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CNN —A 62-year-old man has died months after becoming the world’s first living recipient of a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, hailed as a medical milestone. Rick Slayman received the kidney at Massachusetts General in March after he had been diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease last year. “Our family is deeply saddened about the sudden passing of our beloved Rick but take great comfort knowing he inspired so many,” a family statement said. Before Slayman’s transplant, just two transplants using pig organs had been completed – both heart transplants performed under compassionate use. EGenesis, the biotech company providing the genetically edited pig kidney, called Slayman “a true pioneer” in a statement late Saturday night.

Persons: Rick Slayman, Mr, Slayman, Slayman’s, ”, “, Rick, –, ” Slayman, Tatsuo Kawai Organizations: CNN, Massachusetts General, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Legorreta, Procurement, Transplantation Network, Massachusetts Locations: Massachusetts, ” Massachusetts

CNN —Rick Slayman, the world’s first living recipient of a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, was discharged from the hospital Wednesday, two weeks after his operation, Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement. “He is recovering well and will continue to recuperate at home with his family,” the hospital said on X, formerly Twitter. Rick Slayman in his hospital room at Massachusetts General Hospital before his discharge on Wednesday April 3, 2024. Michelle Rose/Massachusetts General HospitalHis surgery is the third such xenotransplant of a pig organ into a living human. The first two transplants were hearts transplanted into living patients that had run out of other transplant options.

Persons: Rick Slayman, Slayman, I’ve, ”, Michelle Rose, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” Slayman Organizations: CNN, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, CNN Health, Procurement, Transplantation Network Locations: Massachusetts, U.S

☆ Patient With Transplanted Pig Kidney Leaves Hospital for Home
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Roni Caryn Rabin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The first patient to receive a kidney transplanted from a genetically modified pig has fared so well that he was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, just two weeks after the groundbreaking surgery. The transplant and its encouraging outcome represent a remarkable moment in medicine, scientists say, possibly heralding an era of cross-species organ transplantation. Two previous organ transplants from genetically modified pigs failed. In one patient, there were signs that the immune system had rejected the organ, a constant risk. But the kidney transplanted into Richard Slayman, 62, is producing urine, removing waste products from the blood, balancing the body’s fluids and carrying out other key functions, according to his doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Persons: Richard Slayman Organizations: Massachusetts General Hospital Locations: Massachusetts

☆ The Technique Reshaping Organ Transplantation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Ted Alcorn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

On some level, the human liver in the operating room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago was alive. Blood circulating through its tissues delivered oxygen and removed waste products, and the organ produced bile and proteins that are essential to the body. The organ owed its vitality to this machine, which was preserving it for transplantation into a needy patient. Surgeons are experimenting with organs from genetically modified animals, hinting at a future when they could be a source for transplants. But the field is already undergoing a paradigm shift, driven by technologies in widespread use that allow clinicians to temporarily store organs outside the body.

Persons: “, ”, Daniel Borja Organizations: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Surgeons Locations: Chicago

The latest estimates released on Thursday by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, predict a 77% global increase in new cancer cases in 2050, up from the 20 million estimated in 2022. As a result, the number of cancer deaths worldwide is expected to double by 2050 to an estimated 18.5 million compared to 9.7 million in 2022. The estimated number of cancer cases in Asia, which had the most in the world at more than 9.8 million in 2022, is expected to increase 77% in 2050 to total 17.4 million cases. Researchers attribute the expected rise in cancer cases to several risk factors. As the likelihood of cancer increases with age, projected growth in the world’s elderly population is likely to lead to a rise in cancer cases, according to the report.

Organizations: World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research, Cancer, United Nations Locations: Africa, Asia

☆ More people need transplants than there are organ donors. Pigs might offer a solution
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

The need for more transplant organs is immense and growing. Researchers have transplanted genetically modified pig kidneys and hearts into people who were brain-dead to test whether they work in humans. Although Larry Faucette was too sick for a human heart transplant, University of Maryland doctors said he seemed physically strong enough for a genetically modified pig heart. It was more than a decade after the first heart transplant but long before such procedures became relatively routine. “We learned that the pig heart is an adequate substitute for a human heart.

