Press release - 03/05/2024 Newly discovered mechanism of T-cell control can interfere with cancer immunotherapies Activated T cells that carry a certain marker protein on their surface are controlled by natural killer cells. In this way, the body presumably curbs destructive immune reactions. Researchers now discovered that NK cells can impair the effect of cancer therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors in this way. They could also be responsible for the rapid decline of therapeutic CAR-T cells. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/newly-discovered-mechanism-t-cell-control-can-interfere-cancer-immunotherapies
Press release - 24/04/2024 CureVac Announces Start of Combined Phase 1/2 Study in Avian Influenza (H5N1); Development in Collaboration with GSK Phase 1 part of combined Phase 1/2 study initiated as part of pandemic preparedness against highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus, considered to be potential future pandemic threat. Study will assess monovalent vaccine candidate, encoding an influenza A H5-antigen using proprietary second-generation mRNA backbone. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-announces-start-combined-phase-12-study-avian-influenza-h5n1-development-collaboration-gsk
Press release - 27/03/2024 Heidelberg Pharma granted orphan drug designation by FDA for its proprietary ATAC candidate HDP-101 Heidelberg Pharma AG (FSE: HPHA), a clinical stage biotech company developing innovative Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), is pleased to announce that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the treatment of multiple myeloma to its lead candidate HDP-101. Heidelberg Pharma is investigating the candidate in a clinical Phase I/IIa study for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/heidelberg-pharma-granted-orphan-drug-designation-fda-its-proprietary-atac-candidate-hdp-101
Press release - 14/03/2024 Next milestone in the treatment of liver tumors and acute and chronic liver diseases The results of a Tuebingen-led study raise hope that a newly developed drug could herald a new era in oncological liver surgery and transplantation. The drug could even have the potential to significantly improve the treatment of acute and chronic liver diseases. The drug candidate "HRX-215" is a so-called MKK4 inhibitor, i.e. the drug inhibits the MKK4 protein found in liver cells and thus leads to an increase in the regeneration of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/next-milestone-treatment-liver-tumors-and-acute-and-chronic-liver-diseases
Press release - 04/03/2024 Heidelberg Pharma Announces Royalty Financing Agreement with HealthCare Royalty for up to USD 115 million HealthCare Royalty to purchase royalties from worldwide sales of Telix Pharmaceuticals’ imaging diagnostic agent ZircaixTM (TLX250-CDx) Heidelberg Pharma is eligible to receive up to USD 115 million in three near-term tranches Cumulative royalties sold are capped at a maximum valuehttps://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/heidelberg-pharma-announces-royalty-financing-agreement-healthcare-royalty-usd-115-million
Funding EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND): Mechanisms and measurement of disease progression in the early phase of neurodegenerative diseases Funding programme, Funded by: EU JPND I BMBF, sb_search.searchresult.label.programSubmissionDate: 05/03/2024 https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/database/funding/eu-joint-programme-neurodegenerative-disease-research-jpnd-mechanisms-and-measurement-disease-progression-early-phase-neurodegen
Funding EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND): Mechanisms and measurement of disease progression in the early phase of neurodegenerative diseases Funding programme, Funded by: EU JPND I BMBF, sb_search.searchresult.label.programSubmissionDate: 05/03/2024 https://www.bio-pro.de/en/service/funding/eu-joint-programme-neurodegenerative-disease-research-jpnd-mechanisms-and-measurement-disease-progression-early-phase-neurodegen
Press release - 04/10/2023 Therapeutic option for tumor patients with the rare DNAJB1-PRKACA gene fusion A phase I clinical trial is now starting at Tuebingen University Hospital in the Clinical Collaboration Unit (CCU) Translational Immunology, in collaboration with the Department of Internal Medicine I, which is investigating the therapeutic cancer peptide vaccine Fusion-VAC-XS15 in combination with immune checkpoint blockade by atezolizumab (Tecentriq®). https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/therapeutic-option-tumor-patients-rare-dnajb1-prkaca-gene-fusion
Press release - 20/06/2023 CureVac Doses First Patient in Phase 1 Study of Cancer Vaccine Candidate for Surgically Resected Glioblastoma CureVac N.V. today announced that it has dosed the first patient with its investigational cancer vaccine CVGBM in a Phase 1 study. CVGBM is based on CureVac’s proprietary second-generation mRNA backbone and features a single mRNA, encoding eight epitopes derived from known tumor-associated antigens with demonstrated relevance in glioblastoma. A first data readout is expected in the second half of 2024.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-doses-first-patient-phase-1-study-cancer-vaccine-candidate-surgically-resected-glioblastoma
