Latest news with #DavidKerr
Medscape
01-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
CISH-Targeted TILs Show Promise in GI Cancer Trial
This transcript has been edited for clarity. Hello. I'm David Kerr, professor of cancer medicine at University of Oxford. I'd like to talk a little about a phase 1 trial that has just been published in the May edition of Lancet Oncology , a beautiful paper by Emil Lou and colleagues, in which they all looked at an extraordinarily complicated regimen of gene editing and then reinfusing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). This just shows how remarkable modern cancer medicine can be. I'd like to talk a little about the procedures involved, given the route of complexity. Initially, for patients in the phase 1 trial with metastatic advanced gastrointestinal cancer, the first step was to receive a non-myeloablative lymphocyte-depletion chemotherapy. This is cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. This is then followed by high-dose interleukin-2. The process of producing the gene-edited TILs is absolutely fascinating. The gene-editing target, the gene that we wanted to knock down, was a novel, internal immune checkpoint protein gene, CISH , which encoded a cytokine-inducible SH2 domain-containing protein. This is an internal immune checkpoint target and quite an interestingly novel one. That's the target to knock down. The process of building the therapy is completely fascinating. Autologous TILs were generated from tumor biopsy fragments from each individual patient, and samples of the TILs were then cultured with patient-derived lymphoblastic cell lines, ormonocyte-derived dendritic cells loaded with pools of synthetic 25-mer peptides containing tumor-specific mutations that were detected from whole-exome sequencing from the patient's tumor. Think about that for a second. The patients undergo biopsy. The TILs are taken off for culture — more on that later — but they were co-cultured with a source of patient-specific tumor-associated antigens, which were generated by whole-exome sequencing. Then, using 25-mer fragments of what they felt were the key tumor-specific antigens, were plumbed into the patients' own dendritic cells so that these antigens would be presented to at the time of co-culture with a patient, so in TILs. It boggles the mind. The TILs with demonstrated reactivity to the neoantigens in this co-culture experiment were selected and they were then subjected to the CRISPR gene editing in vitro. They knocked down CISH , the target that they were aiming for. Then the edited TILs underwent a rapid expansion protocol. They were cryopreserved, and then via some very sophisticated molecular quality control, infused back into the patients. Goodness gracious — I mean, it's extraordinary when you think about it. It was a phase 1 trial, so dose-escalating the number of cells. It's pretty well tolerated. As you would expect, there was some fatigue and some fever. Nobody died in the back of any of the treatment that was given in that way. In terms of effectiveness, these were patients with advanced disease who had undergone multiple previous lines of treatment. There were no severe cytokine-release syndromes, nothing of grade 3 or worse. No neurotoxicity. Six of 12 patients had stable disease by day 28. Four (33%) had stable disease ongoing at 56 days. One young adult who had microsatellite-unstable and mismatch repair-deficient MSI-high tumors — therefore they've already got an existing high neoantigen load — had a complete response. That was very pleasing. I say, again, this is an extraordinary piece of work, to think about the complexity involved in every step of that process — before the patients' own cells, the autologous cells, were manipulated and reinfused with moderately acceptable toxicity, I would say. It's a phase 1 trial, so you're not really looking for a big efficacy readout, but the one younger patient who had, if you like, a genetic predisposition to responding to immunotherapy anyway, had a complete response. I'd be really interested in what you think about it. Who knows what the cost of that would be in terms of the complexity — I keep using that word, don't I? — of every single step. Modern cancer medicine — don't you love it? Well done to the team for producing this phase 1 trial result. How generalizable it will be remains to be seen, given the multiple different steps that are required. It just shows you how, in my lifetime as a cancer doctor, four decades, remarkable progress has been. I'm very interested in any comments you'd have to make. As always, thanks for listening. For the time being, Medscapers, ahoy, and over and out.
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Oxford Cancer Biomarkers partners with Mira Precision Health to advance its ToxNav® test for predicting patient toxicity to 5FU/capecitabine treatment in the USA
OXFORD, England and MASON, Ohio, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the 2025 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Oxford Cancer Biomarkers Ltd (OCB), a leader in molecular precision cancer diagnostic tests, has today announced a new partnership with Mira Precision Health Inc to advance OCB's proprietary ToxNav® test in the USA. ToxNav® is a revolutionary precision oncology test that identifies patients most at risk of undergoing severe toxicity upon treatment with 5FU/capecitabine, which, in extreme cases, can lead to the patient's death. Mira Precision Health, headquartered at the Mason 5155 BioHub—a dynamic biology and technology center in Mason, Ohio, USA—is dedicated to advancing precision medicine by delivering innovative solutions that empower clinics, health systems, and independent providers to enhance patient care and streamline clinical workflows. OCB and Mira Precision will collaborate to advance ToxNav® in the United States, establishing a substantial future market and sales presence. Dr. David Kerr, Founder and Director of the Board of OCB, and Professor of Cancer Medicine at Oxford University, commented, 'We developed our ToxNav test to identify cancer patients that have a high likelihood of undergoing extreme toxicity to 5FU/capecitabine treatment, which is one of the most widely used cancer drugs in the world. We have already clinically proven that ToxNav identifies patients that are susceptible to extreme toxicity and are excited to have partnered the test with Mira Precision, who have complementary expertise to advance ToxNav in the USA. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with Mira Precision as we advance ToxNav to widen its clinical utility in the USA and save more patient lives.' Dr. Sandra Gunselman, Founder and CEO of Mira Precision Health, said, 'I founded Mira Precision Health with the vision of bringing the most innovative and personalized diagnostic solutions to healthcare providers and their patients. Our collaboration with Dr. Kerr and the renowned team at Oxford Cancer Biomarkers marks an exciting inflection point for Mira, allowing us to partner with globally-respected academic medical centers and deliver advanced precision medicine directly into clinical practice. Together, we're committed to significantly improving patient care and outcomes across the United States.' Karen Merritt, Co-Founder of Advocates for Universal DPD/DPYD Testing, comments, 'I strongly support the partnership between Oxford Cancer Biomarkers and Mira Precision Health, as it represents a critical step toward safer, more comprehensive pretreatment DPYD screening to prevent avoidable toxicity and save lives.' ToxNav® enhances clinical decision-making through comprehensive genetic profiling, aligning directly with recent NCCN Guidelines updates that recommend DPYD testing for colorectal cancer patients receiving fluoropyrimidine-based treatments. Shaun Peterson, VP of Sales and Marketing at Mira Precision Health, noted, 'The NCCN revision underscores the timely clinical importance of the Mira Precision ToxNav® Test in the US market. Backed by multiple peer-reviewed studies and CE-IVD certification in the UK, ToxNav® significantly improves patient outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and advances equitable precision medicine. This partnership between Oxford Cancer Biomarkers and Mira Precision Health reinforces our commitment to personalized cancer care innovation.' Michele Blair, Director of Economic Development for the City of Mason, said, 'We are excited to partner with Mira Precision Health to further science partnerships like ToxNav. Using the Mason Living Lab we have been able to connect an educated population with new and growing health technology to achieve faster commercialization. The new Mira Precision ToxNav® Test is an excellent addition to our portfolio of technology.' About Oxford Cancer Biomarkers Ltd (OCB) Oxford Cancer Biomarkers (OCB) is a spin-out from the University of Oxford, developing and commercialising a suite of molecular and AI-enabled diagnostic tools that harness the analytical capabilities of pharmacogenomic markers and digital pathology to optimise cancer treatment pathways. OCB continues to expand its portfolio with novel biomarkers and proprietary algorithms that enable clinicians to make personalized treatment recommendations based on real-world evidence, empowering patients to make better-informed decisions about their own cancer therapy. Its most recent investment came from Plutus Investments Group LLP, which is a multi-family office backing entrepreneurs in Europe and the USA, focused on Life Sciences, Biotech, Fintech, and Tech investments. For more information, please visit About Mira Precision Health, Inc. Mira Precision Health was founded to provide advanced molecular diagnostic testing directly to healthcare providers and communities. Inspired by the empowerment and strength symbolized by the name 'Mira,' Founder and CEO Dr. Sandra J. Gunselman envisioned reshaping precision medicine by equipping clinics, health systems, and independent providers with cutting-edge clinical genomics, pharmacogenomics expertise, and data informatics tools. Mira Precision Health is dedicated to enhancing clinical decision support, improving patient safety, and delivering personalized, data-driven healthcare solutions that significantly elevate patient outcomes. For more information, please visit About The City of Mason BioHub Recognized as a leader in Ohio and the Midwest, the City of Mason BioHub is an established hub for biohealth and biotech life science companies, with focus areas in cardiology, mental health and precision medicine. With $600 million in new investment and more than 1,200 jobs announced in 2024 primarily in this sector, the City's Economic Development arm has created an unmatched model for scaling young growth companies. Through its proprietary Living Lab initiative, the City is able to leverage its diverse demographic population and scientific business community to scale young HealthTech companies, while improving personal health outcomes for residents. For more information about the City of Mason, visit or For further information, please contact: Oxford Cancer Biomarkers Ltd Tel: 0044 7976 708535 Mira Precision Health, Shaun Peterson, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE City of Mason
STV News
28-04-2025
- STV News
Teenager who died in hospital after being struck by van named
A teenager who died in hospital eight days after being struck by a van has been named by police. David Bark, from Wigtown, was walking on the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway when he was hit by a white Ford Transit Friday, April 18. The 18-year-old was was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow and pronounced dead by medical staff just over a week later, on Saturday, April 26. His next of kin is aware. The 28-year-old man driving the van and a 33-year-old passenger were not injured in the incident. The driver was arrested in connection with the incident and released pending further inquiries. Sergeant David Kerr said: 'Our thoughts are with David's family and friends. 'Our enquiries into the circumstances of this crash are ongoing and I would urge anyone in the area at the time, before and after the incident, to call police. 'I am also asking anyone who was in the area at the time and who has dash-cam footage that could assist to get in touch.' Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3905 of Friday, April 18, 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
28-04-2025
- BBC News
Police name pedestrian, 18, killed by van on A75
An 18-year-old pedestrian who died in hospital eight days after being hit by a van in Dumfries and Galloway has been named by Bark was hit by a white Ford Transit van on the A75 near Carsluith at about 22:15 on Friday 18 Bark was taken to hospital and later transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he died on Scotland said inquiries into the crash were continuing. The driver of the van, a 28-year-old man, and the passenger, a 33-year-old man, were not injured. The driver was arrested and has been released pending further Sgt David Kerr said the force's thoughts were with the victim's family and friends, and that anyone in the area at the time, or who may have dash cam footage of the incident, should contact police.
The National
28-04-2025
- The National
Teen who died after being hit by car in Dumfries and Galloway named
The teenager died in hospital on Saturday, after he was hit by a car on the A75 at Carsluith, near Wigtown, on Friday, April 18. Police confirmed that Bark was from Wigtown and that his family is aware of his death. The force said enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are still ongoing and that a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. READ MORE: More than 1100 jobs saved as major Scottish manufacturing plant acquired Sergeant David Kerr said: 'Our thoughts are with David's family and friends. 'Our enquiries into the circumstances of this crash are ongoing and I would urge anyone in the area at the time, before and after the incident, to call police. 'I am also asking anyone who was in the area at the time and who has dash-cam footage that could assist to get in touch.' Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3905 of Friday, 18 April, 2025.
