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Author Archive: AZBio
Important Perspectives on Innovation and Costs
This is an exciting time in biomedical innovation. New and highly innovative therapies are coming to market that promise significant improvements in patient health. They include a range of novel approaches to treating disease, like gene therapy, immunotherapy, and RNA interference. Many of the most transformative new therapies are designed to target serious, unmet medical needs among often small groups of patients.
Take gene therapy, for example. Gene therapies that are expected over the next few years have relatively small patient populations—ranging from 1,100 to 35,000 patients. A new therapy that’s expected to be approved any day by the FDA will treat spinal muscular atrophy, a fatal disease that afflicts an estimated 500 children each year.
How society pays for these medical breakthroughs is becoming an important part of the broader conversation around the cost of prescription drugs. As that discussion unfolds, it’s important to keep a couple things in mind.Continue reading
Curing the Incurable – This Gene Therapy Delivers
The first approved gene therapy for a neuromuscular disease is now available for children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) thanks to AveXis, a Novartis company.
SMA is caused by a mutated or missing survival motor neuron 1 gene (SMN1) that prevents the body from making enough survival motor neuron protein (SMN), ultimately leading to the loss of motor neurons, muscle weakness, and paralysis seen in SMA.
Newborn screening requirements for SMA in Arizona is the next important step.
Ethos-TGen study underscores need for setting high standards in veterinary cancer diagnostics
Rapid, accurate cancer test is critical for dogs’ treatment and survivalContinue reading
Startup to Commercialize Blood Test for Most Major Cancers
When testing for such as lung cancer disease, doctors know that tissue biopsies are necessary and potentially life-saving, though the procedures used to gather tissue can lead to dangerous complications, from bleeding to lung collapse. To lower the need for invasive procedures, researchers at the University of Arizona developed a new blood test that can detect most major cancers and have launched a startup, DesertDx, to bring the invention to doctors and their patients.Continue reading
Peptides show promise for early detection of pancreatic cancer
Cancer is a protean disease, assuming many forms and disguises. Despite enormous strides in research in past decades, some cancers remain persistently lethal.Continue reading
Northern Arizona University Recognizes Retired CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona With Honorary Doctorate Degree
Recognized for his commitment and contributions he has made to healthcare and the community through his leadership, Rich Boals, retired President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona, was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree by Northern Arizona University (NAU) at the college’s spring 2019 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2019, in the university’s J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.Continue reading
SenesTech Announces Financial Results and Appointment of Ken Siegel as Chief Executive Officer
Hospitality-veteran and former Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Ken Siegel Named Chief Executive Officer – Dr. Loretta Mayer to Remain Chair and Chief Scientific Officer
Paradigm Diagnostics Announces the Addition of Industry Executive Mara Aspinall to the Board of Directors as Part of the Series B Extension Closing Totaling $15 Million
Paradigm Diagnostics, a leading precision medicine company focused on comprehensive cancer testing, announced the addition of Mara Aspinall, Managing Director of BlueStone Venture Partners to the Board of Directors as part of the closing of Paradigm’s $15 million Series B fundraising.Continue reading