Press release - 16/05/2023 First company in the world to offer preclinical drug tests for children with cancer The recently established ITCC-P4 gGmbH provides academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies with a comprehensive repertoire of modern laboratory models of pediatric tumors. The aim is to systematically test new treatment options for children and adolescents with cancer and to contribute data to regulatory approval processes in order to make the development of new cancer therapies for children and adolescents more attractive.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/first-company-world-offer-preclinical-drug-tests-children-cancer
Press release - 04/05/2023 Gamma delta T cells can fight aggressive breast cancer Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and deadly form of breast cancer with limited treatment options. Tumor growth and relapse of TNBC are driven by breast cancer stem cells, and improved therapies that can eliminate those hardy cells are urgently needed. Researchers from the University of Frieburg discovered that coordinated differentiation and changes in the metabolism of breast cancer stem cells make them invisible for…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/gamma-delta-t-cells-can-fight-aggressive-breast-cancer
Press release - 17/01/2023 Endogenous molecule protects from life-threatening complications after stem-cell transplantation Acute Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a life-threatening complication after leukemia treatment with allogeneic stem cell transplantation i.e. the transplantation of cells from another person. GvHD occurs when the transplanted immune cells are overly active and damage the receiving patient's healthy tissue. Researchers found that an endogenous molecule can mitigate this misdirected immune response.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/koerpereigenes-molekuel-schuetzt-vor-lebensbedrohlichen-komplikationen-nach-stammzelltransplantation
Press release - 14/12/2022 New drug for metastatic prostate cancer now also approved in Europe On December 13, 2022, the European Commission granted approval to a drug against metastatic prostate cancer whose active ingredient was developed under the leadership of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in collaboration with Heidelberg University Hospital and Heidelberg University. The drug can significantly improve the survival chances of patients.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/neues-medikament-gegen-metastasierten-prostatakrebs-nun-auch-europa-zugelassen
Press release - 24/10/2022 How tumors suppress the development of metastases Why do metastases often only appear after the original tumor has been surgically removed? Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University have now published an explanation for this phenomenon. They were able to identify a messenger substance of the cancer cells that locally promotes the growth of the primary tumor.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/wie-tumoren-die-entstehung-von-metastasen-unterdruecken
Press release - 19/10/2022 Apogenix’ Asunercept Demonstrates Efficacy in Phase II Trial for the Treatment of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Apogenix, a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation immunotherapeutics, announced today that asunercept showed statistically significant benefits for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the ASUNCTIS trial. The open-label multi-center phase II trial investigated efficacy and safety of asunercept in 435 patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/apogenixs-asunercept-zeigt-wirksamkeit-phase-ii-studie-zur-behandlung-von-covid-19-patienten-im-krankenhaus
Press release - 18/08/2022 CureVac Starts Phase 1 Clinical Study of Modified, Omicron-Targeting COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate CureVac N.V., a global biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines based on mRNA, today announced the start of a Phase 1 study of the modified COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidate CV0501, administered as a booster dose to previous COVID-19 vaccination. Developed in collaboration with GSK, CV0501 is based on CureVac’s second-generation mRNA backbone and is designed to specifically protect against the Omicron variant.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-starts-phase-1-clinical-study-modified-omicron-targeting-covid-19-vaccine-candidate
RHEACELL GmbH - 28/07/2022 Innovative stem cell therapy for chronic wounds Non-healing, chronically inflamed wounds can be very painful and carry the risk of serious infections. The Heidelberg company RHEACELL has developed a unique drug based on ABCB5-positive mesenchymal stem cells that helps reprogramme the relevant immune cells and promote healing.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/innovative-stem-cell-therapy-chronic-wounds
