling that I could say to her, "Get him to have it done because it's got to be the best outcome." I think his stage was much further on than me. So yeah, it had to be the way as far as I could see for him. And as far as I know, he went on the trial. Which is great. [00:25:05] Florence: How, how did it feel to kind of make that human connection, maybe not something you were expecting to come out of a trial? [00:25:13] Ali: No, it was really, it was really nice. I am a bit of a, a fangirl for, for Lennard and Victoria and all the team at Southampton. [00:25:22] Ali: If anybody asks me about vaccines and cancer vaccines, I'm like, "Oh, yes." And you-- So yeah, I'm, I'm a bit of an evangelist. So to, to have somebody real- [00:25:33] Florence: Mm ... [00:25:34] Ali: ask me about that was great feeling. [00:25:37] Florence: I think that's a, a really great example of how research can have impact far beyond, uh, one individual. And I think another great example of this is also artificial intelligence or AI as a potentially transformative force in, in healthcare. [00:25:54] Florence: Lennard, when we come onto this topic, I wanted to hand over to you because I know that you've recently received funding for a project exploring AI, and how it could support cancer vaccine development in particular. Could you tell us a bit more about this project? [00:26:08] Lennard: Thanks very much, Florence. And I also want to add, I feel very proud about what Ali did just there, where she's able to bring through opportunity for other people, too, which is amazing. [00:26:19] Lennard: The NHS is there to not just do the technology of today, but also be one of the best healthcare systems in the world to bring through new technologies. And it's just really exciting about people wanting to help the NHS, advocating for new technologies to be tested, and actually that's what Genomics England i there to do, make sure the NHS gets new technology in there so that patients will get new treatments. [00:26:41] Lennard: I just wanna just reflect what Victoria noted In the NHS, in their Cancer Vaccine Launchpad, patients are getting in at three times the rate of other countries. [00:26:51] Ali: Mm-hmm. [00:26:52] Lennard: That's really special. And also she's increased coverage to, uh, did you say 60% of population? That's 42 million people have potential access to this. [00:27:01] Lennard: So that is huge, and I think it's really a passion project for so many people out there, PICT trials units, the research nurses and doctors, and also patients who make this all happen. So it is quite impressive. It is very impressive. Oh, yes, and AI. I probably should cover that too. Just beyond what's special about the NHS and Genomics England. [00:27:22] Lennard: Well, AI I think is changing everything. I went to a garden party, and actually everyone's talking about how they're using AI to make their lives simpler, make them do things that they've never been able to do before, get the information instantaneously there. And I think that there's technologies which come through every so often in our lifetimes, which changes how we think, how we communicate, and actually makes us better in many ways. [00:27:47] Lennard: And so the great opportunity here is what happens if we take that third strength now? So we've already said we're really good at vaccine research in the UK. The UK invented vaccines. We also are world leaders at genomics. We did the 100,000 Genome Project. What happens if we use this new technology now? [00:28:06] Lennard: And what's a problem that we can solve? Well, let's say we did a whole genome sequence on someone, which is what Genomics England does every day for the NHS. Well, that creates a lot of data. Um, I tried to do the calculations before we went online. It's about 100,000 photos. You know, when you take on your phone, that's a lot of data. [00:28:25] Florence: Wow. Yeah. [00:28:26] Lennard: And that's a miracle what's happening in the NHS and Genomic England, and we need to make a cancer vaccine out of that. And so you need to process that. So that's time-consuming. It could be automated. And so what AI could do now in future is that we could use the supercomputer we built in the UK. [00:28:43] Lennard: In fact, we are doing this already. We've built supercomputers in the UK, and we're going well beyond other tools out there and designing cancer vaccines. And the AI scientists which can do that can do it at weekends, at nights, and help design the drugs. And so what it does is it heralds a future where every patient can contribute into a model that's created in the UK, stored safely in our supercomputers. [00:29:07] Lennard: It can now be made into drugs, and the UK will start to make things again, which will hopefully change cancer care across the world. We can deliver that legacy whereby our three strongest strengths come together - vaccines, AI, and genomics. It then super powers the NHS and everything that Victoria's done in the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad, so many millions of people around the world can get access to trials. [00:29:31] Lennard: And people like Ali can also help hold up the NHS even further. So people once again look back to us and say, "If you want to get things done, come to the NHS because it provides world-class care for patients." And so that's a big initiative now. Use AI to make better drugs, safer drugs, more effective, more precise in the UK. And it's only possible because of everything that we've built here with our funders, ARIA, MRC, Cancer Research UK, people raising, raising money through cake bake sales to make this happen. [00:30:02] Lennard: So it's very exciting. [00:30:04] Florence: Yeah. I think AI can be a topic that people often have very strong opinions about. When it comes to AI in, in your line of work, are there any misconceptions you think people might have, or are there any benefits to using it that maybe people might not be aware of? [00:30:21] Lennard: Oh, that's a tricky question, isn't it? I think you're right. Any tool that comes through can be used for good things and, and things that people will question because maybe we don't want to cross those boundaries. And yet I think what we're doing here is really special because we want to - as long as your heart's in the right place - we want to give more people like Ali hope so that she knows that one day the drugs in the NHS will be much safer so you don't get all those side effects, much more effective, much more precise. [00:30:52] Lennard: And on top of that, people like Victoria will be able to bring even more trials in the UK which will change lives and change practices around the world through an amazing working launchpad. So I think that's the right use of AI, make people's lives better. I think there are other uses of AI which I probably scratch my head and say, "Well, should we be doing that?" [00:31:10] Lennard: And that's what I think it's really special that we do think about these and talk about these things here, and then bring the public with us because I know that people reach out, and Ali's been reached out in the past before, and I think we need to have this discussion here. Is AI right to develop cancer drugs using capabilities from Genomic England to go through the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launchpad? [00:31:31] Lennard: I say cautiously, yes, and we should do more of this. And I think the most important thing is there's a lot of people starting to use AI for benefit, and you know my views, Ali, and I don't know if they're right. Um, I'll be a bit cautious, but I do want to ask you, Ali, is this the right use of AI? Should this be what we develop? [00:31:50] Lennard: I don't know what you're going to say. [00:31:52] Ali: For me, I think it is. I do think AI is a bit if you put rubbish in, you get rubbish out. But if you- If you ask the right questions, if you give it data analysis and experts like you have set up the protocol in the first place and it makes everything faster and reliable, then it's got to be the right thing. [00:32:16] Ali: It gets used and abused for things, that isn't what AI should be doing, in my opinion. It should be used to do-- to help us, to supplement the work that we're doing, uh, and make it even faster than you're already making it. [00:32:38] Florence: Well, we've covered so much today from how vaccines work to the role of genomics, NHS trials, and of course, what all of this could lead to. So before we wrap up, I have two final questions for each of you. What do you think is the most important thing for listeners to understand and take away from personalised cancer vaccines? [00:33:01] Florence: And what are your hopes for the future? I think we'll start with you, Victoria, if that's all right. [00:33:08] Victoria: Yeah, absolutely. It's been a great conversation. Uh, there's so much to think about. I think when I think about what I'd like listeners to take away, I think it's that cancer vaccines, and particularly personalised cancer vaccines, really support