Persons: Lawrence Faucette, Ann, he’d, ” Ann, Larry Faucette, Ann Faucette Ann, Larry, didn’t, ”, Robert Montgomery, “, Shelby Lum, ” Montgomery, Xenotransplantation, Art Caplan, Caplan, Babe ”, ” Caplan, They’re, eGenesis, people’s, Dr, Mike Curtis, Sanjay Gupta, ” Curtis, hasn’t, Julie O’Hara, Jim Parsons, Jayme Locke, couldn’t, Locke, Parsons, NYU —, Montgomery —, O’Hara, ” Locke, David Bennett Sr, Mary, David Jr, Bartley Griffith, Bennett, they’ve, Muhammad M, Mohiuddin, Larry Faucette’s, David Bennett’s, ” Griffith, xenotransplantation Ann Faucette, Wilbur, White’s, Ann Faucette, NYU ethicist Caplan, they’re, NYU’s Montgomery, UAB’s Locke, Steve Wood, ’ Curtis, “ I’m, it’s, ” O’Hara, Bennett’s, Larry Faucette —, ” Bennett’s, Faucette, who’d, Griffith, would’ve, Kate, Lucy, Nadia Kounang Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, University of Maryland, FDA, National Institute of Allergy, NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone's Transplant, NYU Grossman School, Medicine’s Department of Population Health, “ Disney, University of Alabama, Transplant Institute, Parsons Family, Birmingham, NYU, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Doctors, University of Maryland Medical Center, Uno, UAB, CNN Health, NFL Locations: Frederick , Maryland, United States, Montgomery, “, Midwest, Yucatan, Maryland

☆ Drug study brings animal-to-human organ transplants a step closer, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Scientists say they are closer to understanding the best way to make the human body receptive to an organ donation from another species, an effort that could help solve an ongoing shortage of organs. More than 100,000 people in the US are on the transplant waiting list, and an average of 17 die every day while waiting. Doctors have spent decades experimenting with alternatives, and many now see potential in replacing failing human organs with genetically modified pig organs. Xenotransplantation, as cross-species organ transplantation is called, is still in the early stages. There are no human clinical trials taking place that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, but the researchers behind a study published Thursday in the Journal of Clinical Investigation say their findings might bring human trials even closer.

Persons: Jayme Locke, Locke, that’s, Sheri Krams, ”, Krams, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Mandy Ford, Ford, ” Ford Organizations: CNN —, US Food and Drug Administration, Investigation, University of Alabama, Heersink, of Medicine, FDA, Transplantation, Heersink School of Medicine, Stanford Medicine, UAB, Parsons Model, CNN, CNN Health, Emory Transplant Center Locations: United States

☆ US FDA approves Vertex/CRISPR gene therapy for an inherited blood disorder
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The headquarters of US biopharmaceutical company Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, Massachusets, on November 4, 2023. The U.S. health regulator has approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics' gene therapy to treat a rare blood disorder requiring regular blood transfusions, in patients 12 years and older, Vertex said on Tuesday. The decision earns the therapy, branded as Casgevy, the second U.S. approval after it was greenlighted in December for sickle cell disease, another inherited blood disorder. The approval by the Food and Drug Administration comes more than two months ahead of its expected action date of March 30. Oppenheimer analyst Hartaj Singh said he expects a "slow and steady launch" for the therapy and estimated combined peak sales of about $400 million.

Persons: Oppenheimer, Hartaj Singh Organizations: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals, CRISPR Therapeutics, Food and Drug Administration Locations: US, Boston, Massachusets, U.S, United States

☆ Scientists clone second species of monkey
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Meet Retro, a cloned rhesus monkey born on July 16, 2020. Retro is only the second species of primate that scientists have been able to clone successfully. He was not involved in the latest research but has collaborated with some members of the research team on other primate studies. However, a rhesus monkey was cloned in 1999 using what researchers consider a simpler cloning method. Cloned monkeys can be genetically engineered in complex ways that wild-type monkeys cannot; this has many implications for disease modeling.

Persons: Falong Lu, ”, Lu, haven’t, Dolly, Miguel Esteban, Esteban, ” Lu, Zhong Zhong, Hua Hua, Lluís Montoliu, wasn’t, “ Organizations: CNN, Nature Communications, State Key Laboratory, Molecular, Biology, of Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, “, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine, Covid, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Royal Society for Prevention, National Center for Biotechnology Locations: Shanghai, Beijing, Spain

The transplant surgery took 21 hours. Initially, doctors were just planning to include the eyeball as part of the face transplant for cosmetic reasons, Rodriguez said during a Zoom interview. Presently, the transplanted eye is not communicating with the brain through the optic nerve. James, who had retained vision in his right eye, knew he might not regain vision in the transplanted eye. "Hopefully this opens up a new path.”James might still regain sight in the transplanted eye, Rodriguez said.

