Scientists argue risks vs. benefits for public food supply

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are abundant in our food supply and in most (at least 60 percent to 70 percent) of our processed foods, including cereals, baked goods, breads, snacks, desserts, cake and brownie mixes, soy foods, corn products, high fructose corn syrup and even sugar.

Genetic engineering differs from conventional cross-breeding as GMOs are made by inserting a piece (or multiple pieces) of DNA from a plant or animal into the DNA of an entirely different species.

This added DNA provides some desirable property. For example, GMO plant crops are specifically engineered to resist insect pests, thrive in different environments or to withstand the application of herbicides to improve the control of weeds.

Genetically modified plants have also been developed to produce specific vitamins, resist viruses and even produce certain medicines. Genetic engineering can also be used in animals to improve disease resistance, enhance growth, produce healthier meat and dairy products or perhaps eventually even produce medicinal drugs in milk or eggs.

Yet, GMOs are widely debated even among scientists. Are they beneficial for farmers and the food supply, or are they hazardous to our health and to the environment?

The world picture

GMO food crops are a relatively new phenomenon and have been in widespread use only since the 1990s. The U.S. is the worlds leading producer of GMOs, and 90 percent of GMO crops use bioengineered seeds from Monsanto.

Some countries have banned or restricted GMOs, including many in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa, while others have embraced GMOs (including the U.S., Canada, India and China). Europe requires labeling of GMOs, which resulted in the dramatic drop in sales of GMOs and explains why big agriculture is adamantly opposed to labeling in the U.S. China has had great success with GMOs and is the largest producer of GMO cotton in the world.

In the U.S., most of the recent legal battles have been over labeling, and currently, GMOs are not required to be labeled here. Connecticut and Maine recently passed laws to mandate GMO labeling, and Whole Foods has promised to sell only non-GMO foods by 2018.

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GMOs are hotly debated

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WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Jul 16, 2013) - The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the international organization representing the interests of the regenerative medicine community, today announced that the third annual Regen Med Partnering Forum will take place October 14 and 15, 2013 as part of the Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa. This forum is the only partnering meeting organized specifically for the regenerative medicine field, and has become the premier gathering place for more than 300 senior level executives seeking opportunities to collaborate and learn more about recent advances in the space. Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is the meeting's founding and platinum-level sponsor.

The Regen Med Partnering Forum will take place at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, La Jolla, California. The Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa's eighth Annual Scientific Symposium will immediately follow the Regen Med Partnering Forum on October 16, 2013 at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The Scientific Symposium, organized by the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, is attended by leading scientists and researchers in the field, as well as participants from the business and patient advocacy communities. Combined, these meetings will attract over 800 attendees from around the globe, highlighting the promise and progress of this rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary field.

"Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa is the premier annual meeting for anyone involved in regenerative medicine, cell therapy and stem cell research," said Geoff MacKay, President & Chief Executive Officer of Organogenesis Inc. and Chairman of ARM. "The quality of speakers -- both industry and academic -- combined with high-level partnering opportunities, makes attending this meeting every year a top priority."

In addition to presentations by 40 cutting-edge companies seeking partners and investors, the Regen Med Partnering Forum will include interactive panels addressing critical commercial, scientific, regulatory and reimbursement issues. One-on-one meetings will also be scheduled with a state-of-the-art partnering system to connect participants. The Regen Med Partnering Forum was developed by the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in 2011 and has grown 35% over the past three years.

"Life Technologies has sponsored this meeting since its inception in 2006, and helped it grow into a leading, annual conference for the regenerative medicine community," said Alaine Maxwell, Associate Director, Americas Marketing, Stem Cells and Translational Research, Life Technologies. "Whether your goal is to gain exposure to researchers or put your name out in front of C-level executives, attending this meeting has incredible value."

To learn more or to register for the 2013 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa please visit http://www.stemcellmeetingonthemesa.com. Registration is complimentary for investors and credentialed members of the media.

About The Alliance for Regenerative MedicineThe Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) is a Washington, DC-based multi-stakeholder advocacy organization that promotes legislative, regulatory and reimbursement initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, providing business development and investor outreach services to support the growth of its member companies and research organizations. Prior to the formation of ARM in 2009, there was no advocacy organization operating in Washington, DC to specifically represent the interests of the companies, research institutions, investors and patient groups that comprise the entire regenerative medicine community. Today ARM has more than 140 members and is the leading global advocacy organization in this field. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, visit http://www.alliancerm.org.