and represent this paradigm shift that we're seeing towards a much more personalised, uh, treatment pathway. [00:33:27] Victoria: You know, like we've described, generating a cancer vaccine that has come from the patient's tumour, so the, the, the vaccine is, is designed to recognise mutations that are specific to that patient. It is such an incredible thing to be sort of witnessing and to see how that's developing through into sort of really changing patient care, and that's, you know, we've spoken about this so much, but that's been due to such incredible collaboration across scientific disciplines, across the NHS, pathologists. [00:33:58] Victoria: Everyone has come together to make all of this possible, and that's, that's an amazing thing to be a part of. In terms of my hopes for the future, well, I would like the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad to be open in every hospital across the UK to really sort of underpin that acceleration and to provide that opportunity for patients. [00:34:17] Victoria: You know, I'd just like to give a, a final shout-out to everybody who has been part of the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad from its very start, who's enabled this to happen and, you know, it's just been fantastic to see how this has, you know, supported patient choice for trials. And I guess if there's one tiny other thing, perhaps we could see how this, you know, this, what we've put together could be applied to other disease areas as well. [00:34:39] Victoria: But yeah, that, that would be my hope for the future, is it's open everywhere one day. [00:34:43] Florence: And Ali, I'll come over to you next. [00:34:45] Ali: I think what I'd say to any patient that was asked to go on a trial is, is just go for it. [00:35:02] Ali: And you know, Victoria, Lennard, all the rest of the team, you know, you are not doing jobs. You're leaving a legacy in my view. That's such an important thing. So yeah, if you're offered a trial, get on it. And my hope for the future is that everybody can have kinder, gentler treatments. The radiologists and chemo nurses I came across were lovely, lovely people. [00:35:31] Ali: But yes, I'd like to see them out of work and doing other things within the NHS because they don't need to do that work anymore. That, that's my dream. [00:35:40] Florence: Mm. And Lennard, any, any final thoughts? [00:35:44] Lennard: Thanks, Ali. I mean, your words gave me goosebumps about the amazing stuff that the whole community's doing for cancer vaccines, AI and genomic research. [00:35:51] Lennard: It's so powerful. Um, okay. What's the final thing? I think it's hope. Look, the country's in a new place now. You've got brilliant scientists running clinical trials, like the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad, which is reaching out to every single hospital. You've got patients who are building up the NHS again to deliver future care, and scientists using AI and genomics to make cancer vaccines. [00:36:11] Lennard: That is a good reason to be hopeful. When lots of things are going in other places of the world, great things are happening in the UK. [00:36:20] Florence: This has been such a brilliant conversation. [00:36:25] Florence: A huge, huge thank you to our guests today, Dr. Victoria Goss, Professor Lennard Lee, and Ali Richards, for joining me in our brilliant discussion about cancer vaccines. [00:36:50] Victoria: Thank you so much for having me. [00:36:55] Ali: Thank you, as always. I've learnt a lot. [00:37:00] Lennard: Thank you very much, Florence, too, from me. [00:37:10] Florence: If listeners have enjoyed this episode and you'd like to hear more, please subscribe to Behind the Genes on your favourite podcast app. [00:37:16] Florence: I've been your host, Florence Cornish, and Behind the Genes is produced by Deanna Barac, Sharon Jones, Sophie McLachlan, and Patrick Wallace at Bespoken Media. Thank you for listening.
The odds of a single living cell assembling by chance are 1 in 10 to the 50,000th power…and evolutionists still won't admit it's over. Kevin Swanson breaks down the staggering complexity of DNA, RNA, and the ATP synthase motor…why "dirt can't write software"…and why Sir Fred Hoyle himself recanted his atheism at the end of his life. Then Bill Jack joins Kevin to talk phrenology, punctuated equilibrium, and why 92% of biology professors now believe gender is a social construct.
The odds of a single living cell assembling by chance are 1 in 10 to the 50,000th power…and evolutionists still won't admit it's over. Kevin Swanson breaks down the staggering complexity of DNA, RNA, and the ATP synthase motor…why "dirt can't write software"…and why Sir Fred Hoyle himself recanted his atheism at the end of his life. Then Bill Jack joins Kevin to talk phrenology, punctuated equilibrium, and why 92% of biology professors now believe gender is a social construct.
What can a few grains of asteroid dust tell us about the origins of life on Earth?In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with NASA astrochemist José C. Aponte about the organic chemistry preserved inside asteroid Bennu. From NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample-return mission to amino acids, nucleobases, and the mystery of life's left-handed molecules, Aponte explains how scientists search for clues to our chemical origins. This one is going to be cool!What you'll hear:Why NASA traveled to Bennu: Pristine asteroid material offers evidence that meteorites altered by Earth's environment cannot.How scientists prevent contamination: A fingerprint can contain more organic material than the tiny Bennu samples researchers analyze.What researchers discovered: Bennu contains 14 of the 20 amino acids used to build proteins and all five nucleobases found in DNA and RNA.Why molecular diversity matters: Thousands of nitrogen-bearing compounds reveal the complex chemical environment of the early solar system.How a mass spectrometer works: Aponte explains how scientists use molecular fragments to identify compounds inside asteroid material.The mystery of left-handed amino acids: Life uses almost exclusively one mirror-image form, but scientists still do not know why.The search for tryptophan: Researchers found tentative evidence that could represent the first extraterrestrial detection of this complex amino acid.What Bennu's salts reveal: Minerals formed through evaporating water suggest Bennu's material originated in a different part of the solar system.Learn More:Read the full show notes on the Wings Over the Rockies websiteDonate to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space MuseumSubscribe and leave a review to support the showThis episode is supported in part by United Airlines.
Stem cells have been surrounded by controversy, confusion, politics, and even a little mystery for decades.But what if we've been thinking about them the wrong way?On this episode of Sugar Crush: The Rest of the Story, Dr. Rick Jacoby welcomes Grok into the studio for a deep dive into the fascinating world of stem cells, medicinal signaling cells, exosomes, nitric oxide, blood flow, and regenerative medicine.Dr. Rick begins by separating embryonic and non-embryonic stem cells and revisiting the history of the field, including the work of Arnold Caplan, who originally popularized the term mesenchymal stem cells before proposing that they instead be called medicinal signaling cells—reflecting the idea that much of their biological activity comes from the signals they send rather than simply transforming into replacement tissue. So how do those signals work?The conversation goes microscopic, exploring pericytes, growth factors and exosomes—tiny extracellular vesicles that can carry proteins, RNA and other signaling molecules between cells. Dr. Rick also discusses experimental research involving exosomes and nitric oxide and why he believes improving circulation and oxygen delivery is fundamental to the body's healing processes. That leads to another critical player: nitric oxide. The episode examines its role in blood-vessel function and connects it to Dr. Rick's previous research interests involving ADMA, circulation and diabetic neuropathy.But, as always on Sugar Crush, the conversation eventually comes back to sugar.Dr. Rick introduces his “estuary” and “Terminal Zone” concepts to explain his theory that the biological environment surrounding damaged tissue matters enormously. His argument is simple: regenerative therapies can't be considered in isolation from diet, circulation, inflammation and overall metabolic health.
The odds of a single living cell assembling by chance are 1 in 10 to the 50,000th power…and evolutionists still won't admit it's over. Kevin Swanson breaks down the staggering complexity of DNA, RNA, and the ATP synthase motor…why "dirt can't write software"…and why Sir Fred Hoyle himself recanted his atheism at the end of his life. Then Bill Jack joins Kevin to talk phrenology, punctuated equilibrium, and why 92% of biology professors now believe gender is a social construct.
Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (8/21/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble"); Rumble("play", {"video":"v7cb2wc","div":"rumble_v7cb2wc"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order): Sam Husseini Interview - Can A Corrupt System Be Changed From Within? New Tab (20) Brian Cates - Political Columnist & Pundit on X: "@L08818 I slowly came to realize on hanging out with Ron Paul enthusiasts that they don't want to reform the system, drive out the corruption, and restore the country. The want to...and they told me this several times, but back then I didn't really believe them...BURN IT ALL DOWN AND" / X (20) The Last American Vagabond on X: "What an absolutely disingenuous coward you are @L08818. https://t.co/31KRfbLcxZ" / X (20) SheThinksFreely (@L08818) / X (20) SheThinksFreely on X: "@TLAVagabond Bro GTFOH w this stupid sh*t Anarchy is anti American You traitorous piece of excrement" / X (20) SheThinksFreely on X: "
NEB scientists, Anagha Kadam and Jack Martz join the NEB podcast to talk all things RNA isolation. Discussion covers different ways to isolate RNA, how silica columns perform vs magnetic beads, and how to prevent RNase activity to ensure your next RNA isolation is a success.
Aos 33 anos, o cardiologista gaúcho comanda a área de pesquisa clínica do Hospital Moinhos de Vento e assinou a análise que ajudou a aprovar o primeiro remédio capaz de reduzir o risco de pancreatite. Ao Trip FM, ele fala da nova geração de drogas que atuam no RNA mensageiro, desmonta a polêmica das estatinas, explica por que (e como) o médico sério pode estar nas redes sociais e resume longevidade em sete ou oito hábitos nada glamourosos
Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we're diving into some of the latest advancements and achievements across this dynamic industry, where innovation is reaching new heights and regulatory landscapes are continuously evolving. In a groundbreaking moment for gene therapy, Ultragenyx has secured the first FDA approval for its gene therapy product, Genglycos (DTX401), aimed at treating Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia. This rare metabolic disorder has long posed significant challenges due to the body's inability to convert glycogen into glucose. Using an adeno-associated virus vector to deliver the therapeutic gene, Genglycos has shown significant clinical efficacy in Phase 3 studies, offering new hope for patients with limited options. This achievement underscores gene therapy's potential to transform the management of metabolic diseases and sets a precedent for future innovations in treating genetic disorders. Shifting focus to monoclonal antibodies, Regeneron has received FDA approval for Pasatru (Garetosmab), a treatment for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), a rare and debilitating bone disease. Pasatru targets Activin A to reduce unwanted bone formation outside the normal skeleton, marking a strategic use of monoclonal antibodies in managing rare conditions. This approval provides another therapeutic avenue for FOP patients and highlights the critical role monoclonal antibodies play in addressing complex medical challenges. On the technological front, Vitestro's Aletta has become the first FDA-approved robotic blood draw device. This innovation addresses the current shortage of phlebotomists and promises enhanced efficiency in healthcare settings. The integration of robotics into routine medical procedures exemplifies how technological advancements can optimize healthcare delivery, improving patient experiences and operational workflows. In regulatory news from the UK, NICE's endorsement of Eli Lilly's once-weekly insulin Onswik for NHS coverage marks a significant step forward in diabetes management. By facilitating access to innovative treatments with more convenient dosing regimens, this approval aims to enhance patient compliance and outcomes significantly. Business development continues to drive innovation across various therapeutic areas. Eli Lilly's collaboration with Amplitude Therapeutics on an RNA vaccine platform signifies a focused effort to harness cutting-edge technologies against infectious diseases. Similarly, Chai Discovery's partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb leverages AI and machine learning to accelerate antibody discovery, showcasing how AI is reshaping drug discovery paradigms. Funding initiatives further reveal industry trends. Kynexis's successful EUR97 million Series A raise will advance its cognitive impairment schizophrenia drug toward registrational development. Such investments underscore confidence in neuroscience therapeutics and emphasize a growing focus on addressing cognitive disorders through novel small molecules. Despite these advancements, challenges persist. Amgen's decision to terminate its collaboration with TScan Therapeutics on a Crohn's disease project due to strategic realignments highlights ongoing industry shifts. Moreover, regulatory recalls impacting product safety continue to underscore the importance of maintaining rigorous standards. In other significant developments, Novo Nordisk is exploring smaller doses of its weight management drug Wegovy through a Phase 3 trial. This study reflects an industry trend towards optimizing drug formulations for enhanced efficacy and patient compliance. On the legal front, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals reached a settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals to delay a generic version of its lupus drug Lupkynis until late 2036. This agreement secures Aurinia's market position while providing a buffer period to maximize revenue from its patented formulation. Amid geopolitical tensions, Chinese biotech companies remain confident in navigating international markets, reflecting resilience and underscoring China's growing influence in global biotech innovation. The field also observes notable movements such as Boehringer Ingelheim's improved standing in rare disease reputation rankings and B. Braun Medical's IV solution recall due to contamination concerns—highlighting ongoing challenges in product safety and quality assurance. As we wrap up, these discussions showcase an industry rapidly evolving through scientific breakthroughs, strategic collaborations, and regulatory successes. The implications are profound: from more effective therapies for rare conditions to leveraging technological advances for streamlined R&D processes. The pharmaceutical and biotech sectors are on a promising trajectory that could redefine patient care and drug development paradigms globally. Thank you for tuning into Pharma Daily; stay informed about the latest developments shaping our industry.Support the show
Stacy Horner discusses her work on innate detection of viruses, viral countermeasures, and the role of m(6)A RNA modifications in regulating antiviral immunity. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Stacy Horner Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Hepatitis virus proteases block host response (J Virol, 2012) Host RNA binds to MAVS (Science, 2024) m6A modifications modify innate response to viruses (Cell Chem Biol, 2024) UFMylation coordinates MAVS assembly for antiviral responses (bioRxiv, 2025) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
This week we talk about the liver, viral infections, and the NHS.We also discuss blood scandals, needle usage, and Nobel Prizes.Recommended Book: A World Appears by Michael PollanTranscriptThe term “hepatitis” refers to the inflammation of the liver, which can result from all kinds of things, including environmental toxins, the consumption of alcohol, or autoimmune diseases. It can also result from viral infections, and the most prominent liver-inflaming viruses are called viral hepatitis.There are five types of viral hepatitis, A, B, C, D, and E, and each of these viruses are distinct, not part of the same viral family, they're just similarly named because they impact the same organ.Hepatitis A and E are primarily spread through contaminated food and water, and generally resolve on their own, untreated, and cause relatively mild symptoms. Hepatitis B and C are spread through blood and other bodily fluids, and can linger in a host's body for decades before even showing symptoms. Hepatitis D is a parasite of Hepatitis B, and thus only infects people who carry Hepatitis B.Now again, these are all different conditions that just happen to inflame the liver, so impact and treatment also vary quite a lot. As I mentioned, A and E generally present with mild symptoms and tend to go away on their own, while B and C can stick around a long time. There's a vaccine for B, but no cure; you can treat it, but that treatment involves suppressing it, and keeping it suppressed, forever. Hep C, in contrast, is curable, and has been since 2014 using what are called direct-acting antiviral pills, but these pills, which are taken for 8 to 12 weeks, are expensive—ranging from $22-95k without insurance, though that price is often reduced substantially for those with insurance, down to as low as $5. This category of drug coverage is often rejected by insurance companies, though, in part because they're so expensive, that expense the result of little competition in this space; few companies make this type of drug, so those that do can charge more or less whatever they like.Some people with Hepatitis C clear it on their own; about 30% of people who contract it, in fact, clear it within a few months, medication-free. Which is good, because our understanding of this virus is relatively new. Up until 1989, Hep C didn't even have its own name: it was established as its own thing, not Hep A and not Hep B, back in the 1970s, and doctors knew that something that wasn't those two viruses, that was being spread by transfusions, was causing hepatitis symptoms, but they didn't know any real specifics, so they just called it “non-A, non-B hepatitis,” and that name stuck for more than a decade.In 1989 the virus was cloned using molecular techniques (as opposed to simply growing the virus, which wasn't proving fruitful in trying to isolate and identify the thing), and the folks who managed that cloning, and the person who later proved that the genome they cloned, alone, caused the disease, received a Nobel Prize in Medicine for their efforts in 2020.By 1991, antibody tests were available for Hep C, and many countries began screening donated blood for this virus, to ensure it wasn't working its way into their blood supply.And one instance of that screening process, or I suppose, an event that led up to mass screening, and the consequences that followed, are what I'd like to talk about today. The UK's efforts in trying to eliminate Hep C, and England's recently announced near-success in that pursuit.