University of British Columbia

JDRF Canada's US affiliate, Breakthrough T1D, awarded an Industry Drug and Development Grant to Integrated Nanotherapeutics (INT) for developing a 'tolerizing' therapeutic to prevent immune cells from attacking insulin-producing cells in type 1 diabetes. INT's approach uses a vaccine-like product with multi-cargo lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA and immunomodulators, aiming to preserve beta cells and halt disease progression without frequent treatments or chronic immune suppression.

Genome BC launches ACCESS-GC trial to integrate genetic counsellors into primary care, aiming to address health inequities and provide personalized care through precision medicine. The trial seeks to embed GCs in family physician clinics, addressing healthcare demands and access barriers, especially in rural areas.

Study finds Medicaid coverage significantly reduces systolic blood pressure and HbA1c levels in low-income adults, with a 5 mm Hg reduction in blood pressure for those with minimal prior healthcare charges, highlighting the potential of Medicaid to improve cardiovascular health for specific subpopulations.

BMA hospital discharge increases drug overdose risk 10-fold in the following month, according to a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Factors include improperly treated pain, cravings, stress, and untreated addiction. Researchers suggest developing protocols to prevent BMA discharge and postdeparture outreach to reduce overdose risk.

Vir Biotechnology appoints Jason O'Byrne as EVP and CFO, effective October 2, 2024, and Brent Sabatini as principal accounting officer, effective October 1, 2024.

Vir Biotechnology appoints Jason O’Byrne as CFO, effective October 2, 2024. O’Byrne brings over 20 years of finance and operations experience, previously serving as CFO at Caribou Biosciences and Senior VP of Finance at Audentes Therapeutics.

Vir Biotechnology appoints Jason O'Byrne as EVP and CFO, effective October 2, 2024. O'Byrne, with over 20 years of finance and operations experience, joins from Caribou Biosciences, where he led finance and operations. He previously served as SVP of Finance at Audentes Therapeutics and held roles at Genentech. O'Byrne holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Finance.

Research led by Vincent Wan highlights barriers to biologic therapies for psoriasis, including race, age, socioeconomic status, cost, insurance, rural residence, and knowledge gaps. A scoping review of 18 studies identified prescriber, patient, organizational, medicine-related, and external environmental factors as key barriers.

Artificial intelligence (AI) shows promise in enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of endoscopic assessments in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinical trials. AI technologies can improve patient recruitment, endoscopy quality, and the assessment of mucosal healing, potentially transforming IBD clinical trial paradigms. Despite its potential, challenges such as dataset bias and the need for high-quality, diverse training data remain.

Alpha-9 Theranostics Inc. secured $75M in Series B funding to advance its bespoke radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment, aiming to progress five candidates into clinical trials, expand early-stage programs, grow its team, and complete research facilities. The funding, led by Nextech Invest, supports the development of targeted therapies with minimized off-target effects, leveraging a capital-efficient approach.