JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN CENTER

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced Ivan H. Cheung's election to its Board of Directors. Cheung, a biopharmaceutical executive with over 25 years of experience, currently serves as CEO of NextPoint Therapeutics and senior advisor to TPG Growth. His appointment coincides with Robert J. Lefkowitz's retirement after 23 years on the board.

Divcon Controls appoints Molly Ward, former Apple executive, as VP of sustainability to advance environmental stewardship in mission-critical facilities.

The FDA has approved Theranica's Nerivio remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) wearable for acute migraine treatment in patients aged 8 years and older, making it the first non-drug therapy for pediatric migraine. A study led by Klaus Werner, MD, PhD, showed the device's safety and efficacy in children aged 6-11, with 67.4% not requiring retreatment within 24 hours. No adverse events were reported, and treatment intensity was lower in children compared to adolescents and adults.

ClearPoint Neuro receives FDA De Novo marketing authorization for its SmartFlow Neuro Cannula, the first device approved for direct brain gene therapy delivery, specifically for AADC deficiency treatment with PTC Therapeutics' KEBILIDI™, marking the first commercially available neuro gene therapy in the U.S.

Pembrolizumab added to standard care for advanced limb soft tissue sarcoma significantly improved disease-free survival in the SU2C-SARC032 trial, led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, Duke University, and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, published in The Lancet.

Day 2 of the 2024 Huntington Study Group Conference featured talks on palliative care, clinical trial challenges, and updates from various drug development companies, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and the use of biomarkers in HD treatment.

Kim Hanson, MD, MHS, University of Utah Professor, receives prestigious Society Citation Award from IDSA. She also delivered the Joseph E. Smadel Lecture at IDSA's annual meeting, highlighting her leadership in infectious disease medicine. Hanson's contributions to patient care, research, and education are widely recognized.

Crescent Biopharma appoints Susan Moran, MD, MSCE, and Alexandra Balcom, MBA, CPA, to its Board of Directors, strengthening its foundation for growth in oncology therapeutics.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund awards $1.8 million in Student STEM Enrichment Program grants to 11 NC organizations, aiming to enhance hands-on, informal STEM education for K-12 students, especially from underrepresented groups.

New guidelines for AI use in brain cancer diagnosis and treatment ensure reliable clinical trial results and patient protection, addressing variability in radiologist interpretations and promoting objective AI analysis of tumor images.