—Hepatitis C is an RNA virus with high genetic variability that makes developing a reliable vaccine difficult. And though somewhere between a quarter and a third of all cases clear on their own, those that don't clear on their own become chronic, lying in wait for twenty to thirty years, slowly accumulating fibrosis—thick scar tissue in the liver—which eventually results in cirrhosis, which means a liver that's so heavily scarred that the organ is no longer fully functional and the damage is permanent. From there, infected people often experience liver failure or hepatocellular (huh-pah-toe) carcinoma, liver cancer.So this virus is a sleeper, and unless it's caught by accident somewhere along the way, it slowly causes damage over time until the damage is too severe to reverse. About 80% of people who have it don't know they have it, and in some parts of the world medical injections are the most common transmitter, but in higher-income areas, it's usually transmitted by injectable drugs.Pre-2014 treatments for Hep C were pretty horrible, involving a combination antiviral therapy called pegylated interferon plus ribavirin that was injected weekly for six months to a year, and this was terribly tolerated by pretty much everyone, causing anemia, depression, and flu-like symptoms for the duration. It also only cured about 50% of people who received the full treatment, and a lot of people had to stop because it caused such ridiculous side effects.Another antiviral called Sofosbuvir (so-FAS-buh-vir), which kept Hep C from replicating in its host, hit the market in late-2013, and that led to a series of direct-acting antivirals that reduced the treatment period dramatically, allowing most people, 95%, to cure their Hep C entirely by taking generally well-tolerated pills for 8 to 12 weeks.These pills were staggeringly expensive from the get-go, with an entire treatment course initially costing about $84,000, or $1,000 a pill. This led to rationing, and saving these pills for the worst-impacted people who already had severe liver damage. There were also pretty stringent requirements attached to their distribution, including that people who received them could no longer drink alcohol, because it was considered a waste to give these crazy expensive, liver-saving drugs to people who would just go and hurt their liver more, anyway.In the UK, the demand for this treatment type was different than in most other countries, in large part because of something that happened back in the 1970s and 80s.The UK's publicly funded healthcare system, the NHS, was in the midst of a shortage of clotting factor, which are plasma proteins and ions that help blood clot and which are used for medical purposes. So they imported a bunch of plasma products from the US, and those products were sourced from the blood of paid donors—and that donor pool included prisoners and people who used injectable drugs. Just one Hep C contaminated blood donation could contaminate an entire batch of blood, and remember, they only started screening the blood supply for Hep C in 1991, and they didn't start treating their blood supply for Hep C until a little before that, 1985, so this was well before they had any idea what was in those blood products they were importing and administering.Consequently, between 1970 and the early 1990s, more than 30,000 NHS patients received transfusions or other blood product treatments contaminated with Hep B, Hep C, or HIV, and about a tenth of those people, around 3,000 patients, have since died of those conditions.The UK government leaned on denial and a refusal to look into the details of this for years, but in 2017 it announced an independent public inquiry into the matter, and in May of 2024, that inquiry concluded that this whole scandal was avoidable, that patients were knowingly exposed to “unacceptable risks,” and that there was a big cover up by government officials, doctors, and other people working with the NHS.As of mid-2026, only a little over 3,200 people of the more than 18,500 who registered claims, demanding compensation from the government because they were impacted by this scandal, have been paid out. The expected total expense for the UK government is on the order of 12.8 billion pounds, but a lot of people who are probably due a payout, and who are in poor and deteriorating health as a consequence of all this, don't yet have a sense of when they'll receive their payment.Back in 2016, before all that came to a head, the UK set itself an aggressive goal: to eliminate Hep C by the WHO's 2030 target, or before. It then ran a competitive tender for antivirals, inviting medical suppliers to submit competing bids, resulting in the largest single medicine procurement program in the NHS' history. The pharmaceutical companies that won their bids were also obliged, as part of the agreement, to help fund efforts to identify undiagnosed but infected patients, in addition to supplying antiviral pills, and this combination of investment and application led to the deployment of new tests and scanning machines, free postal test kits, the hiring of specialists, and services that focused on prisons and drug users.The impact of all this has been significant: a more than 61% decline in infections from 2015 to 2024, nearly half of all drug users with Hep C had cleared the virus in that time, and deaths from Hep C are down 36% over the past decade.The WHO treatment-coverage target—the percentage of people who are diagnosed getting treatment—was 80%, and England has hit 81.5%, which was recently announced to much fanfare. It hasn't yet hit the diagnosis target, however, which is to diagnose 90% of people who are estimated to have Hep C; they've hit 84.6%, which is still quite a lot of progress, even if they're not yet where they'd like to be. That's all based on models, of course, as are the assumed number of infections among people who use injectable drugs, which is also a spot where England is currently flagging; there's no centralized system in England to monitor needle and syringe provisions, and reinfection rates are around 8.8 per 100 person-years among people who had injected within three years of receiving treatment, and that rate is even higher for people who have ever been to prison, around 9.4 per 100.What that means in practice is that the English government overall has done a pretty astounding and effective job at negotiating their relationships with pharma companies and getting detection on track at that scale, but on more ground-level issues that are, interestingly, a lot cheaper to implement, but at times more politically complicated because of public sentiment about drug use and drug users, they're doing a lot less well—and important to note here is that these outcomes vary a bit across the four programs being run across the UK. Scotland and Wales are doing relatively better and worse in some regards compared to England, for instance.Also worth noting here that while England is broadly doing a great job with Hep C diagnosis and treatment, they aren't the first to achieve those WHO-set goals: Egypt reached Gold tier status according to the WHO's Hep C guidelines in October of 2023, at that point having diagnosed 87% of people who have the virus, and treating 93% of those who were diagnosed. They managed to cut incidence of the virus by 97% in just 8 years, leaning on a system of high-yield testing—they tested more than 60 million people during those 8 years—alongside a production scheme that included local manufacturing of antivirals, making them more available and affordable.All of which are generally good signs about where Hep C testing and treatment is going, at least in these regions. And it paints a optimistic picture for other countries that might want to replicate some of what's working within their own borders.Show Noteshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75gk620r22ohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infected_blood_scandal_in_the_United_Kingdomhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_Chttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_hepatitishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_Bhttps://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/treatment-costshttps://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-chttps://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/surveillance-of-hepatitis-c-in-scotland/surveillance-of-hepatitis-c-in-scotland-progress-on-elimination-of-hepatitis-c-as-a-major-public-health-concern-2025-update/https://www.emro.who.int/media/news/egypt-becomes-the-first-country-to-achieve-who-validation-on-the-path-to-elimination-of-hepatitis-c.htmlhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hepatitis-c-in-england-and-the-uk/hepatitis-c-in-england-2025https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/08/100000-people-receive-treatment-to-cure-deadly-hep-c-virus-on-nhs-in-just-ten-years/https://www.hepctrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/hepatitis-c-trust-welcomes-elimination-deal-hepatitis-c-and-calls-government-backed/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10099/https://www.who.int/teams/global-hiv-hepatitis-and-stis-programmes/hepatitis/reports/global-hepatitis-report-2026 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe
