SFPD: 7 confirmed overdose deaths so far in 2025
Container homes face challenges in Sioux Falls market
Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum said there's been seven overdose deaths in Sioux Falls, which is below 10 at the same point in 2024. He said one additional possible overdose death is still awaiting toxicology reports.
'They're all bad drugs,' Thum said. 'There's no safe way to do drugs.'
Thum said the recent drug overdoses in the state prison has brought additional discussion about deadly drugs in the community.
'This is an issue and problem we continue to work on collectively,' Thum said. He said parents can't have enough conversations with kids about the dangers of drugs and addiction.
There are overdoses that police aren't aware about because NARCAN might be used or someone might be helped before it results in a death.
'NARCAN is buying another chance but that only works with fentanyl,' Thum said.
KELOLAND News will have more coverage from Thum's news conference on addiction impacts in Sioux Falls.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Business Wire
3 hours ago
- Business Wire
Spruce Biosciences Announces Integrated Long-Term Clinical Data of Tralesinidase Alfa Enzyme Replacement Therapy (TA-ERT) Demonstrating Profound and Durable Efficacy and Safety in Patients with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B (MPS IIIB)
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spruce Biosciences, Inc. (OTCQB: SPRB), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for neurological disorders with significant unmet medical need, today announced results from a long-term data integration of tralesinidase alfa enzyme replacement therapy (TA-ERT) clinical program in patients with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B (MPS IIIB). Spruce integrated and evaluated group-level efficacy data for cerebral spinal fluid heparan-sulfate non-reducing end (CSF HS-NRE), cortical grey matter volume (CGMV), and Bayley-III Cognitive Raw Score (BSID-C), the cognitive subscale of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - Third Edition (Bayley-III), as well as safety data over a five-year period from clinical studies 201, 202, and 401. Data from treated patients (n=22) in the studies 201, 202, and 401 was compared with data from untreated patients with MPS IIIB in natural history studies 901 and 902. 'These data demonstrate a rapid, profound, and durable effect of ICV-administered TA-ERT on normalizing CSF HS-NRE, the pathogenic factor leading to neurodegeneration, and in stabilizing CGMV and cognitive function, relative to the declines observed in untreated children with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B (MPS IIIB) in the natural history studies,' said Paul Harmatz, M.D., Principal Investigator in studies 901, 201, and 202 and Professor in Residence, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. 'This is an important development toward relief for children and families whose lives are impacted by this devastating condition.' 'Convincing positive outcomes have been experienced by families who resoundingly state that the benefits of TA-ERT outweigh risks in their real-world experiences,' said Cara O'Neill, M.D., FAAP, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Cure Sanfilippo Foundation. 'Biomarker data, along with promising clinical outcomes, are significant and meaningful from the perspective of the patient community. Currently, there is no U.S. FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of MPS IIIB, and disease management consists of limited palliative care. We are eager to see TA-ERT advance under the accelerated approval pathway.' Cerebral Spinal Fluid Heparan-Sulfate Non-Reducing End (CSF HS-NRE) Integrated group-level data from clinical studies 201, 202, and 401 demonstrate that TA-ERT therapy significantly reduced to normal or near normal CSF HS-NRE levels over a five-year period (Figure 1). At 240 weeks, CSF HS-NRE decreased 91.5 ng/mL from baseline (95% CI: -102.10, -80.90; p<0.0001). Most participants experienced normalization of CSF HS-NRE levels eight weeks after initiating therapy. In a 2024 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the FDA confirmed that CSF HS-NRE is a surrogate biomarker reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit and could serve as a basis for accelerated approval. Cognitive Function In untreated patients with MPS IIIB, cognitive function peaks at around four years of age and then declines over time. In contrast, children with established disease treated with TA-ERT experienced stable cognitive function over time (Figure 2). Untreated children in the natural history studies showed a decline in cognition beginning at approximately five years of age that progressively worsened over time, while cognition in the TA-ERT treated group remained stable. Using a model-based approach, the mean (95% CI) BSID-C over six to 10 years of age was significantly higher in patients treated with TA-ERT, relative to untreated, age-matched children, with differences evident at six years of age (group difference: 10.67, 95% CI: 3.23, 18.11; p=0.005). At 10 years of age, the difference in BSID-C scores between groups increased to 34.66 (95% CI: 24.38, 44.93; p<0.0001). Although TA-ERT treatment stabilized BSID-C scores on average, increases in BSID-C scores were more commonly observed in subjects who initiated therapy at younger ages with higher baseline cognitive function and prior to the establishment of meaningful neurodegeneration. The BSID-C is anticipated to be the primary endpoint for the post-marketing clinical trial. Cortical Grey Matter Volume (CGMV) TA-ERT therapy was also associated with stabilization of CGMV, relative to the decline in CGMV observed in untreated children due to the progressive neurodegenerative nature of MPS IIIB (Figure 3). While CGMV should increase with age in children up to five years of age, there was an average loss of ~32 mL over 48 weeks in untreated children with MPS IIIB observed in study 901. Consistent with TA-ERT's mechanism of action, decreases in CGMV were observed during the initial 24 weeks of TA-ERT treatment, likely reflecting intracellular clearance of cerebral spinal fluid heparan sulfate (CSF HS) and CSF HS-NRE. CGMV stabilized from weeks 48 to 240 with TA-ERT treatment. Safety TA-ERT therapy exposure for up to 7.3 years has demonstrated an adequate safety profile in a serious and fatal disease for which no treatment is currently available. The mean (SD) exposure to TA-ERT was 4.2 (2.0) years. No deaths occurred throughout study 201 and its long-term extension studies 202 and 401. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) by preferred term (reported in ≥40% of participants) was vomiting (22 [100%]), followed by pyrexia (20 [90.9%]), upper respiratory tract infection (17 [77.3%]), pleocytosis (11 [50.0%]), COVID-19 infection (10 [45.5%]), and diarrhea (9 [40.9%]). Four (18%) patients discontinued treatment, although three (14%) discontinuations were due to hydrocephalus, a known complication of MPS IIIB. Adverse events related to the ICV device were consistent with other therapies administered by the ICV route. About Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B (MPS IIIB) MPS IIIB is an ultra-rare, serious, and fatal genetic disease characterized by deficiency in N-Acetyl-Alpha-Glycosaminidase (NAGLU), an enzyme required for the catabolism of heparan sulfate (HS) in lysosomes. It is estimated that MPS IIIB affects fewer than 1:200,000 people in the United States (U.S.), but the true incidence and prevalence are difficult to ascertain because MPS IIIB is a disease currently not included in newborn screening. The accumulation of toxic levels of cerebral spinal fluid heparan sulfate in the brain is the underlying pathophysiology of MPS IIIB. Although signs and symptoms of MPS IIIB can vary amongst affected individuals, progressive neurodegeneration typically follows a predictable path to brain atrophy, cognitive and developmental impairment, hyperactivity with aggressive and destructive behavior, delayed speech, hearing loss, and motor skill deficits. Somatic manifestations include coarse facial features, hepatosplenomegaly, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The final stage of MPS IIIB is typically marked by severe dementia, loss of motor function, and seizure activity, with patients largely bed-ridden and requiring constant care, requiring feeding tubes for hydration and nutrition, and ultimately leading to death. The estimated life expectancy of individuals with MPS IIIB ranges from 15 to 19 years of age. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies for MPS IIIB, and management of the disease consists of limited palliative care to improve quality of life. About Tralesinidase Alfa Enzyme Replacement Therapy (TA-ERT) Tralesinidase Alfa Enzyme Replacement Therapy (TA-ERT) is a fusion protein comprised of recombinant human alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (rhNAGLU). TA-ERT is intended as an enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of patients with MPS IIIB (Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B) who lack rhNAGLU enzyme activity. TA-ERT is expected to restore rhNAGLU enzyme activity in the central nervous system following intracerebroventricular injection. rhNAGLU typically lacks the mannose-6-phosphate residues that are essential for efficient cellular uptake via the M6P receptor pathway. As a result, the naked enzyme is poorly absorbed by cells, including neurons. To address this challenge, TA-ERT is fused to an insulin-like growth factor 2 peptide, which binds to the cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate on cell surfaces. This fusion enables the enzyme to be internalized and delivered to the lysosome, thereby enhancing its therapeutic potential for treating MPS IIIB. By restoring NAGLU enzymatic activity and promoting clearance of lysosomal heparan sulfate and heparan sulfate non-reducing end in the brain, TA-ERT therapy is expected to preserve neuronal cell health and potentially halt or slow the neurological decline and improve clinical outcomes in affected patients. TA-ERT has been evaluated in three clinical studies in participants with MPS IIIB: the interventional study 201 and extension studies 202 and 401. Twenty-two individuals with MPS IIIB have been administered TA-ERT therapy. TA-ERT has demonstrated an adequate safety profile based on integrated five years of safety data. About Spruce Biosciences Spruce Biosciences is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for neurological disorders with significant unmet medical need. To learn more, visit and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the ability to seek accelerated approval of TA-ERT for MPS IIIB based on existing clinical data. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as 'anticipate', 'will', 'potential', 'intend', 'expect' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Spruce's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with Spruce's business in general, the impact of geopolitical and macroeconomic events, and the other risks described in Spruce's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. Spruce undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.
