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First advanced solid tumour patient dosed in a phase I clinical trial assessing preliminary efficacy of bispecific antibody, NWY001. < Back Chipscreen NewWay Biosciences Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial First advanced solid tumour patient dosed in a phase I clinical trial assessing preliminary efficacy of bispecific antibody, NWY001. Chengdu Chipscreen NewWay Biosciences Co., Ltd. (NewWay) has marked a significant milestone with the initiation of the phase I clinical trial for NWY001, the world's first PD-1/CD40 bispecific antibody to enter clinical trials. The dosing of the first patient occurred on January 5, 2024, at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center in China. NWY001 aims to transform "cold" tumors into "hot" tumors, potentially enhancing cancer patients' sensitivity to PD-(L)1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly those resistant to PD-(L)1 antibody monotherapy. NWY001's unique mechanism involves the synergistic targeting of PD-1 and CD40 pathways, activating the CD40 pathway in a PD-1 dependent manner. This approach is designed to mitigate the common toxicities associated with CD40 agonistic monoclonal antibodies. The phase I clinical trial is a multi-center, non-randomized, open-label study focusing on evaluating safety, tolerability, preliminary efficacy, pharmacokinetic properties, and potential biomarkers associated with NWY001 treatment in patients with advanced solid tumors. Dr. Bin Liu, Scientific Director of Chipscreen NewWay, expressed gratitude to Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Chipscreen's clinical and related teams, and the enrolled patients and their families. The initiation of the trial is expected to address the ineffectiveness or toxicity challenges posed by PD-(L)1 immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy and combination therapies involving CD40 agonists. In a related development, on February 27th, 2023, Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals' subsidiary, Eucure (Beijing) Biopharma Co., Ltd., entered an exclusive licensing agreement with Chipscreen NewWay Biosciences for the clinical development and commercialization of bispecific antibody YH008 (NWY001) in Greater China, encompassing Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Chipscreen NewWay, a biotech company affiliated with Chipscreen, is dedicated to developing large molecules and novel therapeutic modalities, with a focus on oncology and autoimmunity. The company has built an extensive molecular R&D center in Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone, employing an experienced team for antibody and ADC R&D projects. Chipscreen, established in 2001, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in original drug development across various disease areas, including oncology, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, central nervous system disorders, and antiviral therapies. As the world eagerly awaits the results of the NWY001 phase I clinical trial, this groundbreaking PD-1/CD40 bispecific antibody represents a promising advancement in cancer treatment, offering hope for enhanced therapeutic outcomes in patients with advanced solid tumors. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

< Back 23rd – 26th September, 2024 Boston, MA Biotech Week Boston Biotech Week Boston is a series of co-located events designed to connect scientists, technologists and vendors working across the whole spectrum of biopharmaceutical development and production. Be a part of this unique experience spanning the drug development value chain, giving you access to the most innovative scientific minds and business leaders in Boston and around the world. Previous Register now Next

Qureight’s AI-powered analysis of Insilico Medicine’s Phase IIa trial data for the novel IPF drug rentosertib supports its preliminary efficacy and underpins plans for expanded global clinical trials. < Back Qureight Analysis Supports Efficacy of Insilico Medicine’s AI-Discovered IPF Drug, Rentosertib, in Phase IIa Trial Qureight’s AI-powered analysis of Insilico Medicine’s Phase IIa trial data for the novel IPF drug rentosertib supports its preliminary efficacy and underpins plans for expanded global clinical trials. Qureight, a UK-based techbio company specializing in AI-powered analytics for respiratory diseases, today announced pivotal findings from its collaboration with Insilico Medicine, supporting the preliminary efficacy results of rentosertib (ISM001-055), a novel TNIK inhibitor under development for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The analysis, powered by Qureight’s deep-learning image biomarkers and advanced clinical data analytics platform, confirmed that baseline disease severity was statistically comparable between cohorts in Insilico’s Phase IIa trial. This reinforces the validity of the trial’s positive outcomes and bolsters plans to expand the study into larger global patient populations. Rentosertib, discovered using Insilico’s generative AI technology, is a first-in-class small molecule targeting the TNIK pathway, implicated in the fibrotic