On episode #113 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 8/4 – 8/17/26. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Sara Dong Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Puscast! Links for this episode Viral Two-year durability of MVA-BN vaccine-induced antibodies and the risk of Mpox breakthrough infections among high-risk populations: a prospective, longitudinal study (CMI: Clinial Microbiology and Infection) Notes from the Field: Potential Infant HIV Exposure from Donated Breast Milk Received Through Social Media — Santa Clara County, California, May 2025–January 2026 (CDC: MMWR) Bacterial Associations Between QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus IFNγ Concentrations and Progression to Symptomatic Tuberculosis in Global High-Burden TB Settings (OFID) Cefadroxil as Oral Transitional Therapy for Gram-Positive Bacteremia With or Without Non-Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study (OFID) Efficacy of beta-lactam monotherapy versus clindamycin or addition of metronidazole in peritonsillar abscess – an observational cohort study with a focus on Fusobacterium necrophorum (CMI: Clinial Microbiology and Infection) A novel RNA nucleic acid amplification test more accurately distinguishes active Clostridioides difficile infection from colonization (CID) The Clean Margin in Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis: Conceptual Appeal, Practical Uncertainty (CID) Rising Incidence of New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase–Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales, 10 US Sites, 2018–2023 (OFID) Association of anti-anaerobic antibiotics with mortality and the gut microbiome: a sub-study of the BALANCE randomized clinical trial (CID) Fungal The Last of US Season 2 (YouTube) Coccidioidomycosis Testing Among Patients Hospitalized With Community-Acquired Pneumonia (OFID) Parasitic Human Myiasis Resulting from Reemergence of Cochliomyia hominivorax Screwworm, Mexico, 2025–2026 (Emerging Infectious Diseases) The origin, history, and resistance architecture of an invasive urban malaria mosquito in Africa (Science) Clinical, molecular, and in vitro evidence of artemisinin partial resistance in Ethiopian Plasmodium falciparum: a prospective, multisite, surveillance (LANCET: Infectious Diseases) Miscellaneous What's in a Name? Etymology and History of Antibacterials and Antifungal (IOFID) Music is by Ronald Jenkees Information on this podcast should not be considered as medical advice.
AI can now read DNA like language, generate working biological sequences, and help scientists identify disease-related mutations. Radical Numerics CEO Eric Nguyen explains how genome language models work, why his earlier model Evo helped scientists design CRISPR systems and bacteriophage genomes, and how the company's newer model, Omnii, combines DNA with RNA, proteins, and other biological signals. The conversation explores personalized medicine, gene therapy, AI-designed biological threats, “deepfake viruses,” and whether the same technology that creates new biology can also defend against it.Learn more about Radical Numerics: https://www.radicalnumerics.ai/
What if your skin could just . . . remember how to act young again? That's essentially the pitch behind Biocogent's new RNActivate W, a next-generation active that doesn't add collagen or push it as peptides do. Instead, it goes upstream and silences a tiny piece of regulatory RNA (the so-called "wrinkle miRNA") that tells your skin cells to stop making collagen and elastin. Join Ella and Maggie for an ingredient deep dive into what microRNAs actually are, why the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine matters for your treatment room, what to look for on an INCI list when you see "s-RNA-5," and how to talk about this category with clients without overpromising. Spoiler: This isn't snake oil, but it isn't a retinol replacement either. ASCP Esty Talk with hosts Ella Cressman and Maggie Staszcuk Produced by Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) for licensed estheticians, ASCP Esty Talk is a weekly podcast, hosted by licensed estheticians, Ella Cressman, ASCP Skin Deep Magazine contributor, and Maggie Staszcuk, ASCP Program Director. We see your passion, innovation, and hard work and are here to support you by providing a platform for networking, advocacy, camaraderie, and education. We aim to inspire you to ask the right questions, find your motivation, and give you the courage to have the professional skin care career you desire. About Ella Cressman: Ella Cressman is a licensed esthetician, certified organic formulator, and business owner with more than 20 years of experience in corrective skin care. Known as an "ingredient junkie" and industry cheerleader, she empowers professionals to think beyond products and develop a deeper understanding of skin function and formulation. In addition to her practice, Cressman is the founder of the HHP Collective, a practitioner-led community focused on strengthening clinical reasoning and advancing professional growth within the esthetics industry. Connect with Ella Cressman: Website: www.hhpcollective.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ella-cressman-62aa46a About Maggie Staszcuk: Maggie Staszcuk serves as the Program Director for ASCP and is the cohost of ASCP Esty Talk podcast. With over 18 years' experience in the esthetics industry, her diverse background includes roles in spa management, spa and med-spa services, and esthetics education. Since becoming a licensed esthetician in 2006, she carries a range of certifications in basic and advanced esthetics. Maggie is dedicated to equipping estheticians with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive in their careers. Connect with Maggie Staszcuk: P: 800.789.0411 EXT 1636 E: MStaszcuk@ascpskincare.com About our Sponsors: Massage Envy is a national franchisor and does not independently own or operate any of the Massage Envy franchised locations nationwide. The Massage Envy franchise network, through its franchise locations, is the leading provider of massage services. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy now has approximately 1,100 franchise locations in 49 states that have together delivered more than 200 million massages and skin care services. Website: www.massageenvy.com/careers/career-areas/esthetician Facebook: @MassageEnvyCareers LinkedIn: @MassageEnvy GlossGenius Gaps in your schedule. Clients who don't rebook. Tight margins. High payment processing fees. Sound familiar? When you're running your own practice, you don't have time to figure out where you could be making more money. Especially when you're stitching together booking, payments, and a clunky EMR that only makes things harder. That's why we love GlossGenius — the business management platform that does the work for you. It fills your calendar, rebooks clients automatically, upsells high-margin services, and has the lowest flat-rate payment processing fees. Plus, all the HIPAA-compliant tools you need for charting, consents, and client records — without the admin chaos. GlossGenius grows your revenue and handles the busywork, so you can focus on your clients. Use code ESTY at GlossGenius.com for 50% off your first two months of their Gold or Platinum plan. GlossGenius. More Growth. Less Busywork. Visit https://glossgenius.com/ascp for more details. About Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP): Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) is the nation's largest association for skin care professionals and your ONLY all-inclusive source for professional liability insurance, education, community, and career support. For estheticians at every stage of the journey, ASCP is your essential partner. Get in touch with us today if you have any questions or would like to join and become an ASCP member. Connect with ASCP: Website: www.ascpskincare.com Email: getconnected@ascpskincare.com Phone: 800-789-0411 Facebook: facebook.com/ASCPskincare Instagram: @ascpskincare
