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Today, we look at how BIO members are advancing cell therapies and a One Health program that’s reducing mosquito-borne disease. (479 words, 2 minutes, 23 seconds) P.S. BIO Vice Chair (and incoming CEO) John F. Crowley will speak today, Feb. 21, at the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA workshop about qualifying biomarkers to support rare disease regulatory pathways—click here to register to watch online. |
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Cell therapies advance – thanks to BIO members |
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Two BIO member companies have announced exciting advances in cell therapy in recent weeks—we have details.
A new first: Iovance announced Food and Drug Administration accelerated approval of Amtagvi (lifileucel) for advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. It’s the first cell therapy cleared for use against a solid tumor.
How it works: Amtagvi extracts and grows an individual’s tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes—naturally produced anti-cancer immune cells—and re-introduces them to the patient’s body. In a clinical trial of 73 patients, 31.5% saw tumors reduced, and 43.5% of those were in remission for more than a year.
A new boost for manufacturing: Meanwhile, on Feb. 6, AstraZeneca announced it will open a $300 million Rockville, MD, facility for clinical trials—and eventual manufacture—of cell therapies.
The health impact: AstraZeneca develops CAR-T cell therapies, which have proven effective against blood cancers. AstraZeneca is working on CAR-T cell therapies targeting solid tumors and aims to produce “off-the-shelf, patient-ready therapies already developed from the cells of healthy donors.”
The economic impact: The facility enhances Maryland’s robust biotech economy with 150 new highly skilled jobs.
What they’re saying: “This new $300 million investment will accelerate our ambition to make next-generation cell therapy a reality, ensuring that we are ready to scale and meet the demands of patients,” says Pam Cheng, EVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at AstraZeneca. What else is in the biotech industry pipeline? We’ll find out next week at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference—it’s not too late to register! |
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This One Health mosquito program is reducing infectious disease
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A program to infect mosquitoes with naturally occurring bacteria and release them into the wild is showing remarkable results in battling infectious diseases and will soon be expanded.
How it works: Eggs of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes—which carry dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever—are injected with the Wolbachia bacteria, found naturally in most types of insects (but not Aedes aegypti). The bacteria prevents mosquitoes from carrying these viruses. Newborn mosquitoes inherit the bacteria from their parents.
It’s a One Health solution—treating human, animal, and environmental health holistically.
How well it works: The World Mosquito Program’s Wolbachia method contributed to 70% fewer cases of dengue and 56% fewer chikungunya cases in Niterói, Brazil. In Medellin, Colombia, reports of dengue dropped about 97% from 2022 to 2023 after the program was introduced, Axios reports.
Why it matters: The potentially deadly diseases carried by Aedes aegypti are spreading in range due to changing weather patterns, impacting more of the United States. Dengue is already a major public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
What’s next: The release of more disease-resistant mosquitoes is expected this year after the completion of a $19 million biofactory to produce 5 billion Wolbachia-infected mosquito eggs annually in Brazil. Along with protecting millions of Brazilians, the facility could export eggs worldwide. |
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President Biden’s Wednesday: Campaign fundraising trip to California continues, per The New York Times.
What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Recess. |
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