FDA OKs trial of pig livers as dialysis-like treatment for liver failure
Advertisement
The liver is the only organ that can regenerate, but the question is whether having the pig's liver filter the patient's blood for several days could give it that chance.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
In experiments with four deceased bodies, that 'bridge' attempt showed the pig liver could support some functions of a human liver for two or three days, said Mike Curtis, CEO of Massachusetts-based eGenesis, which genetically modifies pigs so their organs are more humanlike.
The trial will enroll up to 20 patients in intensive-care units who don't qualify a liver transplant, he said. A device made by Britain's OrganOx, currently used to preserve donated human livers, will pump participants' blood through the pig liver.
It's the latest step in attempts to use gene-edited pig organs to save human lives. Pig kidneys from eGenesis and another pig producer, United Therapeutics, are being used in experimental transplants.
Advertisement
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New malaria drug for newborn babies offers hope to parents, health workers in Uganda
Alice Nekesa did not know she was infected with malaria-causing parasites until it was too late. She was in the fourth month of pregnancy last year when she started bleeding, a miscarriage later attributed to untreated malaria in her. The Ugandan farmer said recently that she regretted the loss of what would have been her second child 'because I didn't discover malaria and treat it early'. Variations of such cases are commonly reported by Ugandan health workers who witness stillbirths or feverish babies that die within days from undiagnosed malaria. The deaths are part of a wider death toll tied to the mosquito-borne disease, the deadliest across Africa, but one easily treated in adults who seek timely medical care. Until recently, a major gap in malaria treatment was how to care for newborns and infants infected with malaria who weren't strong enough to receive regular medication. That changed last month when Swiss medical regulators approved medicine from the Basel-based pharmaceutical company Novartis for babies weighing between 2 and 5 kilograms (about two to five kilograms). Swissmedic said the treatment, a sweet-tasting tablet that dissolves into a syrup when dropped into liquids like breast milk, was approved in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) under a fast-track authorisation process to help developing countries access much-needed treatment. Africa's 1.5 billion people accounted for 95 per cent of an estimated 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023, according to the WHO. More than three-quarters of those deaths were among children. Related Malaria cases surged to 263 million last year amid stalled progress to stop mosquito-borne illness In Uganda, an east African country of 45 million people, there were 12.6 million malaria cases and nearly 16,000 deaths in 2023. Many were children younger than five and pregnant women, the WHO said. Nigeria, Congo, and Uganda – in that order – are the African countries most burdened by malaria, a parasitic disease transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes that thrive and breed in stagnant water. The drug approved by Swiss authorities, known as Coartem Baby in some countries and Riamet Baby in others, is a combination of two antimalarials. It is a lower dose version of a tablet previously approved for other age groups, including for older children. Before Coartem Baby, antimalarial drugs designed for older children were administered to small infants with careful adjustments to avoid overdose or toxicity. Ugandan authorities, who have been working to update clinical guidelines for treating malaria, say the new drug will be rolled out as soon as possible. It is not yet available in public hospitals. How the medicine could change malaria treatment The development of Coartem Baby has given hope to many, with local health workers and others saying the medicine will save the lives of many infants. Ronald Serufusa, the top malaria official for the district of Wakiso, which shares a border with the Ugandan capital of Kampala, said he believes Coartem Baby will be available 'very, very soon' and that one priority is sensitising the people adhering to treatment. Some private pharmacies already have access to Coartem Baby, 'flavored with orange or mango' to make it palatable for infants, he said. Related Scientists discover drug that could make human blood deadly to mosquitos in fight against malaria During the so-called malaria season, which coincides with rainy periods twice a year, long lines of sick patients grow outside government-run health centres across Uganda. Many are often women with babies strapped to their backs. Health workers now are trained to understand that 'malaria can be implicated among newborns,' even when other dangerous conditions like sepsis are present, Serufusa said. 'If they don't expand their investigations to also suspect malaria, then it goes unnoticed,' he said, speaking of health workers treating babies. The Malaria Consortium, a global nonprofit based in London, in a statement described the approval of Coartem Baby as 'a major leap forward for saving the lives of young children in countries affected by malaria'. In addition to Uganda, the drug will be rolled out in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania, the group said. Related West Nile virus, chikungunya, dengue: Tracking mosquito-borne illnesses across Europe Jane Nabakooza, a pediatrician with Uganda's malaria control programme, said she expects the government will make Coartem Baby available to patients free of charge, even after losing funding when the United States shrank its foreign aid programme earlier this year. Some malaria funding from outside sources, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, remains available for programmes such as indoor spraying to kill mosquitoes that spread the malaria-causing parasite. Because of funding shortages, 'we are focusing on those that are actually prone to severe forms of malaria and malaria deaths, and these are children under five years,' Nabakooza said.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