Does a woman's sexual history leave lasting biological effects—and could it influence future relationships, pregnancy, or offspring?In this deep-dive conversation, Marquett sits down with a neuroscience graduate to examine controversial claims surrounding body count, microchimerism, epigenetics, semen-derived genetic material, inheritance, fertility, and sexual biology. They also discuss why some scientific claims spread online, how to separate peer-reviewed research from viral interpretations, and why understanding the difference between evidence, hypothesis, and speculation matters.The conversation goes beyond dating culture and into bigger questions surrounding genetics, modern relationships, scientific literacy, social media, education, and the way controversial research is communicated.Topics include: epigenetics, microchimerism, DNA and RNA, sexual history, reproductive biology, genetic inheritance, promiscuity, scientific studies, misinformation, relationships, and modern dating.Watch the full discussion and decide for yourself where the evidence ends—and where the controversy begins.⸻
Everyone in biotech agrees AI needs more data. Almost no one is willing to pay for it. If you're trying to build or buy a biotech AI model, you've hit the same wall: predictive performance depends on data your budget doesn't cover, and nobody in the field seems willing to close that gap. John Androsavich runs Ginkgo Datapoints, the bio AI data arm of Ginkgo Bioworks. He trained as an RNA scientist, spent years on the pharma side deciding which technologies were worth buying, and now sells the raw biological data everyone claims to want. Ross and John get into why biotech spends a fraction of what tech spends on data, how automation dropped ADME testing to $199 a compound, and what that unlocks for drug discovery pipelines and data science in biotech more broadly. You'll hear why single-cell foundation models don't scale the way the field expected, and how GPT-5 designed its own lab experiments inside an autonomous facility. This one's for data and analytics leaders in biotech who need a clearer read on where to spend on data generation, and where the field is still guessing. It's less useful if you're after a general AI overview with no biotech specifics. Key Takeaways - One Meta investment in a data-labelling vendor outweighs a full year of AI drug discovery venture funding combined, and dwarfs the entire single-cell data market. Biotech's data spend looks nothing like tech's. - Ginkgo's ADME-1 offering runs at roughly a tenth of standard pricing, which is changing when and how much companies test. Teams are now running full tier-one panels earlier instead of triaging molecules before they've generated the negative data models need. - A recent Microsoft Research paper found single-cell foundation model learning saturates at 200,000 to 2 million cells, out of a possible 20 million. Volume alone isn't the lever people assumed it was. - GPT-5 wrote its own experimental protocols for optimising cell-free protein expression, ran them through Ginkgo's autonomous Nebula lab, and hit the lowest price-per-titer ever recorded in the field. Chapter Markers 00:00 Introducing John Androsavich and Ginkgo Datapoints 01:12 Why Ginkgo launched a bio AI data business 05:03 Which companies benefit most from Datapoints 06:31 The paradox: everyone wants data, no one pays 09:00 How automation drives ADME-1's $199 price point 12:59 Testing the Jevons paradox in biotech data buying 16:05 Do we actually know biotech AI's scaling laws? 20:54 Why foundation model builders resist more data 24:59 What an empirical bake-off for bio AI could look like 29:32 The case against sitting on the sidelines 33:26 Inside the Virtual Cell Pharmacology Initiative 41:57 Where VCP fits among other virtual cell projects 44:50 The Antibody Developability Consortium with Apheris 53:57 Autonomous labs and GPT-5 designing its own experiments 59:38 Advice for mid-stage biotech data strategy 01:01:31 Final thoughts on where bio AI investment is heading Useful Links & Resources - Ginkgo Bioworks: [ginkgobioworks.com](https://www.ginkgobioworks.com) - Related episode: Apheris CEO Robin Rohm on federated co-folding (Data in Biotech) - Related episode: Eliza Appel on Lilly's TuneLab and federated learning (Data in Biotech) - CorrDyn: [corrdyn.com](https://www.corrdyn.com) Connect With the Show - Host LinkedIn (Ross Katz): [linkedin.com/in/b-ross-katz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-ross-katz/) - Host X: [x.com/brosskatz](https://x.com/brosskatz) - CorrDyn LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/company/corrdyn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/corrdyn/) Where does your organisation sit on the data investment paralysis John describes? Are you waiting for someone else to prove the scaling laws first, or are you buying the data now? Drop your take in the comments. Visit corrdyn.com to learn how CorrDyn can help your organisation extract value from data. #DataInBiotech #BiotechAI #DrugDiscovery #DataScience #GinkgoBioworks
Welcome back to the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast with Mike and Molly! Last episode we covered DNA and RNA structure. Now we put that knowledge to work and answer the question that follows naturally: how do scientists actually study DNA, and how does the MCAT test those techniques?This is the DNA techniques episode, and it connects back to nearly everything you have already learned including amino acids, protein structure, hemoglobin, gel electrophoresis, blotting and central dogma.
>p>Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 7-30-2026: A type of coffee brewed from beans that have been altered by passage through the digestive track of civet cats is a delicacy in Southeast Asia. A Scientific Reports paper using gas chromatography analyzed Kopi Luwak (civet-processed coffee beans) versus fresh-picked beans, finding elevated caprylic and capric acids that carry the characteristic flavor notes found in dairy products. Dr. Manuel Esteller sampled and tested the blood, saliva, urine, and stool of the oldest human Maria Branyas Morera, who died last year at 117. Despite exceptionally short telomeres, she carried anti-inflammatory genetic variants seen in long-lived dogs, worms, and flies, and had unusually high Bifidobacterium levels—likely boosted by her three-daily-servings-of-yogurt habit. Dr. Dawn defends sunscreen use against Environmental Working Group scare campaigns, noting that concerns about absorption of sunscreen ingredients into blood remain theoretical while sunburn's melanoma link is well-established. She argues that a badly sunburned toddler starts a clock that can produce melanoma by the late teens. The FDA advisory committee is reviewing certain short amino acid chains popularly known as "peptides" for potential compounding-pharmacy production, covering proposed to treat ulcerative colitis, wound healing, insomnia, insulin resistance, migraines, and osteoporosis. Dr. Dawn flags that five to seven committee members have industry conflicts of interest, but argues that even flawed approval is preferable to the current gray market, where analysis shows vials contain only 4-28% of labeled content along with endotoxin and toluene contamination. She proposes surveillance tracking of prescribed peptides to catch adverse effects early, citing a foreign melanocortin nasal spray tanning product that caused rare nasal melanomas as a cautionary example. Utah State biochemists working with the Cas12a2 CRISPR enzyme discovered that instead of behaving as a precise gene-editor like Cas9, it goes into an indiscriminate DNA-shredding mode after recognizing its target RNA. By programming it to recognize RNA sequences uniquely activated in cancer cells (embryonic-development genes that shouldn't be running in adults), researchers destroyed only the cancer cells in tissue culture, potentially offering a way to eliminate small metastases without healthy tissue toxicity. Cancer patients who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy showed dramatically improved outcomes, with median survival in advanced lung cancer rising from 20 to 37 months. Non-mRNA vaccines (flu, pneumonia) showed no such benefit. Lab work suggests the mRNA triggers type-1 interferon release that activates tumor-infiltrating immune cells and drives them to lymph nodes to train other immune cells against the tumor. Researchers redesigned a CD40 agonist antibody to bind multiple receptors simultaneously by clustering with a second antibody, stretching the cell surface and triggering a powerful immune response. In a 12-patient trial, injecting one tumor caused all tumors to shrink in six patients and produced complete remission in two—including a melanoma patient with dozens of leg tumors and a metastatic breast cancer patient whose lung and liver tumors resolved after skin injection. Two small trials of CAR natural killer cells—engineered like CAR T-cells but derived from donor umbilical cord blood and thus potentially available off-the-shelf—showed remarkable results in autoimmune disease. All 27 systemic lupus patients targeting the CD19 protein on autoantibody-producing cells showed improvement, with some remaining in remission at nearly two years. A single Shanghai patient with systemic sclerosis showed restoration of normal skin and blood vessel structure. A paradox has emerged in advanced prostate cancer: while blocking testosterone halts early tumor growth, cancer cells eventually adapt to low-androgen conditions such that flooding tissues with testosterone in advanced disease can actually halt tumor progression by triggering cellular redifferentiation. Separately, Dr. Dawn reviews conflicting evidence on Parkinson's risk from androgen deprivation therapy, singling out enzalutamide (Xtandi) as the most concerning drug due to blood-brain barrier penetration, and recommending darolutamide as the safest alternative with matching prostate efficacy but minimal CNS entry.