processes that drive IPF. In findings published recently in Nature Medicine , the drug demonstrated preliminary clinical efficacy, with improvement in forced vital capacity (FVC) at 12 weeks, and validated TNIK as a novel therapeutic target for IPF for the first time. Using what is believed to be the world’s largest IPF biorepository, Qureight’s proprietary HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography) biomarkers showed that trial participants were representative of the broader global IPF patient population. This provides further support for Insilico’s plan to scale rentosertib trials internationally. Dr. Muhunthan Thillai, Co-founder and CEO of Qureight, emphasized the impact of the partnership: “The results from this initial project demonstrate the impact of our expertise, AI-powered analytics platform, and specialised patient datasets to support the progression of promising new therapies. We hope to extend the application of our technologies to future development stages to accurately quantify the impact of TNIK as a novel mechanism for the treatment of IPF.” Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, highlighted the broader implications: “Our collaboration with Qureight illustrates the transformative potential of AI in both drug discovery and development, paving the way for faster and more innovative therapeutic and clinical trial advancements.” The findings from this first analysis will be presented at the upcoming European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam from 5–9 September 2025. About IPF and Rentosertib Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a chronic and progressive lung disease marked by irreversible scarring, affecting an estimated five million people worldwide. With limited treatment options and poor prognosis, the need for disease-modifying therapies is urgent. Rentosertib, a novel TNIK inhibitor discovered via AI, aims to halt or reverse lung fibrosis, offering a potentially groundbreaking therapeutic alternative. Early results indicate that it may offer meaningful clinical benefit for IPF patients globally. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

Cambridge-based biotech pioneers tissue-level approach to women's health, aiming to close the gender gap in medical innovation. < Back Cyclana Bio Secures £5M to Transform Drug Discovery for Endometriosis Cambridge-based biotech pioneers tissue-level approach to women's health, aiming to close the gender gap in medical innovation. Women’s health biotech Cyclana Bio has raised £5 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate its pioneering work in developing new treatments for endometriosis, a chronic and painful condition affecting one in ten women worldwide. The round was co-led by NfX and Eka VC, with participation from Cocoa VC, Wilbe, and several angel investors. The investment will fund the expansion of Cyclana Bio’s whole tissue-based drug discovery platform , as well as the scaling of its observational clinical trial focused on uncovering new biological targets for endometriosis therapies. Founded in Cambridge, Cyclana Bio is rethinking how diseases in women’s health are studied and treated. The company’s platform moves beyond traditional cell-based models by using functional disease models derived from whole tissue, including donated menstrual fluid, to more accurately represent the biology of endometriosis. This approach enables the company to identify druggable targets that conventional research methods often miss. “Our mission at Cyclana is not just to close the gender health gap but to propel women to the forefront of drug discovery,” said Dr. Léa Wenger, CEO and Co-Founder of Cyclana Bio. “We are redefining how therapies are developed — by studying disease at the level where it truly emerges: the tissue itself.” Endometriosis, which can cause severe pain, infertility, and fatigue, remains one of the most under-researched conditions in medicine. Current treatments largely focus on hormonal or pain management and often fail to address the root biological causes of the disease. Cyclana Bio’s research has revealed that dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the structural network that surrounds and supports cells, plays a key role in the inflammation and tissue dysfunction seen in endometriosis. By targeting the ECM and the interactions between cells and their surrounding environment, the company hopes to open new therapeutic pathways where others have struggled. “Our goal is not just to develop new treatments, but to change the framework of biomedical discovery itself,” added Prof. Kevin Chalut, CSO and Co-Founder. “By starting with women’s health, we’re addressing one of the greatest unmet needs in medicine. In doing so, we can reshape how chronic diseases are understood and treated.” The funding will also enable Cyclana Bio to strengthen its AI-driven multi-scale data integration platform, designed to connect molecular, cellular, and tissue-level insights. While the company’s initial focus is endometriosis, its methodology could extend to other chronic inflammatory diseases that share similar tissue-level mechanisms. The investment reflects growing recognition among venture capital firms of the urgent need for innovation in women’s health, an area that has historically been underfunded and underserved. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