About Life Technologies Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company that is committed to providing the most innovative products and services to leading customers in the fields of scientific research, genetic analysis and applied sciences. With a presence in more than 180 countries, the company's portfolio of 50,000 end-to-end solutions is secured by more than 5,000 patents and licenses that span the entire biological spectrum -- scientific exploration, molecular diagnostics, 21st century forensics, regenerative medicine and agricultural research. Life Technologies has approximately 10,000 employees and had sales of $3.8 billion in 2012.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine Holds Third Annual Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa Regen Med Partnering Forum

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July 16, 2013 Smokers who've received a clean bill of health from their doctor may believe cigarettes haven't harmed their lungs. However, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have found that even smokers who seem healthy have damaged airway cells, with characteristics similar to cells found in aggressive lung cancer.

The study, published today in the journal Stem Cells, compared cells that line the airway from healthy nonsmokers with those from smokers with no detectable lung disease. The smokers' cells showed early signs of impairment, similar to that found in lung cancer -- providing evidence that smoking causes harm, even when there is no clinical evidence that anything is wrong.

"The study doesn't say these people have cancer, but that the cells are already starting to lose control and become disordered," says the study's senior investigator, Dr. Ronald G. Crystal, chairman and professor of genetic medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. "The smoker thinks they are normal, and their doctor's exam is normal, but we know at the biologic level that all cigarette smokers' lungs are abnormal to some degree."

The researchers found that in the cells lining the airways of the smokers's lungs, human embryonic stem cell genes had been turned on. These are genes that are normally expressed in developing embryos -- soon after eggs are fertilized -- before cells are programmed with their specific assignment. This gene is also "on" in the most aggressive, hard-to-treat lung cancers.

"We were surprised to see that the smokers were expressing these very primitive human embryonic stem cell genes," Dr. Crystal says. "These genes are not normally functioning in the healthy lung."

Healthy lung cells, like all of the body's cells, have very specific assignments. Although all of the body's cells contain the same genes, genes are only "turned on" for each cell's defined task. Therefore, healthy lung cells only express genes related to lung function, while brain cells express brain-specific genes. "Healthy cells are very tightly controlled. Normal cells have rules and only do certain things," says Dr. Crystal. "In cancer, that control is lost."

This loss of control allows cancerous cells to multiply without restraint and enables them to migrate to other organs because the genetic programming that keeps them on task is in disarray. The study found that smokers' cells were in the very early stages of losing this control.

"When you smoke a cigarette, some of the genetic programming of your lung cells is lost," says Dr. Crystal. "Your cells take on the appearance of a more primitive cell. It doesn't necessarily mean you will develop cancer, but that the soil is fertile to develop cancer."

In the study, 21 healthy nonsmokers were compared to 31 smokers who had no lung disease symptoms and had normal X-rays as well as normal chest examinations. All individuals were evaluated at Weill Cornell's Clinical and Translational Science Center and Department of Genetic Medicine Clinical Research Facility. By sending a thin tube called a bronchoscope and a fine brush into the lungs, investigators gently brushed the inside of the airways to collect cells from the airway's lining. Researchers examined these cells, called the airway epithelium, which come into contact with cigarette smoke and are where cancer begins, Dr. Crystal says.

Routine checkups can mislead smokers into thinking cigarettes aren't hurting their bodies. However, these results paint a different picture. "Physical examinations, lung function tests and chest x-rays are not sensitive enough to pick up these very early changes," Dr. Crystal warns doctors and smokers. "The take-home message is: Don't smoke. Smoking is bad and if you smoke, you're at risk."

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Even healthy-looking smokers have early cell damage which destroys necessary genetic programming

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Mapping Cancer: Largest Set of Tumor Genomes Could Lead to Better Anticancer Drugs

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July 16, 2013 Several companies sell genetic testing directly to consumers, but little research has been done on how consumers experience such tests. The tests have raised questions about the validity and accuracy of the information provided to consumers -- especially without the involvement of a qualified health care professional.

Now, a study lead by a Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine researcher is providing insight into how a diverse sample of primary care patients experience genetic testing.

Lead researcher Katherine Wasson, PhD, MPH, and colleagues conducted in-depth interviews with 20 patients recruited from primary care clinics. Among the findings, published online ahead of print in the Journal of Community Genetics:

- Most participants thought results were fairly easy to understand -- with the help of a genetic counselor (provided by the study, not the testing company). But fewer than half said they might be able to understand results on their own.

- Most participants expressed no concern or hesitation about testing. But a few worried about confidentiality -- especially whether results could affect their health insurance coverage. A few also expressed fears about getting bad results. As one participant explained, "I mean, you want to know, but then you don't want to know."