Persons: Aaron James, Eduardo D, Rodriguez, James, it's, ”, Eduardo Rodriguez, Rodriquez, ” Rodriguez, “, ” James, Nancy Lapid, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Hot, NYU Langone, Surgeons, NYU Langone Health, Thomson Locations: Hot Springs , Arkansas, New York, Arkansas

☆ World’s first whole eye and partial face transplant gives Arkansas man new hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Video Ad Feedback Arkansas man receives world's first whole eye surgery 03:32 - Source: CNN Your Health 16 videos Video Ad Feedback Arkansas man receives world's first whole eye surgery 03:32 Now playing - Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback Taking more naps could change your brain size 02:35 Now playing - Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback This highly sought after skill could actually be bad for your health 02:29 Now playing - Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback These common walking mistakes can ruin a good thing 01:57 Now playing - Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback Nearly 40% of dementia cases can be prevented with one small health change 02:13 Now playing - Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback Want to live longer? Follow these tips from 'blue zones' 02:35 Now playing - Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback Here's why your allergies are getting worse and lasting longer 02:00 Now playing - Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback The murky science behind cold water immersion 03:11 Now playing - Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback He wanted to end his life at 15. After an accident at work led to the loss of his left eye and part of his face, Aaron was given a new window to his soul, as well as a partial face transplant. No medical team in the world had previously performed a successful human eye transplant in a living patient. Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, director of the Face Transplant Program at NYU Langone Health, performs the whole-eye and partial face transplantation surgery.

Persons: James, Aaron James, Aaron, Meagan peered, ” Meagan, “, Eduardo Rodriguez, “ That’s, ” Aaron, Meagan, Allie, ”, ’ Meagan, ” Allie, ’ ”, NYU Langone Health —, Rodriguez, ” Rodriguez, it’s, ’ ” Aaron, José, Alain, ” Aaron James, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Oren Tepper, Tepper Organizations: CNN, NYU Langone Health, NYU, Health, Texas, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, CNN Health, Montefiore Health Locations: New Jersey, New York, Arkansas, Mississippi, Dallas, Dallas , Texas, Texas, Turkey

☆ 5 ways China's trying to get people to have more babies — from cash incentives to cracking down on the 'bride price'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In 2022, China's population started shrinking for the first time in six decades. The push for marriage and babies comes after China last year saw a record low of 6.83 million marriages registered. Here's how China has tried to get its people to have more babies over the past two years. Wenzhou, a city in southeast China, is offering would-be parents up to 3,000 yuan in subsidies per child. In August, a county in eastern China started offering couples 1,000 yuan in cash if the bride was 25 years old or younger, according to a post on its official WeChat account.

Persons: —, Trip.com Organizations: Service, United Nations, Technology, QiaoYin City Management, China Women's Federation, Authorities, Bloomberg Locations: China, Hangzhou, East China, Wenzhou, Shanghai, Shanxi, Beijing, Zhejiang, Provinces, skewing, Jiangxi, Hebei —, Sichuan, Western China

☆ Scientists take ‘pioneering steps’ toward growing human kidneys in pigs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Scientists have grown kidneys containing mostly human cells inside pig embryos, an important step toward growing kidneys and potentially other human organs that could be used for transplants in people. “The paper describes pioneering steps in a new approach to organ bioengineering using pigs as incubators for growing and cultivating human organs,” said Dusko Ilic, a professor of stem cell sciences at King’s College London, in a statement. “It is remarkable to see about 60% of the primordial pig kidney contained human cells,” Wu said. What the researchers didTo generate kidneys mostly composed of human cells in pigs, the scientists used cutting-edge techniques harnessing advances in stem cells, gene editing and embryology. “This (new) work is different from existing xenotransplantation approach and aims to generate organs mostly composed of human cells in pigs,” Wu said.

Persons: ”, Miguel Esteban, ” Esteban, “, Dusko Ilic, Jun Wu, Wu, ” Mary Garry, ” Wu, Esteban, ” Joseph A, Vassalotti, ” Vassalotti Organizations: CNN —, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Procurement, Transplantation Network, King’s College London, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Minnesota’s, Heart Institute, National Kidney Foundation, Icahn School of Medicine Locations: Health, United States, Mount Sinai

☆ House Majority Leader Steve Scalise says he has multiple myeloma. The rare blood cancer is treatable but often returns after going into remission.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said he has multiple myeloma. It's a rare blood cancer that can be treated for years but currently is not curable. The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer," Scalise said in the statement. The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer. "Unfortunately, if left untreated, myeloma cells can multiply and continue to grow in a person's bone marrow," he added.