We sit down with Sepmag's Lluís M. Martinez, Founder & CSO, and Josep-Maria Simó, Managing Director, to discuss the current state and future of magnetic separation technology. < Back Magnetic Bead Separation: More Than Just a Magnet We sit down with Sepmag's Lluís M. Martinez, Founder & CSO, and Josep-Maria Simó, Managing Director, to discuss the current state and future of magnetic separation technology. Magnetic bead separation has become a cornerstone technique in life science research and industrial applications, enabling the isolation of proteins, nucleic acids, cells, and other biomolecules with high specificity and efficiency. Despite its widespread adoption, many researchers encounter inconsistent results, leading to frustration and inefficiencies. The root cause of these inconsistencies often lies in an incomplete understanding of the three equally critical components required for effective magnetic bead separation: The magnetic bead The ligand The magnetic bead separator To guide us to success with magnetic bead separation, we spoke with Lluís M. Martinez, Founder & CSO, and Josep-Maria Simó, Managing Director, at Barcelona-based Sepmag , to understand the challenges of traditional approaches, and how advancements in magnetic separation technology are revolutionizing the field. Applications for Life Science Research The benefits of advanced magnetic separation technology extend across a wide range of applications, aimed at improving efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability. Cell Isolation Magnetic bead separation is widely used to isolate specific cell populations from complex mixtures, such as blood or tissue samples. In immunotherapy research, scientists isolate CD4+ or CD8+ T cells from patient blood samples to study immune responses or develop CAR-T cell therapies. Protein Purification Optimized magnetic separation enables higher purity and recovery rates of target proteins, a critical step in drug development and biochemical research. For example, in biopharmaceutical production, researchers use magnetic beads coated with antibodies to isolate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from cell culture supernatants. Nucleic Acid Extraction Advanced magnetic separation systems enable efficient isolation of DNA and RNA, ensuring high yield and purity even from complex clinical samples. In liquid biopsy testing, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and RNA are extracted from patient blood samples to detect cancer-related mutations. Because these nucleic acids are often present in very low concentrations, a constant magnetic force ensures consistent separation, minimising loss and maximising sensitivity. Diagnostics Consistent and reproducible separations are essential for diagnostic assays, where precision and reliability directly impact patient outcomes. Magnetic bead-based immunoassays are widely used in point-of-care testing for infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. However, in order for magnetic bead separation to be effective across these applications—and many more—scientists must truly understand how the separation process works in order to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of their research. The Three Pillars of Magnetic Bead Separation 1. The Magnetic Bead: The Foundation of the Process Magnetic beads are the workhorses of separation protocols. Typically composed of superparamagnetic materials, beads exhibit strong magnetic responsiveness in the presence of a magnetic field. Importantly, they retain no residual magnetism once the field is removed—allowing the magnetic beads to move when a magnetic force is applied, and enable resuspension when no magnetic field is present. However, not all magnetic bead suspensions are equal. The size, surface chemistry, and magnetic properties of the beads can significantly impact separation efficiency. Additionally, the bead concentration and buffer composition also play a critical role. For instance, smaller beads may offer higher surface area for ligand binding but require longer separation times due to slower migration. Conversely, larger beads may separate faster, but risk aggregation if the magnetic force is too strong. Reducing the bead concentration implies a larger separation time, and the buffer composition will also have a significant influence. The separation process is a competition between magnetic and drag force, where viscosity (directly related to temperature) plays a major role, as does the ionicity of the medium. 