- Participants gave several reasons why they decided to undergo testing. Most simply said they were curious. "I don't have a scientific background, so a lot of it is just fascinating to see how all of that can spin out," one participant said. Many also said test results would provide knowledge they could act on, and help them prepare for the future. Said one: "If you know that there's something going on you can go ahead and fix it now and not have to try to fix it later when it's already unfixable." A few participants wanted to help their families or the next generation, or more broadly, contribute to research and medical science.

- Most participants were pleased with results of the tests, mainly because they had not received bad news, despite the uncertainty of the results. "This makes me feel great," said one such participant. "I know I'll be around at least another year or two."

- About half the participants said they had made no changes in response to results, mainly because there was nothing on which to act. But among a few participants, receiving "low-risk" results was a motivating factor to improve their health behavior, mainly through more exercise and a better diet.

- One year after testing, most participants said they would take the test again, and recommend it to others. "It's as if you stepped into a time capsule and you went ahead in time and you can see something," one participant said.

Patients were interviewed individually four times: during an initial session in which a saliva sample was given; 4 to 6 weeks later, when they received results; 3 months after receiving results; and 12 months after receiving results. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

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How patients experience direct-to-consumer genetic testing

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DUBLIN, July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6pvm54/personalized) has announced the addition of a new report "Personalized Medicine - Scientific and Commercial Aspects" to their offering.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130307/600769 )

This updated 2013 report now features even more company profiles and collaborations!

The aim of personalized medicine or individualized treatment is to match the right drug to the right patient and, in some cases, even to design the appropriate treatment for a patient according to his/her genotype. This report describes the latest concepts of development of personalized medicine based on pharmacogenomics, pharmacogenetics, pharmacoproteomics, and metabolomics. Basic technologies of molecular diagnostics play an important role, particularly those for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Diagnosis is integrated with therapy for selection of the treatment as well for monitoring the results. Biochip/microarray technologies are also important and finally bioinformatics is needed to analyze the immense amount of data generated by various technologies.

Pharmacogenetics, the study of influence of genetic factors on drug action and metabolism, is used for predicting adverse reactions of drugs. Several enzymes are involved in drug metabolism of which the most important ones are those belonging to the family of cytochrome P450. The knowledge of the effects of polymorphisms of genes for the enzymes is applied in drug discovery and development as well as in clinical use of drugs. Cost-effective methods for genotyping are being developed and it would be desirable to include this information in the patient's record for the guidance of the physician to individualize the treatment. Pharmacogenomics, a term that overlaps with pharmacogenetics but is distinct, deals with the application of genomics to drug discovery and development. It involves the mechanism of action of drugs on cells as revealed by gene expression patterns. Pharmacoproteomics is an important contribution to personalized medicine as it is a more functional representation of patient-to-patient variation than that provided by genotyping. A 'pharmacometabonomic' approach to personalizing drug treatment is also described.

Biological therapies such as those which use patient's own cells are considered to be personalized medicines. Vaccines are prepared from individual patient's tumor cells. Individualized therapeutic strategies using monoclonal bodies can be directed at specific genetic and immunologic targets. Ex vivo gene therapy involves the genetic modification of the patient's cells in vitro, prior to reimplantation of these cells in the patient's body.

Increase in efficacy and safety of treatment by individualizing it has benefits in financial terms. Information is presented to show that personalized medicine will be cost-effective in healthcare systems. For the pharmaceutical companies, segmentation of the market may not leave room for conventional blockbusters but smaller and exclusive markets for personalized medicines would be profitable. Marketing opportunities for such a system are described with market estimates from 2012-2022.

Profiles of 283 companies involved in developing technologies for personalized medicines, along with 504 collaborations are included in the part II of the report. Finally the bibliography contains over 650 selected publications cited in the report.The report is supplemented by 65 tables and 18 figures.

Key Topics Covered:

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Personalized Medicine Report - Scientific and Commercial Aspects - 2013-2022

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Public release date: 16-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kim Menard kim.menard@uphs.upenn.edu 215-662-6183 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

BOSTON - People who found out they carried an uncommon genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease did not experience more anxiety, depression or distress than non-carriers, and were more active in efforts to reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease - by exercising, eating a healthy diet and taking recommended vitamins and medications - report researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania today at the 2013 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC). Researchers note that this study will inform how research studies and clinical practices reveal genetic and other risk factors to people interested in being tested in the future.

"This study informs our understanding of the impact of people finding out their genetic risk for Alzheimer's in the absence of any treatments to prevent dementia," said lead study author Jason Karlawish, MD, professor of Medicine and Medical Ethics and Health Policy in Penn's Perelman School of Medicine. "We saw that, following their genetic counseling session, people took positive steps to mitigate their Alzheimer's risk, such as following a healthy diet and exercising. They might also be willing to join an Alzheimer's dementia prevention trial."

