UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALS

UNC-Chapel Hill researchers received $10M ARPA-H funding to develop the Cancer Identification and Precision Oncology Center, aiming to improve cancer diagnosis and personalized treatments through AI-ready data analysis, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to advance health data science and informatics.

UNC researchers, Bryan Roth and Grégory Scherrer, developed a gene therapy using chemogenetics to reduce pain in mouse models. The system, mHCAD, targets peripheral nervous system neurons, reducing pain perception. Delivery via adeno-associated virus could make this therapy a future treatment for chronic pain.

UNC-Chapel Hill researchers received $10 million from ARPA-H to develop the Cancer Identification and Precision Oncology Center (CIPOC), aiming to improve cancer diagnosis and personalized treatments through AI-driven data analysis and an oncology learning health system.

Genomic Intelligence seminar on Nov 6, 2024, by Bob Ferris, PhD, part of UNC Lineberger Seminar Series, focusing on cancer research from basic to clinical studies. Held every Wednesday at 4:00 pm EST.

Recent lung cancer meetings showcased ADCs compared to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, with ivonescimab (AK112) showing improved PFS in PD-L1+ NSCLC. An ADC also demonstrated better PFS and response rates than pembrolizumab. In extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, ifinatamab deruxtecan showed dose-response benefits, suggesting potential for targeted therapies.

Elisabeth Cohen, a former cornea specialist, experienced shingles in 2008, leading to vision loss in her right eye. She initiated the ZEDS trial, a $15 million study across 95 centers, which found that low-dose valacyclovir reduced the risk of new or worsening eye disease by 26% after a year. Cohen's work highlights the need for better awareness and use of the shingles vaccine, which can significantly lower the risk of dementia.

Charles Rudin presented groundbreaking data on ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd, DS-7300), an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) showing impressive response rates in extended stage SCLC at 8 mg/kg (26%) and 12 mg/kg (56%). Potential synergies with immunotherapy due to immunogenic cell death induction. Modern protein engineering enables targeting multiple tumor antigens with bispecific antibodies, promising future advancements in targeted therapies.

The Cytokine Release Syndrome market is expected to surge due to increasing disease prevalence and awareness, with multiple-stage pipeline products revolutionizing market dynamics. The market report covers epidemiology, emerging drugs, current treatment practices, and market size from 2020 to 2034 in the United States, EU5, and Japan. Key companies and therapies include Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, Incyte, Kite (Gilead), Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and therapies like KINERET (anakinra) and Itacitinib. Market drivers include increasing incidence and R&D activities, while barriers include lack of awareness and misdiagnosis.

Versamune HPV plus pembrolizumab showed strong clinical activity and a tolerable safety profile in HPV16-positive recurrent or metastatic HNSCC patients, with a median overall survival of 30 months and an ORR of 35.8% in the phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial.

FDA mandates breast density notification; CAR T-cell therapy linked to secondary cancers; breast cancer survivor creates documentary; piano lessons may alleviate chemotherapy brain fog; Johnson & Johnson halts bladder cancer trial; Merck's Keytruda improves head and neck cancer survival; Pfizer's Talzenna plus Xtandi extends prostate cancer survival; breast cancer treatments accelerate aging biomarkers; 3D-printed breast prosthesis detects tumor recurrence; industry funding for cancer trials raises concerns; Iranian cancer researchers under scrutiny; blood test predicts prostate cancer survival.