Latest news with #UniversityMedicalCenterUtrecht
Cision Canada
10-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Oncolytics Biotech® to Host Key Opinion Leader Discussion Focusing on Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Cancers
KOL webinar to take place on July 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET SAN DIEGO and CALGARY, AB, July 10, 2025 /CNW/ -- Oncolytics Biotech ® Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), a leading clinical-stage company specializing in immunotherapy for oncology, announced that it will host a key opinion leader (KOL) webinar to discuss pelareorep in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) and other gastrointestinal cancers. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET. The webinar will feature KOLs Dirk Arnold, M.D., Ph.D. (Asklepios Tumorzentrum Hamburg), Alexander Eggermont, M.D., Ph.D. (University Medical Center Utrecht), Sanjay Goel, M.D., M.S., FASCO (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey), and Devalingam Mahalingam, M.D., Ph.D. (Northwestern University), who will join the Oncolytics management team to discuss pelareorep's existing pancreatic clinical data in addition to its potential as an immunotherapy in mPDAC and other gastrointestinal indications. A live question and answer session will follow a formal presentation and roundtable discussion with the KOLs. To register for the event, please click here. About the KOLs Dirk Arnold, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director of Asklepios Tumorzentrum Hamburg and the primary investigator of the GOBLET trial. He has also held positions as Director of the Instituto CUF de Oncologia in Lisbon, Portugal, Director of the Department of Medical Oncology at the University of Freiburg, and Director of the University Cancer Center Hamburg. His research and primary scientific interest focus on gastrointestinal cancers, immunotherapy, and drug development. Dr. Arnold completed his M.D. degree at the Universities of Ulm and Berlin in Germany and specialist instruction at Charité, Humboldt University in Berlin. Alexander Eggermont, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Clinical & Translational Immunotherapy at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands and Board Member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich of the Technical University Munich and the Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. Previously, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris, France, from 2010 to 2019. Additionally, he was President of both the EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) from 2003 to 2006 and the ECCO (European Cancer Organisation) from 2008 to 2010. He is an author or co-author on more than 900 peer-reviewed papers and has received a number of honors and awards, including Honorary Professor of Oncology "Joseph Maisin Chair" at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, the German Cancer Aid Award in 2019, and the status of Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sanjay Goel, M.D., M.S., FASCO, is an attending physician and a Professor of Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He serves as the Director of Phase I Therapeutics at Rutgers Cancer Institute. He has an interest in drug development of anti-cancer agents, and biomarkers of drug response, particularly in solid tumors and colorectal cancer. His work also includes the outcomes of health in minority patients and health disparities. Dr. Goel has been the author or co-author on over 150 research publications and owns a patent in EGFR-targeted therapy. He has been the recipient of the Advanced Clinical Research Award (ACRA) in colorectal cancer by the Conquer Cancer Foundation (CCF), of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. He is an active ASCO volunteer currently serving on the ASCO SEP Item Writing Task Force. He has also served as the track leader of the Scientific Program Committee in the "Developmental Therapeutics and Translational Research – Immunotherapy" track of ASCO. He has been a grant reviewer on several NIH study sections and on the ASCO CCF Grant Review Committee. He has been an invited speaker at several national and international conferences. Devalingam Mahalingam, M.D., Ph.D., is a faculty member at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University (LCC). He serves as the Director of the Clinical Trials Office (CTO) and the Director of the Developmental Therapeutics (DT) program. His clinical research interests and expertise are designing and executing early phase clinical studies utilizing novel therapeutic agents, incorporating precision oncology and developing these targets within clinical studies for gastrointestinal cancers. He has worked on a number of agents (including oncolytic viruses and GSK3 beta inhibitors) from pre-clinical development to late phase studies. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from the National University of Ireland, Galway, clinical training at the Royal College of Physicians Ireland, and completed his fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio in 2009. He has served as Principal Investigator on approximately 50 clinical trials and authored over 120 manuscripts. About Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Oncolytics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent. Pelareorep has demonstrated promising results in two randomized Phase 2 studies in metastatic breast cancer and Phase 1 and 2 studies in pancreatic cancer. It acts by inducing anti-cancer immune responses and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype -- turning "cold" tumors "hot" -- through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers. Pelareorep has demonstrated synergies with multiple approved oncology treatments. Oncolytics is currently conducting and planning combination clinical trials with pelareorep in solid malignancies as it advances towards registrational studies in metastatic breast cancer and pancreatic cancer, both of which have received Fast Track designation from the FDA. For more about Oncolytics, please visit: or follow the company on social media on LinkedIn and on X @ oncolytics. Company Contact Jon Patton Director of IR & Communication [email protected] Investor Relations for Oncolytics Mike Moyer LifeSci Advisors +1-617-308-4306 [email protected] Media Contact for Oncolytics Owen Blaschak LifeSci Communications [email protected] SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech® Inc.