As part of the NIH-funded REVEAL study led by Robert Green, MD, at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, an analysis of 648 people tested for the Alzheimer's disease genetic risk marker APOe4 was conducted, where participants learned their risk estimate, based on genotype, gender, ethnicity and family history. Only 4 percent of participants (28 people) were in the highest risk group, carrying two copies of APOe4, while 34 percent (221) had a single copy of the gene and 62 percent (399) carried no genetic risk marker.

After a year of following the three groups, there was no inflated perceived risk of getting Alzheimer's disease, nor was there any significant difference between groups for scores on anxiety, depression and test-related distress.

"What is the experience of being an APOE4 homozygote? Findings from the REVEAL Study" by Karlawish et al will be presented on Tuesday, July 16 at 12:00pm ET. The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HG002213, HG005092, HG006500 and AG027841.

###

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 16 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $398 million awarded in the 2012 fiscal year.

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Highest risk Alzheimer's genetic carriers take positive steps after learning risk status

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ZS Genetics, developer of a Third-Generation DNA sequencing platform, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) are pleased to announce the official opening of the companys new office in the Greater Boston area. ZS Genetics management team, as well as representatives from the MLSC, MassBio and state Rep. Paul Brodeur, D-Melrose, cut a ribbon last week to mark the grand opening of the companys new facility in Wakefield.

The opening of the Boston-area office and laboratory facility is a significant milestone in the companys transition from research and development towards product commercialization.

The Wakefield facility brings together employees who currently work remotely and also provides sufficient expansion space to accommodate the companys anticipated growth. This facility represents a new chapter in the life of this company. We are very pleased to have found what we believe to be an ideal location. Our world-class scientists finally have the facilities and resources to bring the technology closer to the commercialization stage, said Bill Ward, President of ZS Genetics.

The new office will also bring in new opportunities for ZS Genetics.

Massachusetts is a hub for life sciences and technology expertise. Having access to the talent and resources available in the Boston area was a critical factor in our decision to locate here, said William Glover, Chief Executive Officer of ZS Genetics. We are moving into this facility with a dozen employees and will be looking to expand our workforce in the near future.

In Massachusetts we invest in the life sciences because we are choosing to shape our own future, said Gov. Deval Patrick. I congratulate ZS Genetics on their new facility and look forward to the jobs and economic opportunities they will bring.

Through the MLSC, Massachusetts is investing $1 billion over 10 years in the growth of the states life sciences supercluster. These investments are being made under the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, proposed by Patrick in 2007, and passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by Patrick in 2008.

ZS Genetics 10,000-square-foot space includes office and cubicle space for employees, as well as facilities for a chemistry lab and a DNA sample preparation lab. The labs are scheduled for completion in September at which time those ZS Genetics employees who are currently working in leased facilities will join their colleagues in Wakefield.

The companys team has grown substantially over the past several months to 10 employees as the company has added key personnel required for building the alpha version of its sequencing system. Among the new staff at the Wakefield facility are two premier scientists ZS Genetics has hired to lead critical areas for the next phase of product development: Dr. Suhaib Siddiqi is a renowned chemist who has joined ZSG to lead one of the R&D teams. Several weeks ago, Dr. Larry Scipioni came on board to take responsibility for running the microscope labs.

The facility will house state-of-the-art equipment, including two electron microscopes, to develop the companys platform. The second of the two, a Nion, was recently acquired and underwent installation and commissioning in the second half of June.

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ZS Genetics opens Wakefield facility

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Seattle Genetics Inc. (SGEN) recently announced the commencement of a phase I study on its acute myeloid leukemia (:AML) candidate, SGN-CD33A.

SGN-CD33A uses Seattle Genetics latest antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology targeted to CD33. The open-label, multi-center, dose-escalation study will assess the safety and anti-leukemia activity of SGN-CD33A.

Primary endpoints are the maximum tolerated dose estimation and safety evaluation of SGN-CD33A. Additionally, the study will evaluate pharmacokinetics, progression-free survival and overall survival of patients with AML. Patients achieving complete remission in the dose-escalation study are eligible to continue receiving SGN-CD33A at a lower, maintenance dose given every three weeks.

Encouraging preclinical data on SGN-CD33A was presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in Dec 2012. Preclinical data on SGN-CD33A showed significant antitumor activity in AML models.

The AML market consists of drugs like Mylotarg. Many candidates are being developed for the treatment of AML, like BioLineRx (BLRX) BL-8040. Another candidate, quizartinib, is also being developed for AML.