2. The Ligand: Ensuring Specificity and Binding Efficiency The ligand is the molecule attached to the magnetic bead that confers specificity to the separation process. Whether it’s an antibody, nucleic acid probe, or affinity tag, the ligand must exhibit high affinity and specificity for the target molecule, with a well-designed ligand ensuring that the target is efficiently captured, while minimizing non-specific binding. However, even the most perfect ligand can fail if it is not properly conjugated to the magnetic bead. Inconsistent conjugation can lead to uneven binding capacity, reducing the overall yield and reproducibility of the separation. The ligand’s performance can be influenced by buffer composition, pH, and temperature, further demanding the need for careful optimization. The separation process must also balance separation times and retention forces to avoid bead loss or irreversible aggregation, both of which are known to introduce inconsistencies during the conjugation process. 3. The Magnetic Bead Separator: The Tool That Makes It All Work The magnetic bead separator is often the most overlooked component of the separation process, yet it plays a pivotal role in determining the success of the protocol. Failure in determining the right separation time results in the loss of magnetic beads: weak magnetic retention forces may also lead to the beads being carried away when the supernatant is removed, whilst excessive magnetic force may generate clumps of beads and/or damage the captured cells. Traditional separators, such as simple permanent magnets, generate irregular magnetic fields where the force varies significantly with distance from the magnet with this variability leading to inconsistent bead migration. Beads near the magnet are captured quickly and retained with strong magnetic force, while those farther away move more slowly because the force they experience is very weak. Over even relatively short distances, the magnetic force may fail to overcome the thermal agitation and the drag force, completely preventing the capture of the beads. As a result, many users discard using magnetic separation for processing involving larger volumes. When working with smaller volumes, users often rely on subjective, time-based protocols that fail to account for changes in bead concentration, buffer viscosity, or vessel geometry, leading to inconsistent protocols when the magnet or the vessel is changed. Feature Traditional Separators Smart Magnetic Bead Separators Magnetic Force Distribution Irregular, weakens with distance Constant across the separation area Bead Migration Inconsistent; beads near the magnet move faster, while others may not move at all Uniform movement for all beads Volume Handling Struggles with larger volumes; inefficient capture Works consistently across different volumes Protocol Reproducibility Time-based, inconsistent when vessel or conditions change Transferable by adjusting separation time Real-Time Monitoring Not available Measures opacity changes for precise separation timing Buffer Composition Sensitivity Low; variations often unnoticed High; allows quantification of buffer effects Lot-to-Lot Consistency Difficult to monitor Detects variations via time-dependent opacity changes Table 1: Comparison of traditional magnetic separators vs smart magnetic bead separators. Smart magnetic bead separators address these challenges by focusing on the key parameter of the process: generating a constant magnetic force across the entire separation area. This ensures that all beads experience the same force, regardless of their position in the vessel, leading to more predictable and reproducible separations. A constant magnetic force implies all the beads in a specific suspension will move at the same speed, regardless of the volume. Protocols can be transferred to different vessels simply by adjusting the separation time to account for the length of the path travelled by the farthest magnetic beads. Additionally, smart systems incorporate real-time monitoring capabilities. Changes to the opacity of the suspension allow for the objective and precise determination of the separation time for any suspension and vessel—as magnetic beads move at the same speed under constant magnetic force, any variations in buffer composition become highly detectable. This enables researchers to quantify the impact of changes in magnetic beads and buffers on the magnetic separation process, giving manufacturers a powerful tool to check the lot-to-lot consistency, and serving as an early alert for changes in the suspension. Smart Magnetic Bead Separation Technology The last 20 years of development in magnetic bead separation technology have addressed many of the limitations of traditional methods, allowing users to adopt a well-controlled process at any volume; from microliter well-plates to tens of liters in carboys and bioreactors. At Sepmag, we encourage our clients to focus on the following three key principles, and have seen firsthand how smart magnetic bead systems have transformed the way researchers approach magnetic bead separation: Constant Magnetic Force : Uniform magnetic force across the separation area ensures that all beads migrate at the same speed, reducing the risk of aggregation and improving reproducibility. Real-Time Monitoring : Optical monitoring allows users to track the separation process in real time, generating separation curves that provide objective data on bead migration kinetics, calculates separation times and provides detailed information about the magnetic bead suspension composition. Process Standardization : Defining separation protocols in