THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY

2024 sees increased focus on AMD and GA, with AI aiding clinical trial recruitment and new treatments emerging. Optometrists play a crucial role in early detection and timely care to preserve vision. Consensus guidelines and infrared imaging aid in GA diagnosis and management.

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.

Tiziana Life Sciences expands Phase 2 trial of intranasal foralumab for non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) with esteemed institutions in the Northeast U.S., aiming to address a significant unmet need in MS treatment.

Tiziana Life Sciences expands Phase 2 trial for intranasal foralumab in non-active SPMS to prestigious Northeast US centers, including Yale, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Buffalo, UMass, and Thomas Jefferson, aiming to address unmet medical needs and centralize PET scans at Invicro.

Emerging research suggests Lactated Ringer's (LR) may be superior to normal saline (NS) for early fluid resuscitation in pancreatitis due to its balanced electrolyte composition, reduced risk of hyperchloremic acidosis, and ability to lower inflammatory markers like CRP and IL-6, leading to fewer complications and improved outcomes.

Negotiations for FY 2025 appropriations are ongoing, impacting NIH funding; President-elect Trump's nominees for HHS, CMS, CDC, FDA, and Surgeon General spark concern in the medical research community; House Appropriations Subcommittee reviews NIH budget for FY 2025; AACR and FDA host workshops on DPD deficiency and clinical trials; U.S. Surgeon General highlights tobacco use disparities; FDA approves new drugs and updates product labeling.

A study by Thomas Jefferson University researchers identifies healthcare gaps in Philadelphia's opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, including lengthy assessments, inadequate operating hours, and insufficient withdrawal management. Participants also cited socio-economic barriers like housing and income support. The study recommends a larger workforce with lived experience, improved access to treatment, and seamless patient transitions. Future plans include evaluating grassroots responses and ensuring continuity of care.

CytoDyn appoints Richard Pestell, M.D., Ph.D., as Lead Consultant in Oncology to advance leronlimab's clinical development in cancer treatment.

Polypharmacy, prescribing multiple drugs, leads to adverse drug reactions, ineffective treatments, and high costs. Precision medicine, like pharmacogenomics, tailors treatments to patient genetics, improving outcomes. Team-based care, including medication reviews, deprescribing, patient education, and pharmacist involvement, enhances medication management. The future of healthcare involves personalized, preventative, and effective models.

Aura Biosciences reports positive Phase 2 data for bel-sar in early-stage choroidal melanoma and Phase 1 data in NMIBC, with ongoing Phase 3 CoMpass trial in Europe. The company plans to expand bel-sar's development to metastases in the choroid and ocular surface cancers, with a strong cash position to support operations into 2H 2026.