Seattle Genetics sole marketed ADC product is Adcetris. Adcetris is used for the treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after failure of autologous stem cell transplant (:ASCT) or after failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not suitable for ASCT. Adcetris is also approved for the treatment of systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) after failure of at least one multi-agent chemotherapy regimen.

ADCs have been attracting a lot of interest of late with major companies entering into collaborations. Seattle Genetics has an alliance with Genentech, a business wing of Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) for the development of ADCs.

Seattle Genetics carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Currently, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Public Limited Company (JAZZ) looks well positioned with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Read the Full Research Report on JAZZ

Read the Full Research Report on SGEN

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SGEN Starts Phase I Study on SGN-CD33A

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VISIONS 2013 - Gene Therapy Clinical Trial Updates
http://www.fightblindness.org/visions | From VISIONS 2013, foundation-funded researchers discuss gene therapy and the progress being made in this area of research i...

By: FndFightingBlindness

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VISIONS 2013 - Gene Therapy Clinical Trial Updates - Video

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How Does Gene Therapy Work?
Scientists have promised that gene therapy will be the next big leap for medicine. It #39;s a term that #39;s tossed about regularly, but what is it exactly? Trace s...

By: DNews

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How Does Gene Therapy Work? - Video

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio) today announced that it has entered into a non-exclusive cross-license agreement with Genzyme, a Sanofi company, in which Genzyme receives rights to AskBios Duplex gene therapy vector technology for its internal product development and external sublicensing.

AskBios Duplex vector technology allows a gene therapy Adeno-Associated Viral vector (AAV) to package and deliver more potent therapeutic DNA cargo to a patients cells. The Duplex vectors have been shown to bypass an intracellular-synthesis step necessary for converting a single-stranded DNA genome into a double-stranded genome. This advancement results in faster onset and higher levels of gene expression. Genzyme plans to use the Duplex vector technology for its internal product development research.

Additionally under this agreement, AskBio receives rights to Genzymes Intra-Strand Base-Pairing technology, which also supports packaging of DNA double-stranded genomes within an AAV-based gene therapy vector. The rights obtained from Genzyme by AskBio strengthen and broaden the basis with which AskBio may continue its use and sub-license of Duplex vectors for internal clinical development, as well as external partnerships and collaborations.

We appreciate the collaborative approach with which both companies entered into this cross-license, and believe it broadly strengthens the value potential for future advancements within the field of AAV gene therapy. This cross-license with Genzyme represents our ninth license of the Duplex vectors, and further validates AskBios platform of vector technologies, and their significance and potential for future patient benefit, stated AskBios Vice President Jade Samulski.

Genzyme has been committed to gene therapy for more than twenty years, today with a focus that includes clinical programs in Parkinsons Disease and age-related macular degeneration, said Genzymes Head of Gene Therapy R&D, Sam Wadsworth. We believe our efforts will be enhanced through AskBios technology, as we continue to pursue targeted solutions to address unmet medical needs.

About Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc.

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), is a private clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in the development of novel, gene transfer-mediated therapies using a proprietary AAV-based vector technology platform. This technology is being used to deliver a broad range of therapeutics including therapeutic DNA, monoclonal antibodies, RNAi, and vaccines, among others. The companys mature intellectual property portfolio is based on the scientific work of Professor R. Jude Samulski & colleagues at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The company is currently engaged in gene therapy-based clinical development programs. For additional information, visit AskBios web site atwww.askbio.com.

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Asklepios Enters Cross-License Agreement with Genzyme

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Idiopathic Polymyositis by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India.
Improvement seen in just 5 day after Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Idiopathic Polymyositis by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. After Stem Cell Therapy 1. Fle...

By: Neurogen Brain and Spine Institute

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Idiopathic Polymyositis by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. - Video

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Left Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India.
Improvement seen in just 5 day after Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Left Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. After Stem Cell Therapy...

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Left Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. - Video

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Cell Therapy Brunch -Dina Ferchmin

By: Ryan Alan Petti

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Cell Therapy Brunch -Dina Ferchmin - Video

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Cell Therapy Brunch -Dr. March

By: Ryan Alan Petti

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Cell Therapy Brunch -Dr. March - Video

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Scientists at the National Cancer Institute have produced the largest database of cancer-related gene variations, a feat that will aid research efforts in developing medicines that target the disease more precisely.

The work generated six billion data points that tie hundreds of existing and experimental cancer medicines to gene variations that may be used to better understand drug response, the institute said today in a statement. The scientists sequenced DNA from the human genome across 60 different cell lines involved in nine types of cancer.

The data, to be available to any researcher, can help scientists understand the ways gene mutations determine response or resistance to treatment, the NCI said. By making the database public, the cancer research community will be better equipped to understand the genetic aberrations that allow tumors to form, said Yves Pommier, chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology at the Bethesda, Maryland-based NCI.