Reuters
02-07-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Health Rounds: 3D printed insulin-producing cells show promise for type 1 diabetes in lab tests
July 2 (Reuters) - Insulin-producing human pancreas cells can be manufactured with 3D printers, researchers reported at the International Transplant Congress, opens new tab underway in London. Using a bio-ink made from human pancreatic tissue from which all cellular components had been removed, and alginate - a substance derived from seaweed - they printed human pancreatic islet cells. The printed cells remained alive and functional in test tubes for up to three weeks, maintaining strong insulin responses to glucose and showing real potential for future clinical use, the researchers said. While current methods of isolating islet cells for transplantation strip away the structural scaffold that supports the cells, the bio-ink retains key components of that extracellular matrix, thereby improving the cells' survival and function, the researchers said. The printed cells were more efficient than standard islet cell preparations at releasing insulin when exposed to glucose. By day 21, the bio-printed islets showed a stronger ability to sense and react to blood sugar levels, and they maintained their structure without clumping or breaking down. In traditional islet-cell transplants, done in patients with type 1 diabetes who experience dangerous and unpredictable low blood sugar episodes, islet cells from human donors are infused into the liver. The 3D-printed islets would be implanted under the skin using local anesthesia and a small incision, which could be safer and more comfortable option for patients, the researchers said. The team is now testing the bio-printed cells in animals and exploring long-term storage options that could make the therapy widely available. 'This is one of the first studies to use real human islets instead of animal cells in bio-printing, and the results are incredibly promising,' study leader Quentin Perrier of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina said in a statement. 'It means we're getting closer to creating an off-the-shelf treatment for diabetes that could one day eliminate the need for insulin injections.' GENE EDITING BREAKTHROUGH IN CELLS' ENERGY FACTORIES Incurable disorders of mitochondria, the energy-producing 'factories' inside of cells, may one day be addressed by gene therapies, lab experiments suggest. Mitochondria – specialized structures within cells - have their own DNA, separate from the DNA in the cell's nucleus. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause a variety of debilitating conditions affecting multiple organs, particularly those that require high energy, such as the brain, liver, heart, muscles, and kidneys. Existing gene editing tools like CRISPR have not been useful for these disorders because they can't efficiently pass through the mitochondrial membranes. 'Using a new kind of gene editing tool, we were able to fix DNA mistakes that cause mitochondrial disease,' said study leader Dr. Martijn Koppens from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. To cut and paste pieces of DNA, the new tool uses different mechanisms and components than CRISPR. For example, instead of the Cas protein, the new tool, called DdCBE, uses an inactive version of a bacterial toxin as its molecular scissors. To deliver the 'scissors' to the mitochondria, the tool uses mRNA encapsulated in tiny lipid particles, a transport method also used to deliver COVID-19 vaccines. As reported in PLoS Biology, opens new tab, Koppens' team successfully used their tool to introduce a mutation into a gene in liver cell mitochondria, thereby disrupting energy production in the cells. They were also able to correct a mutation in mitochondria from a patient with a genetic kidney disorder. 'I envision that in the near future, mitochondrial gene editing will be used to generate accurate mitochondrial disease models, which will transform basic research as well as therapy development,' Koppens said. Blood thinner therapy need not be delayed in most patients with a recent stroke attributable to an irregular heartbeat, according to a new analysis. Pooling data from four randomized trials involving nearly 5,500 patients with atrial fibrillation and a recent stroke, researchers found that starting direct oral anticoagulants - which prevent formation of blood clots - within four days was safe and effective. These drugs include Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N), opens new tab Xarelto or Eliquis from Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY.N), opens new tab and Pfizer (PFE.N), opens new tab. Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots in the heart that dislodge and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. Blood thinners can prevent clots, but they also increase the risk of bleeding in the brain, so it has been common practice to hold off for a while after a stroke before starting them. Based on the safety observed in the current analysis, 'the benefits of early initiation of blood-thinning treatment are clear," study leader Nick Freemantle of University College London said in a statement. "This approach ensures that crucial treatments are not delayed or missed, particularly for patients who are discharged from the hospital." Patients were split into two groups, with 2,691 receiving the blood thinners within 4 days and 2,750 starting the pills on day 5 or later. The incidence of either recurrent strokes from blood clots or strokes from bleeding in the brain was 2.1% with early anti-coagulation administration and 3.0% with delayed treatment, researchers reported in The Lancet, opens new tab. There was no increase in brain bleeding in the early-treatment group. However, few patients in the trial had experienced strokes that extensively damaged the brain, which would have increased the bleeding risks associated with starting the blood thinners right away. An editorial, opens new tab published with the study concludes that overall, the findings favor early initiation of oral anticoagulation in patients with strokes related to atrial fibrillation, especially those with smaller amounts of brain damage. However, the editorial noted some additional factors for providers to consider. 'Adherence to strict predefined early or late initiation thresholds might oversimplify the complexity" of deciding when to start blood thinners, it noted. It said there should be an assessment of other co-morbidities, including advanced age, other medications being taken and frailty, when delayed blood thinner therapy "might derive increased benefit.' (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here)
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
3D printed insulin-producing cells show promise for type 1 diabetes in lab tests
Insulin-producing human pancreas cells can be manufactured with 3D printers, researchers reported at the International Transplant Congress underway in London. Using a bio-ink made from human pancreatic tissue from which all cellular components had been removed, and alginate - a substance derived from seaweed - they printed human pancreatic islet cells. The printed cells remained alive and functional in test tubes for up to three weeks, maintaining strong insulin responses to glucose and showing real potential for future clinical use, the researchers said. While current methods of isolating islet cells for transplantation strip away the structural scaffold that supports the cells, the bio-ink retains key components of that extracellular matrix, thereby improving the cells' survival and function, the researchers said. The printed cells were more efficient than standard islet cell preparations at releasing insulin when exposed to glucose. By day 21, the bio-printed islets showed a stronger ability to sense and react to blood sugar levels, and they maintained their structure without clumping or breaking down. In traditional islet-cell transplants, done in patients with type 1 diabetes who experience dangerous and unpredictable low blood sugar episodes, islet cells from human donors are infused into the liver. The 3D-printed islets would be implanted under the skin using local anesthesia and a small incision, which could be safer and more comfortable option for patients, the researchers said. The team is now testing the bio-printed cells in animals and exploring long-term storage options that could make the therapy widely available. "This is one of the first studies to use real human islets instead of animal cells in bio-printing, and the results are incredibly promising," study leader Quentin Perrier of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina said in a statement. "It means we're getting closer to creating an off-the-shelf treatment for diabetes that could one day eliminate the need for insulin injections." GENE EDITING BREAKTHROUGH IN CELLS' ENERGY FACTORIES Incurable disorders of mitochondria, the energy-producing "factories" inside of cells, may one day be addressed by gene therapies, lab experiments suggest. Mitochondria - specialized structures within cells - have their own DNA, separate from the DNA in the cell's nucleus. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause a variety of debilitating conditions affecting multiple organs, particularly those that require high energy, such as the brain, liver, heart, muscles, and kidneys. Existing gene editing tools like CRISPR have not been useful for these disorders because they can't efficiently pass through the mitochondrial membranes. "Using a new kind of gene editing tool, we were able to fix DNA mistakes that cause mitochondrial disease," said study leader Dr. Martijn Koppens from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. To cut and paste pieces of DNA, the new tool uses different mechanisms and components than CRISPR. For example, instead of the Cas protein, the new tool, called DdCBE, uses an inactive version of a bacterial toxin as its molecular scissors. To deliver the "scissors" to the mitochondria, the tool uses mRNA encapsulated in tiny lipid particles, a transport method also used to deliver COVID-19 vaccines. As reported in PLoS Biology, Koppens ' team successfully used their tool to introduce a mutation into a gene in liver cell mitochondria, thereby disrupting energy production in the cells. They were also able to correct a mutation in mitochondria from a patient with a genetic kidney disorder. "I envision that in the near future, mitochondrial gene editing will be used to generate accurate mitochondrial disease models, which will transform basic research as well as therapy development," Koppens said. BLOOD THINNERS CAN OFTEN BE STARTED SOON AFTER A STROKE Blood thinner therapy need not be delayed in most patients with a recent stroke attributable to an irregular heartbeat, according to a new analysis. Pooling data from four randomized trials involving nearly 5,500 patients with atrial fibrillation and a recent stroke, researchers found that starting direct oral anticoagulants - which prevent formation of blood clots - within four days was safe and effective. These drugs include Johnson & Johnson's Xarelto or Eliquis from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer . Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots in the heart that dislodge and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. Blood thinners can prevent clots, but they also increase the risk of bleeding in the brain, so it has been common practice to hold off for a while after a stroke before starting them. Based on the safety observed in the current analysis, "the benefits of early initiation of blood-thinning treatment are clear," study leader Nick Freemantle of University College London said in a statement. "This approach ensures that crucial treatments are not delayed or missed, particularly for patients who are discharged from the hospital." Patients were split into two groups, with 2,691 receiving the blood thinners within 4 days and 2,750 starting the pills on day 5 or later. The incidence of either recurrent strokes from blood clots or strokes from bleeding in the brain was 2.1% with early anti-coagulation administration and 3.0% with delayed treatment, researchers reported in The Lancet. There was no increase in brain bleeding in the early-treatment group. However, few patients in the trial had experienced strokes that extensively damaged the brain, which would have increased the bleeding risks associated with starting the blood thinners right away. An editorial published with the study concludes that overall, the findings favor early initiation of oral anticoagulation in patients with strokes related to atrial fibrillation, especially those with smaller amounts of brain damage. However, the editorial noted some additional factors for providers to consider. "Adherence to strict predefined early or late initiation thresholds might oversimplify the complexity" of deciding when to start blood thinners, it noted. It said there should be an assessment of other co-morbidities, including advanced age, other medications being taken and frailty, when delayed blood thinner therapy "might derive increased benefit." (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here)
Medscape
18-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Leflunomide, HCQ Combo Effects Validated in Sjögren Disease
BARCELONA, Spain — In the treatment of primary Sjögren disease, the use of leflunomide (LEF) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in combination was associated with a greater reduction in disease activity than placebo, according to new trial results reported at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2025 Annual Meeting. In the randomized controlled RepurpSS-II trial, the LEF-HCQ combination produced a mean decrease in EULAR Sjögren syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI) score of 4.13 points ( P = .001) relative to placebo after 24 weeks of treatment. There were also greater reductions in serum immunoglobulin G, rheumatoid factor, and complement component 4 with the combination than with placebo. However, there were no differences between the groups in terms of patients' symptoms as measured by the EULAR Sjögren syndrome patient reported index (ESSPRI) or its separate components. There were also no differences between the groups in improving dryness as measured using the Schirmer and unstimulated saliva tests. Confirmatory Trial Wing-Yi Wong, MD 'The major challenge in this disease is the lack of standard treatments, despite the need,' said Wing-Yi Wong, MD, a PhD student at University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands, who presented the findings as a late-breaking abstract. 