Send us Fan MailMitochondrial peptide MOTS-c is a stress-induced signal that reprograms cell metabolism.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Mitochondrial Roles: Not just ATP production, but “speaker of the house” via communication molecules that “talk” to the rest of the cell.Origin of Communication: Mitochondrial peptides were likely co-opted from ancient antimicrobial factors to synchronize nuclear and mitochondrial genomes.MOTC Discovery: Identified in mitochondrial ribosomal RNA regions linked to interferon responses.Stress Induction: MOTS-c is produced in response to exercise, immune activation, and nutrient withdrawal; circulates as a mitokine.Nuclear Regulation: MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus under stress and acts as a nonspecific cofactor that shapes chromatin accessibility and gene expression.Metabolic Effects: Prevents diet-induced obesity and fatty liver in mice without altering baseline weight; engages AMPK and suppresses anabolic pathways.Immune Modulation: Shifts immune cell programs to reduce autoimmune attack in type 1 diabetes models.Aging Phenotypes: Daily or intermittent dosing doubles running capacity and preserves walking ability in old mice.ABOUT THE GUEST: Changhan David Lee, PhD is Associate Professor at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. His laboratory investigates mitochondrial communication and microproteins in the biology of aging. RELATED CONTENT:Article | MOTS-c & Cellular Energy HomeostasisSupport the showSupport my work:Good Chemistry: Personalized, science-based health consulting. Work with Dr. Nick Jikomes directly.Affiliate Partners: Visit this link to see my affiliate partners and get discounts codes for products & services to support health.For all the ways you can support my efforts.
HEALTH NEWS Analysis of 82 Trials Shows Black Seed May Improve Cardiovascular Risk Markers New Study Reveals Herpesvirus Infection May Accelerate Alzheimer's Disease Favorable lifestyle factors reduce dementia risk across key genetic profiles People are living longer, but spending more years in poor health Imbalances in the oral microbiome linked to symptomatic hand osteoarthritis Analysis of 82 Trials Shows Black Seed May Improve Cardiovascular Risk Markers Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Iran), July 21 2026 (Natural News) A pooled analysis of 82 randomized controlled trials involving 5,026 adults has found that supplementation with Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed or black cumin, is associated with improvements in multiple cardiovascular risk markers. The meta-analysis, published in the journal Pharmacological Research, was conducted by researchers from several Iranian universities. The analysis used a GRADE-assessed, dose-response method to evaluate the effects of black seed compared with placebo or standard care. According to the study, black seed supplementation led to significant reductions in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. The analysis noted that daily amounts used in most trials ranged from 1 to 3 grams of ground black seed or 1 to 3 milliliters of black seed oil. According to the researchers, one teaspoon of ground black seed contains roughly 4 grams, meaning a single daily teaspoon stirred into food falls within the range used in studies. For those who prefer oil, a half teaspoon delivers close to 2 milliliters. The researchers emphasized that consistency, rather than a large single dose, appears to drive positive results. New Study Reveals Herpesvirus Infection May Accelerate Alzheimer's Disease Cardiff University (UK), July 21, 2026 (SciTech Daily) In a new study, researchers found that herpesvirus infection intensified memory problems and other Alzheimer's-related changes in mice already vulnerable to the disease. The damage appeared to be driven not simply by the virus itself, but by the immune system's prolonged attempt to control it. Herpesviruses are a large family that includes viruses associated with cold sores, childhood infections, and glandular fever. After the initial illness passes, some can remain dormant inside the body and reactivate later, repeatedly drawing the immune system into action. Scientists results suggest that T cells, immune cells that identify and attack infected cells, can enter the brain during herpesvirus infection and accelerate cognitive decline. Following infection, large numbers of immune cells moved into the brain. Most were CD8+ T cells that specifically recognized the virus, showing that they had entered the tissue as part of the body's attempt to contain the infection. Similar T cells have previously been found in the brains and spinal fluid of people with Alzheimer's disease, although their exact role has remained uncertain. The results indicate that a virus-driven immune response can actively speed the progression of Alzheimer's-like disease rather than merely appearing alongside it. Favorable lifestyle factors reduce dementia risk across key genetic profiles Kyushu University (Japan), June 5 2026 (News-Medical) With dementia cases expected to nearly triple worldwide by 2050, researchers are increasingly focused on identifying ways to prevent or delay the disease. While lifestyle and health-related factors, such as blood pressure control and physical activity, influence dementia risk, genetics also play a major role. Currently, it is unclear if maintaining a favorable lifestyle reduces dementia risk equally across different genetic backgrounds. A new study led by Kyushu University examines whether favorable modifiable risk factors (mRF)-behaviors or conditions that people can change or control-can lower dementia risk even among individuals with high genetic susceptibility. The researchers analyzed data from 9,605 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older. They determined each participant's APOE ε4 genotypes, a primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and calculated the mRF score based on lifestyle and health-related factors. This allowed the team to evaluate how genetic predisposition and lifestyle choices jointly interact to influence dementia risk. The results showed that dementia risk rose progressively with the number of APOE ε4 alleles. Notably, among individuals with one or no APOE ε4 alleles, maintaining a healthier profile with lower mRF scores was linked to a significantly lower risk of dementia. In contrast, among individuals with two APOE ε4 alleles, dementia risk did not differ significantly between those with lower and higher mRF scores. These findings suggest that maintaining favorable lifestyle and health conditions can effectively mitigate dementia risk, even among individuals carrying a single APOE ε4 allele. This underscores the importance of population-based prevention strategies focused on managing vascular and lifestyle risk factors. People are living longer, but spending more years in poor health Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (US), July 21 2026 (Eurekalert) People are living longer, but spending more years in poor health The morbidity gap—the number of years people live in poor health—widened in nearly all countries, with wealthier nations facing the largest gaps. The US has the largest morbidity gap, closely followed by Australia and Canada. Women consistently live longer but spend more years in poor health than men. Musculoskeletal disorders, mental health conditions, hearing loss, and falls and other unintentional injuries are driving most years lived in poor health worldwide. Within a generation, the global morbidity gap widened by nearly two years, increasing from 8.8 years in 1990 to 10.7 years in 2023. Globally, people spent an average of 14.5% of their lives in poor health in 2023, up from 13.6% in 1990. Instead of occurring only in the final years of life, the widening morbidity gap was observed across the adult lifespan, suggesting that people are spending more years living with