Persons: Steve Scalise, Scalise, Sarah McBride, Trump, Anders Kolb, Kolb, MSKCC, " Kolb, James T, Hodgkinson Organizations: Service, Twitter, Louisiana Republican, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Leukemia, Lymphoma Society, Congressional Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington, Louisiana, M.D

☆ Surgeons Improve Function of Kidneys Transplanted From Genetically Altered Pigs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Roni Caryn Rabin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A number of studies last year demonstrated that pig kidneys that had been transplanted into brain-dead individuals made urine, an essential function, for short periods of time. “The really new finding here is that these pig kidneys can clear enough creatinine to support an adult human,” Dr. Locke said. “If you want to have life-sustaining kidney function, the kidneys have to do more than just make urine,” Dr. Locke said. A few months later, researchers at the University of Maryland transplanted a heart from a genetically modified pig into a 57-year-old patient with heart failure. So far, transplants of genetically modified pig kidneys have been made only to brain-dead patients.

Persons: ”, Jayme Locke, Dr, Locke Organizations: Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, University of Maryland, Revivicor, United Therapeutics Corporation, Langone Health, Food and Drug Administration Locations: Alabama, New York

☆ Two research teams detail advancements in transplanting pig kidneys to humans, marking key steps on path to clinical trials
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —New advancements in transplanting pig kidneys to humans, detailed by two separate research teams on Wednesday, mark key steps forward in the evolving field of xenotransplantation, the use of non-human tissues or organs to treat medical conditions in humans. Both research teams used genetically modified pig kidneys that were transplanted into recipients experiencing brain death in what is considered pre-clinical human research. Other studies have demonstrated that this can occur when pig kidneys are transplanted in non-human primates. The team has been monitoring pig kidney transplants in a brain-dead decedent – a man named Maurice Miller, known as Mo, who died of a brain tumor – for nearly two months. “Over the last 20 years, we’ve gained a lot of information about how pig kidneys work to replace the functions in primates.

Persons: ”, Jayme Locke, Locke, ” Locke, NYU Langone, Maurice Miller, Mo, Robert Montgomery, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, “ We’re, Adam Griesemer, we’ve, ’ –, we’re Organizations: CNN, University of Alabama, Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, New York University, Health, Comprehensive Transplant Institute, ”, UAB, NYU, NYU Langone Transplant Institute, CNN Health, Liver Transplant, FDA, US Department of Health, Human, Transplantation Network

CNN —Amid the raging war and constant threat of Russian missiles, a successful heart transplant has been performed on a 6-year-old girl in Kyiv, authorities with the Heart Institute of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health announced on Monday. It was the first time a heart transplant had been performed in Ukraine on children so young, the institute said. “The operation went smoothly, the girl was extubated two hours after the operation,” Todurov said in a post on his official Facebook page. Ukrainian Transplant Coordination CenterThe Heart Institute released images from the operation showing the mother of the boy whose heart was donated standing by the girl’s bedside. The Heart Institute has purchased special generators so operations can continue during blackouts, and it has an autonomous water supply.

Persons: CNN —, Dr, Boris Todurov, ” Todurov, Oksana Dmytrieva, ” Dmytrieva, “, ”, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Heart Institute of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, Heart Institute, Transplant Coordination, Ukrainian, Facebook, National Children’s Locations: Russian, Kyiv, Ukraine, Kherson region, Kirovohrad

☆ Beijing is offering to pay for IVF and most other fertility treatments after China recorded its first population decline in more than 60 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Some Chinese cities will fund fertility treatments to combat low birth rates. Beijing announced it would cover more than a dozen fertility treatments, including IVF. Beijing's government said this week it would cover more than a dozen fertility treatments, including IVF, embryo transplantation, and freezing and storing semen, Reuters reported. Some other cities are loosening restrictions on who can access fertility treatment. Meanwhile, private clinics in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan have already begun allowing unmarried women access to fertility treatments, including IVF, Reuters reported.

Persons: —, Bejing, Teresa Xu, Xu Organizations: Beijing, Service, Reuters, United Locations: China, India, United Nations, Chinese, Sichuan

☆ Novartis buys Chinook for $3.5 bln in race to treat rare kidney disease
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

June 12 (Reuters) - Novartis (NOVN.S) said it has agreed to acquire U.S. biotech firm Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY.O) for up to $3.5 billion to boost its late-stage drug development line-up, raising the stakes in the race for a rare kidney disease treatment. The other drug hopeful is iptacopan, which is being trialled against a number of rare genetic disorders, including IgAN and another kidney disease. IgAN is a progressive autoimmune disease that mostly affects young adults and which can lead to kidney failure that requires dialysis or organ transplantation. IgAN is the most common cause of kidney failure in Caucasian young adults, Novartis added. Additional reporting by Miranda Murray; Editing by Kim Coghill, Sonali Paul and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Novartis, Vas Narasimhan, Narasimham, atrasentan, Narasimhan, Kisqali, Roche, Vera, Muddy Waters, Miranda Murray, Kim Coghill, Sonali Paul, Alexander Smith Organizations: Novartis, Chinook Therapeutics, Vera Therapeutics, Sandoz, Chinook, Thomson Locations: Seattle, United States