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San Francisco officials, including the mayor's office, sheriff's office and Department of Public Health, who are named as defendants in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the pending litigation. 'All pre-trial and post-conviction inmates at San Francisco County Jail are afforded medical care through Jail Medical Services, under the Department of Public Health,' said Jen Kwart, communications director for the San Francisco City Attorney. 'If a lawsuit is served upon the City, it will be thoroughly reviewed and addressed in the normal course of any court proceedings.' Coats was booked into jail around 3:30 a.m. March 19 on outstanding warrants for possession of drug paraphernalia, petty theft and commercial shoplifting, according to the complaint. According to medical records referenced in the complaint, Coats suffered from substance abuse disorder and had his leg amputated due to an infection in November 2024. Coats reported to medical staff that he ingested alcohol and fentanyl daily, including on the day prior to his arrest, the complaint said. Nurses who evaluated Coats in jail determined that he was at high risk for alcohol and opiate withdrawal, but recorded few symptoms of withdrawal in his medical records other than drowsiness, according to the complaint. The complaint alleges that Coats' condition deteriorated inside the jail the following day. Medical records accompanying the lawsuit show that Coats refused medication and assessment when medical staff visited him in the early hours of the morning of March 20. Coats was reported to be alive during a bed check at 5:56 a.m., according to a complaint, but was found laying unconscious in bed with vomit on the floor less than an hour later at 6:49 a.m. A deputy called for medical help and initiated CPR. Within ten minutes, medical staff delivered two doses of Narcan, a drug that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. The complaint said Coats was pronounced dead at 7:27 a.m. An autopsy found that Coats died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, and officials ruled the death an accident, according to his death certificate. But questions surrounding the circumstances of the death remain, including whether Coats ingested the fatal dose of fentanyl before or after he was jailed, according to his family and their attorney. Mark Merin, the attorney representing the Coats family, said the jail has so far provided no records from the incident in response to a public records request. He aims to uncover more information through the course of litigation. 'They had lots of opportunity to intervene in a positive way and instead ignored his significant medical need, which is deliberate indifference,' Merin said of medical staff at the jail. 'That's the main pervasive problem that I see in this case.' Coats was the second person to die of an overdose at San Francisco County Jail in the span of about six months. Aamonte Hadley, 22, was found unresponsive in her cell on Sept. 3, 2024. Hadley was charged with a string of alleged armed robberies and had been in jail for nearly two years at the time of her death. The San Francisco Medical Examiner ruled Hadley's cause of death an accidental overdose from toxic effects of methadone and oxycodone, according to her autopsy report. The sheriff's office Criminal Investigations Unit and the Department of Police Accountability have launched investigations into the deaths of both Hadley and Coats but those investigations remain ongoing, according to the agencies. At a sheriff's department oversight board meeting in June, Dr. Lisa Pratt, director of San Francisco Jail Health Services, said nurses in the jail reverse about three overdoses a month. Pratt, who is named as a defendant in the Coats' lawsuit, said recently arrested inmates who are addicted to opioids are at a heightened risk of overdose. Going through withdrawal, their tolerance is lowered, and using even a small amount of opioids could be fatal, she said. 'Those things go very, very quickly,' Pratt said. 'One minute someone's breathing, and then two minutes later, they're not breathing and they're not recoverable. So that is a real testament to what (the nurses) do.' As the Coats family waits for answers, they have channeled their grief into advocacy. Coats Sr. co-founded a nonprofit called BADD, or Brothers Against Drug Deaths, which raises awareness about the addiction and mental health crises that his son battled for years on the streets of San Francisco. Coats Sr. said his son was rambunctious and full of life as a child. He played football and basketball before setting his sights on a dream of becoming a Gospel rapper. His parents encouraged him to read and write, buying him journals and notebooks that he filled with song lyrics, and he later recorded multiple songs. The younger Coats began battling mental illness as a pre-teen, and after earning a college scholarship in Texas, he soon dropped out of school and returned to California. Recent years were spent cycling between jail, hospitals and homeless shelters, Coats Sr. said, but before parting ways, his son always said, 'I love you.' 'I hold onto that to this day,' Coats Sr. said. 'I would rather have my son back, but I think that what we're doing is needed too. I think we can shed a light on this stuff happening, and prevent it from happening to somebody else's child.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Motorcyclist killed in crash on Hampden Avenue: Police
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