This is the first time the whole exome, all the coding genes of cancer cells, have been sequenced from mutation in relation to drug connectivity, Pommier said in a telephone interview.

The database contains 20,000 compounds that may one day be used to treat cancer, including all of the anti-cancer drugs already approved by the FDA, Pommier said in an interview about the data, which was published today in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Information collected from 60 isolated cell lines comprise what is known as the NCI-60, the source of the data released today. The NCI-60 panel contains information about cancer-related genetic variations in the breast, ovary, prostate, colon, lung, kidney, brain, blood and skin.

To contact the reporter on this story: Samuel Adams in New York at sadams69@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reg Gale at rgale5@bloomberg.net

Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A breast cancer cell is seen photographed by a scanning electron microscope.

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Cancer-Linked Genes Collected in Largest-Ever Database

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July 15, 2013 Scientists led by Drs. Mona Gauthier and Tak Mak at The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have solved a key piece in the puzzle of how BRCA1 gene mutations specifically predispose women to breast and ovarian cancers.

The answer, says Dr. Mak in research published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, is found in the way estrogen rushes in to "rescue" cells whose healthy functioning has been altered by oxidative stress, a well-established factor in cancer development. Without estrogen, these damaged cells would die a natural death and not threaten the host in the long run, but with estrogen, these cells not only survive, but thrive and develop breast and ovarian cancers. In Canada, about 1,000 women die from BRCA1-related cancers every year.

The research published today illuminates the interplay between the tumour suppressor gene BRCA1 and a master regulator -- Nrf2 -- that governs the antioxidant response in cells. In healthy cells of all tissues, BRCA1 normally repairs damaged DNA in partnership with Nrf2, and so the cells are protected against oxidative stress. However, when the BRCA1 gene is mutated, it loses its ability to repair DNA and can no longer partner with Nrf2, shutting off its antioxidative function. In most tissues, the resulting oxidative stress kills the cells that have lost BRCA1 function. However, in breast and ovary, the estrogen present in these tissues can swoop in to rescue BRCA1-deficient cells by triggering a partial turn-on of Nrf2. These unhealthy cells gain just enough resistance to oxidative stress to keep them alive and growing. Over time, these surviving BRCA1-deficient cells accumulate more and more mutations due to their lack of ability to repair DNA damage, eventually leading to the development of cancer in these tissues.

Dr. Mak likens the actions of Nrf2 to a ceiling sprinkler that puts out visible flames (oxidative stress) but doesn't reach the smoldering fire -- cell damage -- below.

He says: "Our research confirms that anti-estrogens can delay the onset of breast and ovarian cancers in carriers of BRCA1 mutations. Thus, the challenge is finding a way to block the antioxidant activity of estrogen without affecting its other activities that are necessary for female health. Modification of this one aspect of estrogen function would disrupt this significant cancer-initiating process while maintaining the positive effects of this hormone."

Dr. Gauthier and Dr. Mak discovered this critical interaction between BRCA1, Nrf2 and estrogen in initiating women's cancers by making use of genetically engineered mice. By examining the links between BRCA1 and oxidative stress in these mutant animals as well as in normal breast cells and breast tumours, they were able to generate results that finally explain why loss of a tumour suppressor gene normally active in all tissues leads only to breast and ovarian cancers. The missing piece of the puzzle was estrogen and its unexpected effects on the antioxidant regulation mediated by Nrf2.

The research published today was funded by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, and The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

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Cancer researchers discover how BRCA mutation starts breast, ovarian cancers

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Public release date: 15-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jane Finlayson jane.finlayson@uhn.ca 416-946-2846 University Health Network

(TORONTO, Canada July 15, 2013) Scientists led by Drs. Mona Gauthier and Tak Mak at The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have solved a key piece in the puzzle of how BRCA1 gene mutations specifically predispose women to breast and ovarian cancers.

The answer, says Dr. Mak in research published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, is found in the way estrogen rushes in to "rescue" cells whose healthy functioning has been altered by oxidative stress, a well-established factor in cancer development. Without estrogen, these damaged cells would die a natural death and not threaten the host in the long run, but with estrogen, these cells not only survive, but thrive and develop breast and ovarian cancers. In Canada, about 1,000 women die from BRCA1-related cancers every year.

