UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

At the STRIPE Annual Meeting & Consensus Workshop, ASP announced the inaugural STRIPE Double Helix Awards, recognizing excellence in pharmacogenomics through collaboration and outstanding achievement. Recipients include Kristine Ashcraft, Cynthia Bens, Burns C. Blaxall, Philip Empey, Jose Estabil, Bernard Esquivel, Christine Formea, Blaine Groat, Daniel Hertz, Carrie Hoefer, Geoff Hollett, J. Shawn Jones, Raymond Lorenz, Ryan Nelson, Micheal Pacanowski, Jai N. Patel, Victoria Pratt, Bronwyn Ramey, Sharmeen Roy, Robert Schuck, April Schultz, Jeffrey A. Shaman, Sharon Shriver, Patrick Silva, D. Max Smith, Annette Taylor, Wrenda Teeple, McKenna Tennant, Kelly E. Caudle, Emily Cicali, Andrea Gaedigk, Houda Houchad, Pamala Jacobson, Teri E. Klein, Akinyemi Oni-Orisan, Natasha Petry, Bani Tamraz, Kristin Wiisanen, and Michelle Whirl-Carrillo. Organizations honored include the Golden Helix Foundation, Department of Veteran Affairs - National Pharmacogenomics Program, and Advocates for Universal DPD/DPYD Testing.

Ohio's medical cannabis law allows doctors to recommend cannabis for patients under 18, unlike adult-use cannabis law. Epidiolex, a CBD medication for epilepsy, is the only FDA-approved CBD treatment for both adults and children, with ongoing trials for other conditions. THC products remain a Schedule 1 drug, complicating clinical trials for children.

Marinus Pharmaceuticals presented Phase 3 RAISE trial data on IV ganaxolone for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) at the Neurocritical Care Society Annual Meeting, showing rapid cessation of SE in 80% of patients within 30 minutes, though failing to meet the second co-primary endpoint.

AGTC-501 showed 57% response rate in high-dose cohort for XLRP, with no significant safety events, supporting ongoing clinical development.

A new cancer drug, developed from a collaboration between Dr. John C. Byrd (Hendrix '87) and his mentor Dr. Thomas E. Goodwin, aims to selectively kill cancer cells without harming healthy ones. The drug, HOSU-53, originated from undergraduate research at Hendrix College and is now in phase I/II clinical trials at OSUCCC – James. Byrd, now at the University of Cincinnati, continues to involve Hendrix students in his research, reflecting the college's impact on his career.

The 'Innovations in Flow Cytometry & Extracellular Vesicles 2024' conference, hosted by ResearchAndMarkets.com, brings together researchers and industry participants to discuss the latest developments in EV/Exosomes fields. The event emphasizes technology development, particularly in flow cytometers, and features an extensive international perspective with speakers, poster presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors from the US, Europe, and Asia/Pacific. The conference includes co-located tracks on Lab-on-a-Chip, Microfluidics, and Organoids, offering extensive networking opportunities.

Research suggests higher phenol exposure may alter heart's electrical activity, particularly affecting women with high BPA, BPF, and BPA+F levels and longer PR intervals, and men with high triclocarban exposure and longer QT intervals. These changes were moderate but pronounced in certain subpopulations.

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati discovered AM-101, a benzodiazepine analog, enhances radiation therapy efficacy for lung cancer brain metastases by activating GABA(A) receptors, boosting autophagy, and improving survival rates in animal models. The team aims to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials.

Meningiomas, brain or spinal cord tumors, can cause severe visual impairment. Progesterone, particularly in the form of Provera, was found to be a significant risk factor for vision loss related to meningiomas in premenopausal women. Researchers are now testing patient samples for progesterone receptor expression and have informed women taking Provera about the risks.

The BMJ report questions Kisunla's safety, citing deaths and financial ties of panel members. FDA initially denied approval due to missing data and safety concerns, later approving it. Lilly acknowledged deaths, hired an outside company for data, but refused to disclose details. Panel members had financial ties to drug companies, raising concerns about bias. Lilly's claims of drug effectiveness were criticized for being misleading.