terms of magnetic force rather than time enables the development of universal methods that can be applied across different scales and applications. For a given magnetic bead suspension, a specific magnetic force determines a separation speed which predicts the separation times of different volumes to facilitate the planning of experiments and procedures in advance. Enhancing Separation with Sepmag As life science research continues to advance, the demand for precise, reproducible, and scalable separation methods will only grow. Recent innovations in magnetic separation technology have made a significant step forward to meet demands across scientific discovery and industrial applications. At Sepmag, we provide solutions across small scale, large scale and customised magnetic separation. Our technology provides monitoring and measuring in real time, can be fully automated, and works with magnetic beads from all the major manufacturers. If you would like to learn more about magnetic separation technology, and how it can progress your research and processing challenges, reach out to Lluís M. Martinez and Josep-Maria Simó or visit the Sepmag website . Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

< Back World Health Summit 11th - 13th October, 2026 Berlin, Germany From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Previous Next

< Back 11th January, 2026 San Francisco, CA ACCESS China Biotech Forum Effective partnering and China market assessment platform – ACCESS CHINA is the most effective deal-making platform for Western pharma and biotech leaders looking to enter or expand in the Chinese market. ACCESS CHINA creates invaluable BD opportunities by directly connecting and meeting with the right partners for development, licensing or commercial collaborations. Celebrate the 15th Advancing Women’s Leadership in Pharma and Healthcare and gain the confidence to lead and influence change across your organisation and the wider industry. This highly regarded three-day event offers a powerful platform to learn from inspiring leaders, overcome roadblocks to advancement, and elevate your professional impact. Connect with peers, share experiences, problem-solve collaboratively, and chart your path toward sustainable, successful leadership. Previous Register now Next

OXGENE, a WuXi Advanced Therapies company, hopes to pioneer a new frontier in Gene Therapy GMP manufacturing. < Back OXGENE Seeks to Overcome Challenges in Gene Therapy Production OXGENE, a WuXi Advanced Therapies company, hopes to pioneer a new frontier in Gene Therapy GMP manufacturing. The rapid advancement of gene therapies has broadened the scope of how we can treat challenging diseases. There are now over 2,000 gene therapies in the global pipeline and more than 20 currently on the market. However, these therapies are hindered by challenges in large-scale manufacturing, particularly in the production of plasmids - which house the therapeutic gene of interest, and which are contained within the viral vectors that actually deliver the gene. As the demand for gene therapies grows, companies are in a competitive race to develop manufacturing technologies that can streamline production, reduce costs, and accelerate turnaround times. Despite significant investments in the gene therapy field, the development of large-scale manufacturing technologies has not kept pace with the therapeutic advancements. The complexity of gene therapy development, involving viral particles and cell lines, is a significant challenge in achieving consistent production. Unlike conventional drug manufacturing processes, the smallest change in production conditions can lead to significant variations in the gene therapy end product. One of the primary obstacles is the use of plasmids in viral vector production. Plasmids are small, circular pieces of DNA. In nature, plasmids are found in microbes, such as bacteria. They are relatively easy to manipulate and can be constructed to encode genes of interest. As such, they are a critical raw material for many therapeutic modalities. Producing plasmids at a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) level, as required by regulatory authorities, is complex and expensive. The limited global availability of GMP-grade plasmids further exacerbates the challenge. Furthermore, plasmids exhibit genetic instability, making them susceptible to unwanted genetic changes during the scaling process. In response to these challenges, OXGENE , a WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi ATU) company, have developed TESSA™ and XLenti™. These technologies offer innovative alternatives to traditional plasmid-based approaches. TESSA™ leverages a modified adenoviral vector for scalable adeno-associated viral vector manufacturing, eliminating the need for plasmids. XLenti™ integrates DNA into cells to produce lentiviral vectors without introducing new plasmids. WuXi ATU is adapting its facilities to manufacture TESSA™ vectors and recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors at a GMP level. This innovation represents an important step forward in the goal of optimizing large-scale gene therapy production in order to make it more accessible and cost-effective. By overcoming the limitations associated with plasmids and introducing scalable, cost-effective technologies, the industry is poised to make gene therapies available to a broader patient population, offering hope for those with difficult-to-treat diseases. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