The research published today illuminates the interplay between the tumour suppressor gene BRCA1 and a master regulator Nrf2 that governs the antioxidant response in cells. In healthy cells of all tissues, BRCA1 normally repairs damaged DNA in partnership with Nrf2, and so the cells are protected against oxidative stress. However, when the BRCA1 gene is mutated, it loses its ability to repair DNA and can no longer partner with Nrf2, shutting off its antioxidative function. In most tissues, the resulting oxidative stress kills the cells that have lost BRCA1 function. However, in breast and ovary, the estrogen present in these tissues can swoop in to rescue BRCA1-deficient cells by triggering a partial turn-on of Nrf2. These unhealthy cells gain just enough resistance to oxidative stress to keep them alive and growing. Over time, these surviving BRCA1-deficient cells accumulate more and more mutations due to their lack of ability to repair DNA damage, eventually leading to the development of cancer in these tissues.

Dr. Mak likens the actions of Nrf2 to a ceiling sprinkler that puts out visible flames (oxidative stress) but doesn't reach the smoldering fire cell damage below.

He says: "Our research confirms that anti-estrogens can delay the onset of breast and ovarian cancers in carriers of BRCA1 mutations. Thus, the challenge is finding a way to block the antioxidant activity of estrogen without affecting its other activities that are necessary for female health. Modification of this one aspect of estrogen function would disrupt this significant cancer-initiating process while maintaining the positive effects of this hormone."

Dr. Gauthier and Dr. Mak discovered this critical interaction between BRCA1, Nrf2 and estrogen in initiating women's cancers by making use of genetically engineered mice. By examining the links between BRCA1 and oxidative stress in these mutant animals as well as in normal breast cells and breast tumours, they were able to generate results that finally explain why loss of a tumour suppressor gene normally active in all tissues leads only to breast and ovarian cancers. The missing piece of the puzzle was estrogen and its unexpected effects on the antioxidant regulation mediated by Nrf2.

Dr. Mak, Director of The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, is an internationally acclaimed immunologist renowned for his 1984 cloning of the genes encoding the human T cell receptor. He is also Professor, University of Toronto, in the Departments of Medical Biophysics and Immunology.

###

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Cancer researchers discover how BRCA1 mutation starts breast, ovarian cancers

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Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology Article Date: 15 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT

Current ratings for: World-First Estrogen Defect Discovery In Woman Without Breasts Or Menstrual Periods

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A genetic receptor mutation that blocks the action of estrogen has been discovered for the first time in a female, according to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The 18-year-old woman was showing classic symptoms of having lower estrogen levels than normal after experiencing no breast development or menstruation. But researchers at Augusta's Medical College of Georgia found that the female had extremely high levels of estrogen in her blood.

Dr. Lawrence Layman, head of reproductive endocrinology, infertility and genetics at the medical school, said: "Her body totally ignores estrogen. Even at levels that are 10 to 15 times normal, it has no effect."

Dr. Layman adds that in laboratory studies, it took 240 times the normal level of estrogen to gain a response from the woman's receptor.

There are two types of estrogen receptor that have been confirmed by research, the authors point out: estrogen receptor-alpha, and estrogen receptor-beta.

Genetic testing revealed that this woman had a mutation in estrogen receptor-alpha, the type essential for bone health and reproduction, the researchers say. They add that the estrogen levels in her blood were as low as those seen in research mice whose receptor-alpha genes have been removed.

The researchers explain that the woman's defected estrogen receptor is "unable to use the estrogen within her body, control how much of it is made or control its result." They explain that the woman had cystic ovaries because her body was in continual production of follicles, when usually the body provides just one a month as part of the menstrual cycle.

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World-First Estrogen Defect Discovery In Woman Without Breasts Or Menstrual Periods

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Newswise MAYWOOD, Il. Several companies sell genetic testing directly to consumers, but little research has been done on how consumers experience such tests. The tests have raised questions about the validity and accuracy of the information provided to consumers especially without the involvement of a qualified health care professional.

Now, a study lead by a Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine researcher is providing insight into how a diverse sample of primary care patients experience genetic testing.

Lead researcher Katherine Wasson, PhD, MPH, and colleagues conducted in-depth interviews with 20 patients recruited from primary care clinics. Among the findings, published online ahead of print in the Journal of Community Genetics:

- Most participants thought results were fairly easy to understand with the help of a genetic counselor (provided by the study, not the testing company). But fewer than half said they might be able to understand results on their own.

- Most participants expressed no concern or hesitation about testing. But a few worried about confidentiality especially whether results could affect their health insurance coverage. A few also expressed fears about getting bad results. As one participant explained, I mean, you want to know, but then you dont want to know.

- Participants gave several reasons why they decided to undergo testing. Most simply said they were curious. I dont have a scientific background, so a lot of it is just fascinating to see how all of that can spin out, one participant said. Many also said test results would provide knowledge they could act on, and help them prepare for the future. Said one: If you know that theres something going on you can go ahead and fix it now and not have to try to fix it later when its already unfixable. A few participants wanted to help their families or the next generation, or more broadly, contribute to research and medical science.

