December 2024 - BioMedWire (BMW)

MondayDec 30, 2024 8:45 am

Adageis Embracing New Era for Value-Based Care Amid Healthcare System Transition from CMS-HCC V24 to V28

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ switch from the Hierarchical Condition Categories model V24 to the modernized V28 brings about an updated disease classification structure that aligns with current healthcare standards. V28 enhances the accuracy of Medicare Advantage payments, impacting conditions like diabetes and dementia. Under the new model, HCC categories rise from 86 to 115, with updated inclusion and exclusion criteria. The transition aligns closely with Adageis’s mission of revolutionizing patient care through innovative value-based care solutions, positioning the company for growth. Adageis aims to improve healthcare delivery by helping providers streamline operations and focus on delivering quality…

FridayDec 27, 2024 10:00 am

Researchers Identify Protein That Makes Cancer Evade Cell Therapy

CAR T cell therapy is designed to use the immune system to find and eliminate cancer cells. This therapy is often used to treat types of aggressive blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia. Prior studies have found that cancer cells have learned how to evade the immune system to avoid elimination. Now researchers at City of Hope have discovered a protein that assists cancer cells in hiding from this treatment. During their study, the researchers discovered that YTHDF2 played a huge role in advancing blood cancer development. The first author of the study, Zhen-Hua Chen, explained that uncovering the biological…

ThursdayDec 26, 2024 10:15 am

Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN) Improves Cash Position and Runway with New Debt Facility for CNM-Au8(R) Data Collection to Support Accelerated Approval Application

The $10 million loan agreement, carrying a 12% interest rate and secured by all assets of Clene, was signed with three lenders affiliated with the company. The funds will be used to repay the remaining $7.9 million debt of an Avenue Capital Group loan, and will improve the company’s cash position, enabling it extra runway to generate additional data to support the new drug application of CNM-Au8 for ALS. The FDA earlier suggested that Clene leverage additional neurofilament light (“NfL”) data from the company’s three Expanded Access Protocols (compassionate use programs) and the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial to support earlier…

ThursdayDec 26, 2024 10:00 am

Autism Prevalence Surges Globally, Raising Concerns Among Healthcare Experts

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that’s characterized by restricted, repetitive and inflexible patterns of interests, activities and behavior. Globally, it is estimated that 61.8 million individuals live with this disorder. Now a new study has highlighted the increase in the prevalence of autism globally, with findings estimating that 1 in 127 individuals are afflicted by the condition. This is quite an increase from previous findings and given that this latest data is from 2021, there’s a possibility the number may be even higher. The study was carried out by the Global Burden of Diseases, with the researchers arguing…

FridayDec 20, 2024 10:00 am

4 Ways of Making e-Commerce Deliveries While Improving City Life

E-commerce and online shopping have grown significantly since the coronavirus pandemic, with choice and convenience pulling in more consumers. It is estimated that by 2027, e-commerce retail sales may have surpassed $8 trillion, representing an increase of about 39%. While this is a good thing, the increasing numbers of delivery vehicles in urban centers aren’t helping fight congestion. A recent paper that examined the growth of delivery culture has found that rising greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion as well as health issues may be some of the possible hidden costs linked to deliveries within cities. Given that increased congestion…

ThursdayDec 19, 2024 10:00 am

IT Professionals Suggest How Healthcare Data Protection Can Be Enhanced

Privacy and security are crucial in any healthcare organization, whether they’re a new practice with growing volumes of records, an established one with vast volumes, or a practice that still hasn’t gone fully digital. While technological advancements can make the lives of both patients and staff easier and ease access to care, they can also make it easier for cybercriminals to breach healthcare systems and obtain sensitive information. This raises the question, how can healthcare organizations ensure the privacy and security of patient data while managing e-health records? Below, we look at some of the ways this can be done,…

TuesdayDec 17, 2024 10:00 am

Research Shows Brain Tumors Grow by Hijacking Circadian Clocks

Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive type of cancer that primarily affects the brain. A new study has found that this cancer has an internal clock which is synced every day to capitalize on the circadian rhythm of the patient. This feature allows tumors to grow as the patient’s body releases hormones. The study, which was carried out by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, discovered that blocking circadian signals significantly reduced the growth of tumors as well as disease progression. The first author of the study, Maria F. Gonzalez-Aponte, explained that prior studies had allowed the researchers to establish…

FridayDec 13, 2024 1:00 pm

Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) Showcases 2024 Achievements and Strategic Vision in Year-End Investor Webcast

Annovis Bio (NYSE: ANVS), a clinical-stage drug platform company pioneering transformative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, recently hosted its Year-End Investor Webcast, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the company’s 2024 milestones and strategic initiatives for 2025. The full webcast is available here: https://youtu.be/NA3kCUZZIpI. During the webcast, Dr. Maria Maccecchini, Founder, President, and CEO of Annovis Bio, detailed significant progress in the company’s pivotal Phase 3 studies for Buntanetap, its lead drug candidate targeting neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. These studies aim to demonstrate both symptomatic relief and disease-modifying effects, aligning with Annovis Bio’s mission to address the…

FridayDec 13, 2024 12:15 pm

Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN) Receives FDA Guidance on Accelerated Approval Pathway for CNM-Au8(R) for ALS

The FDA asked for additional Neurofilament Light (“NfL”) data from the company’s three Expanded Access Protocols to support earlier clinical trial findings. The company has already begun collecting and analyzing this data, with plans to complete the process in Q2 2025 and then submit a New Drug Application (“NDA”) for CNM-Au8 by mid-2025. A follow-up meeting with the FDA will be held early next year to discuss and finalize the statistical analysis plan for the EAP NfL biomarker analyses. The company is meanwhile preparing a confirmatory Phase 3 trial (“RESTORE-ALS”) to evaluate the survival benefit of CNM-Au8 with initial participant…

FridayDec 13, 2024 10:00 am

New Technology Programs Immune Cells to Combat Brain Cancer, MS

Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive type of cancer that usually affects an individual’s spinal cord or brain. Brain cancers, which are among the most difficult cancers to treat, are the primary cause of cancer deaths in kids. The main treatments of this cancer include chemotherapy and surgery, with medications being a less prescribed option as they can’t always access the brain. Now researchers at the University of California-San Francisco have discovered a new way to alter immune cell behavior to attack glioblastoma. For their study, they came up with a molecular GPS that could lead immune cells to the brain…