< Back What’s Up With Glucose? We look at the effects of glucose spikes to your health from both a fat-loss and longevity perspective and how the company, ZOE, may revolutionise how we manage this issue. In the past months there have been murmurs, and in some instances shouts, online about the effects of glucose spikes to your health from both a fat-loss and longevity perspective. From Glucose Goddess’ viral interview on the ‘Diary of a CEO’ podcast to the highly advertised ZOE app, glucose and its consequences have very much made their way into the health conversation. The science behind these perspectives varies hugely: with everyone from qualified nutritionists to self-led enthusiasts having an opinion on the matter, it’s hard to know whether this latest diet-craze is sensible or silly. Here we explore some of the trendiest glucose ideas. ZOE ZOE is a health science company, and the ZOE app is simultaneously the ‘ largest in-depth nutrition study in the world ’ and a personalised diet strategy. Reviews range from “save yourself the hassle, just avoid” to “[ZOE] changed my life, I love it.” The ZOE app is both the result of, and an ongoing, scientific trial. The main research behind it, PREDICT ONE, was contributed to equally by an interdisciplinary cast, including Sarah Berry, Ana Valdes, Nicola Segata, Paul Franks and Tim Spector. Their research was designed to cast light on the lack of large-scale studies into the influence of metabolic responses to food and the risk of cardiometabolic disease. The results of their research show a significant reduction in ‘postprandial hyperglycemia’, or post-meal glucose spikes when you reduce the amount of glucose in your diet, as dictated by your own personal gut health. The research also showed person-specific factors, such as gut microbiome, had a greater influence than meal macronutrients for postprandial lipemia, but not for postprandial glycemia. Before digging into these PREDICT studies, postprandial lipemia and glycaemia meant nothing to me. Let me explain for those of us who aren’t nutritionists. Postprandial glycaemia is the scientific term for the change in your blood glucose levels after a meal. Postprandial lipemia is similar, and means the rise in circulating triglycerides and fatty acids in your blood after a meal. These sugar and fat increases after a meal are thought to be risk factors for non-communicable diseases and obesity. As well as this, the PREDICT studies note that postprandial hyperglycemia raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Kickstarting ZOE, one of the largest nutrition studies in the world Following this research, Tim Spector, along with Jonathon Wolf and George Hadjigeorgiou, founded ZOE on the basis of Tim’s previous studies and the results of PREDICT. The idea behind ZOE is that there is no one right way to eat, “ the key lies in understanding your own biology.” ZOE is the culmination of machine learning technology and large-scale human studies. To live life “the ZOE way” there are a few steps to take: alongside paying a reasonably large amount of money, life with ZOE includes completing at-home tests which provide data to the scientists behind ZOE about your blood fat, blood glucose, and gut microbiome health. After your initial test, the ZOE app comes into play. Using the results from the at-home test, foods are ranked, so you can “make better choices of what to eat”. The idea is that certain foods are better for your personal gut microbiome, and fat and glucose levels in your blood. On the face of things, this sounds kind of great: a personalised, non-restrictive diet which will help me reach whatever goal I choose, be it brain health or weight loss. Based on the theory that lowering post meal glucose levels and fat levels will improve my health, one way or another. Even Davina McCall approves, as we see in one of the many ZOE ads which have been travelling across social media. However, there could well be consequences to the constant food monitoring. Browsing the reviews online there are a few bruised apples among the otherwise shining reviews. One user, Amanda, writes that the process of logging her daily diet becomes “quite arduous” and is “an extra level of guilt” added to her life. Especially for those who struggle with eating, spending such a lot of time thinking about food intake may not be particularly healthy or helpful, despite what ZOE says on the tin. Whilst the app is a study of nutrition, it doesn’t seem to take into account the mental side effects of tracking your food intake in a world saturated by diet-culture and ‘health and wellness’ strategies. Data guinea pigs Amy, a particularly disgruntled reader writes at the bottom of an article about ZOE, “[it’s] another nasty little tool invented in order to turn human beings into data streams for the corporate machine”. Another reader