YALE UNIVERSITY

CMS created CPT codes for patient navigation services, allowing providers to bill for them. The American Cancer Society developed a training program for navigators. Karen Knudsen, ACS CEO, celebrated this as a major step forward in improving cancer outcomes before resigning due to board conflicts. Other top stories included election implications for oncology, oncologist struggles with terminal cancer, and GRAIL's multi-cancer detection test.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has withstood an ousting attempt by activist investor Starboard Value, despite Pfizer's declining share price. Starboard, with a $1 billion stake, blamed Bourla for the decline and claimed support from former executives. However, Bourla remains in control, attributed to Starboard's flawed analysis and Pfizer's potential hidden value in recent deals. Pfizer's Q3 2024 revenues rose 30%, further supporting Bourla's position.

60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital to evaluate tafenoquine combined with standard treatment for hospitalized babesiosis patients. The trial aims to assess safety and efficacy, with endpoints including time to symptom resolution and molecular cure. Recruitment of 24-33 patients is planned for summer 2025, with an interim analysis expected in early 2026.

60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals expands tafenoquine clinical trial for babesiosis to Brigham and Women's Hospital. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluates tafenoquine with standard treatment for hospitalized babesiosis patients. The trial aims to recruit 24-33 patients in summer 2025, with interim analysis expected in early 2026. Main endpoints are time to sustained clinical resolution and molecular cure. Recent case studies indicate high cure rates in immunosuppressed patients with relapsing babesiosis. The company estimates the accessible market through 2035 could exceed 400,000 patients.

60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals collaborates with Brigham and Women’s Hospital for a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on tafenoquine's efficacy and safety in treating severe babesiosis, a tick-borne illness. The study aims for clinical resolution and molecular cure, recruiting 24-33 patients by summer 2025, with interim analysis in early 2026.

60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals partners with Brigham and Women’s Hospital for a tafenoquine study on babesiosis treatment. The trial, also at Tufts Medical Center, Yale, and Rhode Island Hospital, aims to assess symptom resolution and molecular cure times. Recruitment of 24-33 patients starts summer 2025, with interim analysis in early 2026.

Tiziana Life Sciences expands Phase 2 trial of foralumab nasal spray for nonactive SPMS, adding six sites in the U.S. Northeast. The trial aims to reduce microglial activity and inflammation, with preliminary data showing 80% reduction in microglial activity and 70% reduction in fatigue among patients. The FDA has granted fast track designation to foralumab for nonactive SPMS treatment.

C22.1: KS1 iPSCs showed lower functional KMT2D expression, H3K4me1/2 levels, and differential gene expression related to KS1 phenotypes. C22.2: Single-cell genomics identified cell-type variation in expression and chromatin, regulatory elements, and eQTLs, facilitating precision medicine for neuropsychiatric disorders. C22.3: XDP-TE in TAF1 gene linked to XDP; ZNF91 establishes H3K9me3 and DNA methylation, crucial for TAF1 regulation. C22.4: MORC2 mutations cause diverse neurological disorders; multi-omics analysis revealed DNA methylation and transcriptome signatures, linking epigenetic silencing to phenotypic manifestation. C22.5: SIRT6 knockdown in Drosophila neurons reduced movement; in neuroblasts, it was lethal, highlighting its role in neurodevelopment. C22.6: Long-read genome sequencing improved diagnostic sensitivity, identified ZFHX3 GGC-repeat expansion as SCA4 cause, and demonstrated abnormal autophagy in affected cells.

Opus Genetics will host a virtual KOL event on Dec 11, 2024, to discuss 6-month efficacy and safety data on OPGx-LCA5, an AAV-based gene therapy for LCA5-associated IRD. Presenters include Jean Bennett, Tomas Aleman, Christine Kay, and Arshad Khanani, who will highlight the unmet need, development steps, and therapeutic potential. A live Q&A will follow.