iSpecimen's $6M Valuation Doesn't Reflect the Business-Let Alone the $200M Treasury (NASDAQ: ISPC)
WOBURN, MA / / August 20, 2025 / A share price of $1.11. A $6.1 million market cap. Just 5.54 million shares outstanding. And a newly announced $200 million digital treasury. On paper, the disconnect between price and intrinsic value, let alone inherent potential, is hard to miss. But the real takeaway isn't just the contrast. It's what that contrast says about iSpecimen Inc. (NASDAQ:ISPC): a company with a functioning platform, measurable revenue, and real-world utility that remains miscategorized and underpriced by the market.(ISPC Share count and price data on 8/20/2025) The digital treasury announcement deserved headlines. It's rare for any microcap, especially in life sciences, to unveil a capital strategy of that scale. But the attention came with a surprising market reaction. Following the news, ISPC shares moved lower. That drop wasn't tied to any breakdown in the business. It was likely due to timing. The news hit after-hours, when retail investors had little access and institutions hadn't yet responded. What the market saw was the number. What it didn't see was the system behind it. Solving the Bottleneck in Life Sciences iSpecimen is not a clinical-stage biotech, nor is it speculative software. It operates a fully functional digital marketplace for human biospecimens-vital inputs for both preclinical and clinical research. The platform allows researchers to efficiently source high-quality, well-characterized specimens with full traceability and regulatory compliance. Blood, plasma, tissue, and genomically sequenced material are the raw materials of discovery, yet sourcing them has long been a fragmented, manual, and inefficient process. iSpecimen fixes that. Its proprietary, cloud-based platform lets researchers search, filter, and request exactly what they need based on disease state, demographic, clinical history, or processing requirements. On the other end, hospitals and labs can monetize excess inventory. iSpecimen handles compliance, logistics, and invoicing. The result is a streamlined transaction that unlocks value for both sides. This isn't a roadmap or beta test. The platform is live, and it's producing revenue. In 2024, the company posted $9.29 million in revenue. That number didn't come from grants or one-time licensing. It came from platform activity, repeated use, and institutional adoption. The Treasury is Not a Gimmick - It's a Strategic Asset The $200 million digital treasury that sparked attention isn't accounted for as cash on the balance sheet. But that doesn't mean it lacks financial weight. It is a capital preservation and liquidity strategy built to support long-term operations. Built on Solana, it features insured custody, cold storage, and a risk-managed structure that removes reliance on traditional capital markets. This isn't a distraction. It's financial insulation. It allows iSpecimen to grow without falling into the trap of repeated, dilutive financing. That kind of flexibility, especially for a microcap, is rare. But while the market focused on that headline, it missed the infrastructure behind it. iSpecimen's core business is still the real story. Expanding Reach Across Critical Therapeutic Areas Behind the scenes, the company is scaling its footprint across several high-value segments of medicine. In cancer research, it's now working with U.S.-based oncology centers and a genomic sequencing partner to deliver hard-to-source biospecimens for precision studies. In women's health, iSpecimen has access to over 600,000 patients through multi-state partnerships, unlocking samples across reproductive, hormone, and breast health. And in early 2025, the company proactively secured sourcing for human metapneumovirus (hMPV), anticipating potential waves of global research interest. Each of these initiatives adds operational depth to a platform that was already delivering. None of it would matter if the core system didn't work. But it does, and the results are increasingly visible. When the Market Doesn't Know Where to Look The mispricing here may stem from the fact that iSpecimen doesn't fit cleanly into a familiar category. It's not chasing regulatory approval, so it doesn't trade on FDA calendars. It's not a SaaS company, though its platform behaves like one. Instead, it sits between logistics, life sciences, and digital infrastructure - and that ambiguity often delays recognition. But that's also where value hides. iSpecimen runs an asset-light, transaction-based model. It doesn't need to build labs or develop its own trial pipeline. It monetizes what already exists by organizing and standardizing the connections between researchers and providers. That model is scalable across disease areas, institutions, and