disease and disability throughout adulthood. Between 1990 and 2023, global life expectancy at birth increased from 64.6 years to 73.8 years, while healthy life expectancy rose from 55.9 years to 63.1 years. In 2023, the United States had the largest national morbidity gap at 14 years, followed by Australia at 13.9 years and Canada at 13.7 years. Imbalances in the oral microbiome linked to symptomatic hand osteoarthritis Central South University (China), July 21 2026 (Medica Xpress) A study published RMD Open has linked specific imbalances and disruptions in the oral microbiome to symptomatic hand arthritis. Its findings suggest that the microbial environment of the mouth may influence the disease process of hand arthritis, which is associated with pain, stiffness and reduced grip strength and can severely impair quality of life. The oral microbiome plays a role in systemic inflammation and interacts closely with the gut microbiome, which is significantly associated with symptomatic hand arthritis. To assess the role of the oral microbiome, saliva samples from 52 people with symptomatic hand arthritis recruited from a community-based osteoarthritis study and 712 people without the condition were analyzed using ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Compared with samples taken from participants without hand arthritis, samples from participants with symptomatic hand arthritis showed significantly lower oral microbial richness and altered composition. Specifically, the abundance of Trichococcus bacteria was significantly higher in the symptomatic hand arthritis samples and positively associated with the severity of hand arthritis symptoms. Trichococcus abundance in the oral microbiome was also positively associated with the gut microbial tyrosine metabolism pathway—a metabolic pathway previously implicated in hand arthritis. Samples from participants with symptomatic hand arthritis also displayed reduced oral-gut microbiome correlations compared with controls, suggesting the balance between these two microbial communities was disrupted.
Episode 2860 - In this episode, Ted and Austin Broer connect Moderna's RNA cancer shot trial dangers, COVID vaccine memory issues and hospital whistleblower claims, acai berry antioxidant benefits, Berberine's blood sugar and body fat management superiority, the trades career opportunity versus student loan default crisis, EV market collapse and hybrid technology promise, and the Andrew and Tate arrest for dating scams into a broadcast that delivers both urgent health warnings and sharp economic and cultural commentary.
Cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough on mRNA Persistence, Nattokinase, and the Fight Over COVID-19 Treatment" Six years after standing before the US Senate and calling out the pandemic response in real time, Dr. Peter McCullough returns with new evidence on where the spike protein came from, how long it persists in the body after infection or vaccination, and what's being done to break it down. This episode traces the science from a 2015 gain-of-function paper to a patient still showing circulating spike protein 3.6 years after vaccination. Get Dr. McCullough's free spike protein guide: myfreespikeguide.com Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dr. Peter McCullough, a physician trained in internal medicine, cardiology, and epidemiology, and one of the most published and most censored voices of the COVID-19 pandemic. He authored the first multi-drug treatment protocol for COVID-19, testified before the US Senate in 2020 and again in 2025, and has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature on vaccine safety, spike protein biology, and early treatment. His book Courage to Face COVID-19 and his most recent New York Times bestseller, Vaccines, Mythology, Ideology and Reality, examine the history and science behind vaccine policy. Dave and Dr. McCullough trace the origins of the spike protein back to 2015 and 2016 research papers describing a lab-created, SARS-like coronavirus explicitly labeled "poised for human emergence," and discuss the funding, institutions, and researchers involved. They break down why synthetic mRNA vaccines resist the body's normal RNA breakdown process, what a patient case revealed about spike protein circulating 3.6 years after vaccination, and how nattokinase, a natural enzyme, has shown the ability to break the spike protein down. They also cover the suppression campaigns against ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, the wartime propaganda origins of terms like "misinformation" and "anti-vaxxer," and what Dr. McCullough says he would do differently if he ran HHS. The conversation closes with new research on cognitive superagers, the small percentage of people who reach 100 with intact memory and health. You'll Learn: Why 2015 and 2016 research papers described a lab-created coronavirus as "poised for human emergence" years before the pandemic Why synthetic mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines resists the body's natural RNA breakdown process What one patient's case revealed about spike protein still circulating 3.6 years after vaccination How nattokinase, a natural enzyme, has been shown to break down the spike protein Why the FDA and FTC targeted ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and companies selling nasal sprays during the pandemic The wartime propaganda origins of terms like "misinformation," "disinformation," and "anti-vaxxer" What Dr. McCullough says he would do first if he were running HHS What research on cognitive superagers reveals about the small number of people who reach 100 with intact health Thank you to our sponsors! - TrueDark | Visit truedark.com and use code DAVEASPREY15 (discount applies to all frames except Aegis) - ZenBud | Dave's Nervous System Biohack. Visit zenbud.health and use code DAVE15 at checkout for a discount. - Qualia | Go to qualialife.com/ASPREY for 50% off, and use code ASPREY for an additional 15% off. - ENERGYbits | If you want a simpler, smarter way to support your body… this is it. Head to ENERGYbits.com and use code ASPREY for 20% off your order. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights inhealth, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Keywords: spike protein detox, how long does spike protein last in your body, nattokinase spike protein, mRNA vaccine side effects, is the spike protein still in my blood, gain of function research explained, where did COVID come from, Wuhan lab leak evidence, ivermectin banned, why was hydroxychloroquine banned, vaccine injury compensation act, mRNA vaccine shedding, spike protein detox protocol, how to live to 100, cognitive superagers, Peter McCullough, Dave Asprey Resources: • Learn More About Dr. McCullough's Work At: https://www.twc.health/pages/focal-points • Get My 2026 Clean Nicotine Roadmap | Enroll for free at https://daveasprey.com/2026-clean-nicotine-roadmap/ • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today. • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15? • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey's BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey's New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Join My Substack (Live Access To Podcast Recordings): https://substack.daveasprey.com/ • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:43 – Intro 02:10 – 2020 Public Health Failures 05:07 – Vaccine History & Mythology 07:19 – Vaccine Hesitancy as Disease 13:12 – Masks & Lockdown Absurdity 18:03 – War on Hydroxychloroquine 23:56 – Ivermectin Suppression 28:58 – FTC Misinformation Crackdown 31:18 – Propaganda Terms Explained 39:55 – McCullough's Confidence & Career 43:08 – Spike Protein Origins 57:10 – Nattokinase & Spike Clearance 58:50 – mRNA Persistence in Body 1:11:50 – Fixing the System 1:17:32 – Political Divisiveness 1:22:41 – Secrets to Longevity See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.