- Most participants were pleased with results of the tests, mainly because they had not received bad news, despite the uncertainty of the results. This makes me feel great, said one such participant. I know Ill be around at least another year or two.

- About half the participants said they had made no changes in response to results, mainly because there was nothing on which to act. But among a few participants, receiving low-risk results was a motivating factor to improve their health behavior, mainly through more exercise and a better diet.

- One year after testing, most participants said they would take the test again, and recommend it to others. Its as if you stepped into a time capsule and you went ahead in time and you can see something, one participant said.

Patients were interviewed individually four times: during an initial session in which a saliva sample was given; 4 to 6 weeks later, when they received results; 3 months after receiving results; and 12 months after receiving results. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

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Study Reveals How Patients Experience Direct-to-Consumer Tests

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Public release date: 15-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jeremy Moore jeremy.moore@aacr.org 215-446-7109 American Association for Cancer Research

PHILADELPHIA Scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have generated a data set of cancer-specific genetic variations and are making these data available to the research community, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

This will help cancer researchers better understand drug response and resistance to cancer treatments.

"To date, this is the largest database worldwide, containing 6 billion data points that connect drugs with genomic variants for the whole human genome across cell lines from nine tissues of origin, including breast, ovary, prostate, colon, lung, kidney, brain, blood and skin," said Yves Pommier, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology at the NCI in Bethesda, Md., in an interview. "We are making this data set public for the greater community to use and analyze.

"Opening this extensive data set to researchers will expand our knowledge and understanding of tumorigenesis [the process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer], as more and more cancer-related gene aberrations are discovered," Pommier added. "This comes at a great time, because genomic medicine is becoming a reality, and I am very hopeful this valuable information will change the way we use drugs for precision medicine."

Pommier and colleagues conducted whole-exome sequencing of the NCI-60 human cancer cell line panel, which is a collection of 60 human cancer cell lines, and generated a comprehensive list of cancer-specific genetic variations. Preliminary studies conducted by the researchers indicate that the extensive data set has the potential to dramatically enhance understanding of the relationships between specific cancer-related genetic variations and drug response, which will accelerate the drug development process.

The NCI-60 human cancer cell line panel is used extensively by cancer researchers to discover novel anti-cancer drugs. To conduct whole-exome sequencing, Pommier and his NCI team extracted DNA from the 60 different cell lines, which represent cancers of the lung, colon, brain, ovary, breast, prostate and kidney, as well as leukemia and melanoma, and cataloged the genetic coding variants for the entire human genome. The genetic variations identified were of two types: type I variants corresponding to variants found in the normal population, and type II variants, which are cancer-specific.

The researchers then used the Super Learner algorithm to predict the sensitivity of cells harboring type II variants to 103 anti-cancer drugs approved by the FDA and an additional 207 investigational new drugs. They were able to study the correlations between key cancer-related genes and clinically relevant anti-cancer drugs, and predict the outcome.

The data generated in this study provide means to identify new determinants of response and mechanisms of resistance to drugs, and offer opportunities to target genomic defects and overcome acquired resistance, according to Pommier. To enable this, the researchers are making these data available to all researchers via two database portals, called the CellMiner database and the Ingenuity systems database.

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Scientists at NCI generate largest data set of cancer-related genetic variations

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Genetic mapping and testing have long been hailed as the future of preventative medicine, but the Royal College of Pathologists is warning Australians should be cautious about embracing it too quickly.

Genome mapping advances are on the agenda of the health informatics conference being held in Adelaide, with discussion focused on how technology can improve healthcare.

Katerina Andronis of the Health Informatics Society of Australia said efficiencies were possible.

"We need to use technology to enable the more efficient way of managing our patients," she said.

Professor William Dalton of M2Gen said people's DNA profiles should be held in a national database in conjunction with facts about their medical history and lifestyle.

"It's not just knowing the genome, it's putting it in the context of the system," he said.

"We can predict how a patient may develop a disease or respond to therapy."

National framework needed

Professor Graeme Suthers Royal College of Pathologists agreed a DNA test might soon hold the key to revolutionising patient care.

"The ability to sequence the entire human genome, an individual's entire genetic code, is now literally within our grasp," he said.

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Caution urged as DNA tests and genetic mapping advance

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Iranian people are not arabs - Population genetics finally proves this genetically.
Throughout the years, Iranian people have always been thought to be totally mixed (genetically) with arabs from arabian penisula, turks and mongols. This fal...

By: sorrypapawxz

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Iranian people are not arabs - Population genetics finally proves this genetically. - Video

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