chimes in with hearty agreement. There may be a little bit of truth in this, whether or not you agree with Amy. ZOE is an ongoing research study, with the thousands of people who have signed up to it contributing their data to the research. As a result, there is limited data outside of the PREDICT studies which can be used to cross reference ZOE’s science. Glucose Goddess Another testament to the glucose-monitoring craze, the Glucose goddess, aka Jessie Inchauspé, has recently released a book titled ‘ The Glucose Revolution’ and with it has come a sleuth of marketing and publicity. Searching ‘Glucose goddess’ in your web browser pulls up a myriad of articles lauding the great new lifestyle, as explained by Jessie herself. Jessie’s book contains a series of seven hacks, designed to minimise the glucose spikes in your blood after a meal, and hence improve your health. These hacks include drinking diluted apple cider vinegar before your meal or exercising after. If you fancy a cookie you should definitely consider using one of these hacks to minimise its impacts, according to Jessie. Jessie is a biochemist with an interest in nutrition, led from her negative health experiences in the past. Her book is a summary of the lessons she learned from changing her own lifestyle, and the ways in which it improved her health. Whilst backed by a few references, her book has mostly been led by self-experimentation, using herself as a guinea pig for her hypotheses. Jessie’s hacks should, perhaps, be taken with a slightly larger pinch of salt than ZOE. The glucose spike ‘scaries’ Listening to Jessie on the podcast Diary of a CEO, her explanations of glucose spikes and the threats that come with it sound remarkably believable. Then, without warning, Jessie is suddenly describing how glucose spikes cause glycation which ‘cook us alive from inside’ leading to our eventual death. Looking online to try and find something to explain this alarming statement, I’m somewhat reassured. The risk of glycation, which doesn’t mean cooking alive from the inside, but actually exaggerated glucose spikes firming up plaque in blood vessels, is increased by frequent glucose spikes over time. Whilst this isn’t particularly great, it isn’t as big a risk as Jessie would have you believe. In order for this to be a problem, the average person with typical glucose responses would have to have repeatedly high glucose spikes. What we actually see in Jessie’s infographics on Instagram are low glucose spikes, which are a typical response from your body and not such an issue. The hacks Despite all of this, there are likely to be positives to the seven hacks. Take eating vegetables before proteins and carbohydrates, whether it reduces your post meal glucose spikes significantly or not, eating more vegetables will always be good for you. Another hack, exercising after eating, can be considered similarly. Exercise is good for you and if you integrate more exercise into your lifestyle you will see benefits. In general, whilst Jessie’s message remains backed by limited data, it may be worthwhile to maintain caution. As ZOE states, there is no one right way to eat, and the current hype around glucose is no exception. What works for some people won’t work for others. It’s always wise to do what works best for you. Author Frances Briggs , freelance contributor Previous Next

< Back CAR-T Therapy Drives Multi-Disease Remission Single treatment induces sustained remission across three autoimmune conditions, signalling expansion beyond oncology. A single administration of CD19-targeted CAR-T therapy has induced sustained, treatment-free remission across three severe autoimmune diseases, marking a significant inflection point in the clinical trajectory of engineered cell therapies beyond oncology. The findings, published in Med , describe a patient with refractory autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and antiphospholipid syndrome who achieved rapid and durable remission following CAR-T infusion. Fourteen months post-treatment, the patient remains symptom-free and off all medication, despite previously failing nine lines of therapy. A Convergence of Three Refractory Diseases The clinical significance of the case lies not only in the severity of the individual conditions, but in their simultaneous presentation. The patient’s disease profile represents a convergence of B cell-mediated autoimmune pathologies, each associated with substantial morbidity and limited treatment durability. Prior to CAR-T intervention, the patient required continuous transfusion support and intensive pharmacological management, with no sustained response. The ability of a single therapeutic intervention to resolve all three conditions highlights a key mechanistic insight: these diseases, while clinically distinct, share a common immunological driver. Mechanism: Targeted Immune System Reset CAR-T therapy operates by engineering autologous T cells to recognise and eliminate CD19-expressing B cells, which are central to autoantibody production. In this case, depletion of pathogenic B cell populations resulted in: Rapid disappearance of circulating autoantibodies Restoration of normal haematological