'Many trials in the past 40 years have failed to show clinical efficacy,' Wong added. One of the few trials that had proven promising previously, however, was the RepurpSS-I trial, which had tested a combination of LEF at a dose of 20 mg/d and HCQ at a dose of 400 mg/d given for 24 weeks vs placebo. RepurpSS-II was set up to confirm the findings of RepurpSS-I. Published in The Lancet Rheumatology in 2020, RepurpSS-I had shown that LEF-HCQ reduced ESSDAI a mean of 4.29 points more than that with placebo. Trial Designs and RepurpSS-II Population RepurpSS-I was a phase 2a trial, and RepurpSS-II was a phase b2 trial. Entry criteria were similar for both trials: Primary Sjögren disease diagnosis, an ESSDAI ≥ 5, and no significant comorbidities. Women of a child-bearing age also had to be taking reliable contraception. Both RepurpSS trials included 24-week double-blind treatment phases, with RepurpSS-II adding a single-arm crossover extension for a further 24 weeks. A total of 37 people with primary Sjögren disease had been screened for inclusion in RepurpSS-I, 29 were included, 21 of whom were treated with the LEF-HCQ combination and eight with placebo. For RepurpSS-II, 85 of 233 people who were considered for inclusion were screened, and 46 were included in the trial. Of these, 21 were treated with LEF-HCQ and 25 with placebo. Among the reasons for not screening or including more people in RepurpSS-II were comorbidities; current or recent treatment with LEF, HCQ, or other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; and not meeting other entry criteria. Participants in the LEF-HCQ and placebo groups of RepurpSS-II were demographically similar: The mean age was 55 years; 90.5% and 96.0%, respectively, were women; and the mean disease durations were 6.5 years and 10.0 years, respectively. Mean ESSDAI scores at baseline were 9.52 in the LEF-HCQ group and 9.88 in the placebo group, and mean ESSPRI scores were 7.00 and 6.83, respectively. Other Findings Exploratory analyses using the Sjögren's Tool for Assessing Response (STAR) and the Composite of Relevant Endpoints for Sjögren Syndrome (CRESS) also favored LEF-HCQ. 'STAR and CRESS scores are two novel composite endpoints that includes patient-reported outcomes together with objective measures of dryness alongside the clinical ESSDAI,' Wong said. She reported that there was a 'significantly higher percentage of responders' in the LEF-HCQ group using both measures vs placebo. Adverse event rates were similar between groups: A total of 58 events occurred in the LEF-HCQ group and 57 in the placebo group. Most of these events were considered as mild (77.6% for LEF-HCQ and 66.7% for placebo), with gastrointestinal discomfort and respiratory infections among the most commonly reported. Two severe adverse events occurred, one in each group, and were deemed unrelated to the study treatment. The one in the LEF-HCQ group was a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, and the one in the placebo group was an allergic reaction to antibiotic treatment. A total of 14 patients in the LEF-HCQ group completed the double-blind phase, and nine chose to enter the 24-week, open-label extension. Although completed, results of this phase are pending. 'Overall, the combination treatment was well tolerated, and leflunomide-hydroxychloroquine is realistic treatment option, which is affordable, accessible, and widely available,' Wong concluded. This study was funded by the Dutch independent government body ZonMw . Wong and fellow investigators for the RepurpSS-II study had no relevant conflicts of interest.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Dutch Princess Amalia undergoes surgery after breaking arm in horse riding fall
Dutch Princess Amalia poses for the media in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool) THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The heir to the Dutch throne, Princess Amalia, was recovering in a hospital Wednesday after undergoing surgery to one of her arms that she broke a day earlier when she fell off her horse, the Royal House announced. The 21-year-old, formally known as the Princess of Orange, sustained the injury on Tuesday and underwent surgery the same evening at the University Medical Center Utrecht hospital, according to a Royal House statement. 'The operation went well. She will remain at the UMC Utrecht for monitoring at least until tomorrow,' the statement said. Amalia revealed in a book written about her by a popular Dutch comedian that she is a keen horseback rider. The Associated Press