☆ Novartis to buy Chinook for up to $3.5 bln in boost to late-stage pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 12 (Reuters) - Novartis (NOVN.S) has agreed to acquire Seattle-based biotech firm Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY.O) for up to $3.5 billion to boost its late-stage drug development line-up with a new treatment for a rare severe kidney disease. Chinook is also working on zigakibart, another experimental IgAN treatment that is injected, and plans to start a Phase 3 trial in the third quarter of 2023. IgAN is a progressive autoimmune disease that mostly affects young adults and which can lead to dialysis or kidney transplantation. IgAN is the most common cause of kidney failure in Caucasian young adults, the company added. Additional reporting by Miranda Murray; Editing by Kim Coghill and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Swiss drugmaker, Vas Narasimhan, atrasentan, Narasimhan, Kisqali, Soliris, Miranda Murray, Kim Coghill, Sonali Paul Organizations: Novartis, Seattle, Chinook Therapeutics, Chinook, Swiss pharma, Sandoz, Thomson Locations: Swiss, IgAN, United States

☆ Opinion | Not Every Pandemic Needs Someone to Blame
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Daniela J. Lamas | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Of course, health care workers frequently care for patients who are suffering, either directly or indirectly, as a result of actions they have taken. When we see patients with lung cancer, for instance, we mention whether they had a history of cigarette smoking. That’s not to say that the medicine we offer is different, not in any way that’s measurable. Which is one reason the coronavirus was so frightening to those of us in health care. There were health care workers who railed against the idea of offering advanced and scarce resources like a lung bypass or transplantation to unvaccinated patients with life-threatening disease.

☆ World Transplant Games: The unexpected journeys of four athletes to one of the biggest competitions you've probably never heard of
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Eryn Mathewson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

British supporters gesture during the opening ceremony of the XXI World Transplant Games 2017 in Malaga, Spain on June 25, 2017. Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty ImagesWhat are the World Transplant Games? The World Transplant Games is not a household name like the Special Olympics or the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The Road Race starts at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle-Gateshead, United Kingdom. Price is currently recovering from a non-transplant related surgery, but said she’s ready to make her second appearance at the World Transplant Games.

Austin Johnson in August 2019 when his eyes and skin had turned yellow from liver disease caused by years of heavy drinking. Courtesy Austin JohnsonCirrhosis or severe liver disease used to be something that mostly struck people in middle age, or older. “We’re definitely seeing younger and younger patients coming in with what we previously thought was advanced liver disease seen in patients only in their middle age, 50s and 60s,” said Mellinger. Since 2018, Mellinger, and doctors at the Michigan Alcohol Improvement program provide psychiatrists and addiction specialists to patients with liver disease. The yellow color in his skin and eyes — a symptom of severe liver disease — has disappeared.

☆ U.S. FDA gives first-ever approval to fecal transplant therapy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The therapy, Rebyota, targets Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile – a superbug responsible for infections that can cause serious and life-threatening diarrhea. While this is the first such therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for recurrent C. difficile infections, fecal microbiota transplants – classified by the regulator as investigational – have long been the standard of care in the U.S. for this condition. Approval for the therapy comes on the back of a positive vote from the regulator's advisers in September, as most on the panel sought standardization of the therapy. Ferring, which gained the therapy through its 2018 purchase of U.S.-based Rebiotix Inc, was not immediately available for a comment on pricing and availability of the therapy. Besides Ferring, other companies including Seres Therapeutics (MCRB.O), which is developing an oral treatment, are working on similar therapies based on fecal microbiota transplantation.

A decade ago, CAR T cell therapy changed the world of cancer treatment, offering a personalized approach to patients with blood cancers like leukemia. A novel approach to CAR T (chimeric antigen receptor T cell) therapy aims to cut down that turnaround time significantly. Instead of reprogramming each patient's cells, researchers are testing the safety of using universal, or "off the shelf," CAR T cells from other patients, preprogrammed to fight cancer. Scientists at University College London in the United Kingdom tested the safety of the experimental approach in six children — mostly toddlers — with advanced leukemia. One particular side effect associated with CAR T therapy is called a cytokine storm, and it can be deadly.

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