parameters Elimination of transfusion dependence within weeks Crucially, subsequent B cell reconstitution appeared to favour naïve, non-pathogenic populations, suggesting a functional “reset” of the immune system. This concept of immune reprogramming represents a fundamental departure from conventional immunosuppressive strategies, which typically require chronic administration and do not address underlying immune dysfunction. From Oncology to Autoimmune Disease CAR-T therapies have established clinical utility in haematological malignancies. Their application in autoimmune disease, however, represents a rapidly emerging frontier. Early clinical signals across multiple indications, including lupus and systemic sclerosis, have demonstrated the potential for deep and durable remission following a single treatment. What differentiates this case is the simultaneous resolution of multiple autoimmune conditions, extending the therapeutic hypothesis beyond single-disease targeting toward systemic immune recalibration. Clinical Significance and Limitations Despite the strength of the response, the study remains a single-patient case report and should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than definitive evidence. Key limitations include: Lack of controlled clinical data Limited follow-up duration Uncertainty around long-term relapse risk Nevertheless, the findings align with a growing body of evidence suggesting that CD19-directed CAR-T therapy can induce deep remission in B cell–driven autoimmune diseases. Implications for Biopharma and Bioprocessing From an industry perspective, the implications extend well beyond clinical efficacy. Expansion of Addressable Markets The successful application of CAR-T in autoimmune disease significantly expands the potential patient population, moving beyond niche oncology indications into large, chronic disease segments. Manufacturing Pressure Unlike oncology use cases, broader autoimmune adoption will require: Increased manufacturing capacity Reduced cost of goods Streamlined, scalable production models Shift Toward One-Time Therapies If validated in larger trials, CAR-T could redefine treatment paradigms by replacing chronic immunosuppression with single-administration, potentially curative interventions. What Comes Next Multiple clinical trials are now underway to evaluate CAR-T therapies across a range of autoimmune indications, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, and vasculitis. However, key questions remain: Durability of remission beyond current follow-up periods Long-term safety and immune competence Optimal patient selection and treatment timing Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

Kadimastem has secured shareholder approval for a merger with NLS Pharmaceutics, aiming to achieve a Nasdaq listing and advance its cell therapy treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). < Back Kadimastem Renews Push for Nasdaq Listing Kadimastem has secured shareholder approval for a merger with NLS Pharmaceutics, aiming to achieve a Nasdaq listing and advance its cell therapy treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Kadimastem is getting a second chance for Nasdaq, after failing last year. The shareholders of cell therapy developer Kadimastem have approved the merger with NLS Pharmaceutics , a biotech that went public in 2021, potentially paving the path for its much-awaited listing in the exchange. Israel-based Kadimastem develops off-the-shelf cell therapy treatments, with its lead candidate targeting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS. Kadimastem almost had a non-binding agreement to merge with IM Cannabis almost a year ago, securing it on Nasdaq. That deal was aborted after the planned legalization of cannabis in Germany meant that IM Cannabis backed out of the deal. Come July, Kadimastem had another path forward when it inked a binding term sheet with NLS. In 2023, NLS slashed it's headcount by 50% and began looking for strategic alternatives. Kadimastem saw NLS as an opportunity to get its stock listed on Nasdaq. The scheme was approved by Kadimastem's shareholders this week, and NLS is expected to convene in the coming weeks to seek the final approval of its own investors. Under the deal, Kadimastem would reach U.S. public markets and the much-needed cash to support its pipeline of cell therapies. The financial hurdle is not very high; the completion needs only $600,000 from NLS and $3.5 million from Kadimastem. Once the deal is closed, the Israeli biotech intends to start an ALS candidate Phase 2a U.S. trial. So far, Kadimastem's cell therapy has given promising results in early testing. It treated 10 ALS patients before COVID-19 forced a halt in a Phase 1/2a trial. The treatments seemed to slow disease progression at three months using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R). By the six- and twelve-month follow-ups, the rates of patients' deterioration were back to the pre-treatment levels. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

< Back World Health Summit 11th - 13th October, 2026 Berlin, Germany From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Previous Next