University of Basel

Nasal Septum Cartilage Shows Significant Promise in Repairing Complex Knee Injuries

2 months ago

• Swiss researchers have developed a breakthrough technique using engineered cartilage from nasal septum cells to effectively repair complex knee damage, showing significant clinical improvements in a 98-patient multinational trial. • The study revealed that allowing cartilage grafts to mature for two weeks before implantation produced superior outcomes compared to two-day maturation, with patients continuing to improve even in the second year post-procedure. • This innovative approach could potentially offer an alternative to knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis patients, as nasal septum cells possess unique anti-inflammatory properties ideal for cartilage regeneration.

Experts Chart Future Direction of Marginal Zone Lymphoma Research at 2024 Workshop

3 months ago

• The 2024 Marginal Zone Lymphoma Virtual Scientific Workshop brought together international experts to review recent advances and establish research priorities for better understanding and treating MZL. • Key challenges identified include the need for standardized diagnostic criteria, MZL-specific clinical trials, and improved understanding of disease subtypes and transformation mechanisms. • The workshop outlined short-term (1-5 years) and long-term (>5 years) research goals across biology, epidemiology, assessment criteria, targeted pathways, disease etiology, and treatment approaches.

RhyGaze Secures $86 Million Series A Funding to Advance Novel Gene Therapy for Vision Restoration

4 months ago

• RhyGaze, a biotech firm based in Basel and Philadelphia, has secured $86 million in Series A funding to advance its gene therapy for vision restoration. • The funding will support pharmacology and toxicology testing, an observational study, and a first-in-human clinical trial of the lead candidate. • RhyGaze's therapy aims to restore high-resolution vision in blind patients by leveraging optogenetic technology and retinal biology expertise. • The Series A round was led by Google Ventures, with participation from Arch Venture Partners, F-Prime Capital, BioGeneration Ventures, and Novartis Venture Fund.

Lenadogene Nolparvovec Shows Sustained Vision Improvement in LHON Patients After 5 Years

5 months ago

• A 5-year follow-up study (RESTORE) showed that lenadogene nolparvovec gene therapy provides sustained visual acuity improvement in both eyes of LHON patients with the MT-ND4 mutation. • The study demonstrated a mean change in BCVA of -0.4 logMAR (more than +4 lines) in treated eyes, similar to sham-treated eyes, indicating a potential bilateral therapeutic effect. • Clinically relevant recovery, defined as a BCVA improvement of at least -0.3 logMAR (+3 lines), was observed in 66.1% of participants, with improvements in quality of life. • The gene therapy demonstrated a favorable long-term safety profile, with manageable intraocular inflammation and no permanent complications reported.

Brain-Sensing CAR T-cells Enhance Precision in Brain Tumor Therapy

5 months ago

• Researchers have developed CAR T-cells with a 'zip code' system to precisely target brain tumors, minimizing harm to healthy tissue. • The engineered T-cells use a two-factor authentication-like mechanism, requiring two specific signals to activate their killing function. • Preclinical trials demonstrate remarkable specificity and durability, suggesting potential long-term immune memory for cancer treatment. • Clinical trials are planned for 2025, initially focusing on glioblastoma and pediatric brain tumors, with potential applications beyond oncology.

Study Finds Escitalopram Reduces Adverse Effects of Psilocybin Without Affecting Positive Mood Effects

4 years ago

A recent study investigated the interaction between escitalopram, a common antidepressant, and psilocybin, a psychedelic substance being explored for treating depression and anxiety. The study found that escitalopram pretreatment significantly reduced the adverse effects of psilocybin, such as anxiety and bad drug effects, without diminishing its positive mood effects. This suggests that escitalopram and psilocybin can be safely administered together, potentially eliminating the need to stop antidepressant treatment before psilocybin therapy.

Novel Liquid Biopsy System Shows Promise in Preventing Cancer Metastasis

6 years ago

• University of Basel researchers demonstrate Angle's Parsortix system can capture over 99% of circulating tumor cell clusters from blood samples, enabling breakthrough metastasis prevention research. • FDA-approved drugs identified through the system successfully disrupted cancer cell clusters in mouse models, reducing metastasis by 80-fold without typical chemotherapy side effects. • Clinical trials planned for 2019 will use Parsortix as a companion diagnostic in breast cancer patients to identify those who may benefit from cluster-disrupting therapy.