even global geographies. This Isn't a Bet. It's a Repricing in Progress The treasury may have been the headline, but it isn't the whole story. It's simply a structural advantage layered onto a business that is already performing. The marketplace, the revenue, the partnerships, and the platform all existed before the $200 million plan was announced. Thus, ISPC isn't a company hoping for validation. It's a company that already has it - just not from the market yet. At $1.11, the share price reflects none of that. But that doesn't mean the value isn't there. It just means the recognition hasn't arrived yet. When it does, the most temporary number in this entire story might be the one investors are staring at right now. *Reprinted with permission from Hawk Point Media Group, LLC. About iSpecimen iSpecimen (NASDAQ: ISPC) offers an online marketplace for human biospecimens, connecting scientists in commercial and non-profit organizations with healthcare providers that have access to patients and specimens needed for medical discovery. Proprietary, cloud-based technology enables scientists to intuitively search for specimens and patients across a federated partner network of hospitals, labs, biobanks, blood centers and other healthcare organizations. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are characterized by future or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate" and "continue" or similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss future expectations and plans, which contain projections of future results of operations or financial condition or state other forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to the risk factors contained in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict those events or how they may affect the Company. If a change to the events and circumstances reflected in the Company's forward-looking statements occurs, the Company's business, financial condition and operating results may vary materially from those expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact:Investor Contactsinfo@ For this content only: info@ Disclaimers: This presentation has been created by Hawk Point Media Group, Llc. (HPM) and is responsible for the production and distribution of this content. This presentation should be considered and explicitly regarded as sponsored content. Hawk Point Media Group, LLC. has been compensated five thousand dollars to create this content as part of a more extensive digital marketing program by IR Agency, Inc. Accordingly, this content may be reused and syndicated beyond the channels used by Hawk Point Media, LLC. This disclaimer and the link to the broader disclosures must be part of all reproductions. That compensation creates a conflict of interest because the content presented may only provide a favorable viewpoint of the company featured. The contributors do NOT buy and sell securities before and after any article, report, or publication. HPM holds ZERO shares and has never owned stock in iSpecimen Inc. The information in this video, article, and related newsletters is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, investment advice or recommendations. Hawk Point Media Group, Llc. strongly urges you to conduct a complete and independent investigation of the respective companies and consider all pertinent risks. Readers are advised to review SEC periodic reports: Forms 10-Q, 10K, Form 8-K, insider reports, Forms 3, 4, 5 Schedule 13D. Never take opinions, articles presented, or content provided as the sole reason to invest in any featured company. Investors must always perform their own due diligence before investing in any publicly traded company and understand the risks involved, including losing their entire investment. SOURCE: iSpecimen, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Upturn
2 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Fortis Healthcare signs O&M pact with Ekana Group for 550-bed super specialty hospital in Lucknow
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on August 20, 2025, 22:29 IST Fortis Healthcare Ltd. on Wednesday announced that it has entered into an operations and management (O&M) agreement with Lucknow-based Ekana Group to run a 550-bed greenfield super specialty hospital coming up near Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. Once operational, the hospital will be positioned as a Centre of Excellence for tertiary care services, bringing advanced medical infrastructure and global best practices to Uttar Pradesh's capital. This marks Fortis Healthcare's third major presence in the state, after its facilities in Noida and Greater Noida. Dr. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, MD & CEO of Fortis Healthcare, said the collaboration is a key step in strengthening the company's footprint: 'Once operational, this new 550-bed super-specialty hospital near Gomti Nagar will significantly enhance access to advanced medical care for the city and its surrounding regions. It underscores our steadfast commitment to expanding high-quality healthcare across the state.' Uday Sinha, promoter of Ekana Group, added: 'We are happy to join hands with one of India's leading healthcare chains to develop a cutting-edge tertiary care hospital, one that will deliver patient care where it's most needed.' Fortis Healthcare currently operates 33 facilities across 11 states with more than 5,700 operational beds, including O&M beds, and a network of over 400 diagnostics labs Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