Press release - 23/06/2022 Cancer patients receiving immunotherapy: no evidence of increased risk for severe immune complication after COVID-19 vaccination Does COVID-19 vaccination increase the risk of cancer patients undergoing therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors to suffer a dangerous immune complication known as a "cytokine release syndrome"? A team of Heidelberg physicians and scientists has now shown in a clinical study: Increased serum levels of the characteristic cytokines occur frequently in cancer patients, but clinically relevant cases of the dreaded syndrome were not…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/cancer-patients-receiving-immunotherapy-no-evidence-increased-risk-severe-immune-complication-after-covid-19-vaccination
Press release - 20/06/2022 Protein changes in the liquor indicate inflammatory processes in the brain Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases are associated with inflammatory processes in the brain. German researchers have succeeded in identifying a group of proteins in the liquor that could provide information about such inflammatory processes. As so-called biomarkers, the proteins could help to better understand disease processes in the future and to test the effect of potential drugs against brain inflammation.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/protein-changes-liquor-indicate-inflammatory-processes-brain
Press release - 28/04/2022 Tumors on withdrawal: Amino acid deficiency shrinks childhood tumors Certain childhood tumors have an extreme need for amino acids. Scientists at the Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University of Heidelberg, and HI-STEM* gGmbH have now discovered the molecular mechanisms underlying this and how the cancer cells could be turned off.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/tumors-withdrawal-amino-acid-deficiency-shrinks-childhood-tumors
COVIC-19 clinical trial - 07/04/2022 Convalescent plasma for COVID-19 therapy: clinical trial should bring clarity Does it help to treat COVID-19 sufferers with antibodies from people who have recovered from the disease? It seems an obvious idea and has been tested thousands of times. However, there is not yet enough evidence to prove the clinical efficacy of treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma. The transfusion physician Prof. Dr. Hubert Schrezenmeier from Ulm is planning to carry out a follow-up clinical trial to find the missing evidence.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/convalescent-plasma-covid-19-therapy-clinical-trial-should-bring-clarity
Press release - 01/04/2022 FDA approval for targeted radioligand therapy for treatment of metastatic prostate cancer On March 23, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to the first targeted radioligand therapy against metastatic prostate cancer based on a joint patent of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the University of Heidelberg. The agent significantly improves the chances of survival for those affected.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/fda-approval-targeted-radioligand-therapy-treatment-metastatic-prostate-cancer
Press release - 30/03/2022 CureVac and GSK Start Clinical Development of Second-Generation COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate, CV2CoV CureVac N.V. a global biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines based on messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”), today announced that the first participant was dosed in a Phase 1 study of COVID-19 second-generation mRNA vaccine candidate, CV2CoV, developed in collaboration with GSK.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-and-gsk-start-clinical-development-second-generation-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-cv2cov
Press release - 14/03/2022 Do gut bacteria influence treatment success of CAR-T cell therapies? Through the Endeavour Awards, the Mark Foundation supports research projects that bring together scientists from different disciplines to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. One of the only four Endeavour Awards presented this year goes to a project coordinated by scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/do-gut-bacteria-influence-treatment-success-car-t-cell-therapies
Press release - 03/03/2022 Identifying Alzheimer's risks – as early as 17 years before diagnosis In order to develop approaches for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's dementia in clinical trials, it would be helpful to be able to identify people with a particularly high risk of developing the disease. But which biomarkers can indicate an increased likelihood of disease early on in symptom-free people who actually develop Alzheimer's later?https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/identifying-alzheimers-risks-early-17-years-diagnosis