Latest news with #ChrisVanDeusen
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Health
- Reuters
Texas health department reports no additional measles cases in the state since June 3
June 6 (Reuters) - The Texas health department reported no new cases of measles on Friday, the first time the state has not recorded an increase since the outbreak began in February. The state, which is the epicenter of the current measles outbreak, has a total of 742 confirmed cases as of Friday. The number of new cases continues to decrease, from an average of about 12 per day around the peak to fewer than one case per day recently, Chris Van Deusen, director of media relations at the Texas health department, told Reuters in an email. "The fact that (we) haven't had any new hospitalizations reported in more than two weeks gives us confidence there are not major numbers of unreported cases still occurring out there," said Van Deusen. The United States is battling one of the worst outbreaks of the highly contagious airborne infection it has seen, with over 1,000 reported cases and three confirmed deaths. Despite the slowing spread of the infection in Texas, the country continues to record weekly increases in measles cases elsewhere. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a total of 1,168 confirmed measles cases were reported by 34 jurisdictions as of Thursday, an increase of 80 cases since its previous update last week. The only time infections surpassed the 1,000 mark was in 2019, when the country reported 1,274 cases. There have been 17 outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases, reported in 2025, the CDC said. Experts have urged public health officials to provide urgent endorsement for highly effective vaccines. The measles vaccine is 97% effective after two doses, according to the CDC.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Artax Biopharma to present Phase 2a data on Nck modulator AX-158, establishing novel mechanism of action in autoimmune disease at the 2025 SID Annual Meeting
Late breaker abstract presentation to showcase clinical validation of first-in-class oral small molecule AX-158 in cohort of patients with psoriasis Full dataset to expand on previously announced topline results, reinforcing the potential of Nck modulation as a differentiated and transformative approach in autoimmune diseases CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artax Biopharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming the treatment of autoimmune diseases, today announced that an abstract on the safety, efficacy and biomarker results of its Phase 2a study evaluating Nck modulator AX-158 in patients with psoriasis was accepted as a late breaking oral presentation at the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) Annual Meeting taking place May 7 – 10, 2025, in San Diego, California. Dr. Chris VanDeusen, Chief Scientific Officer, will present 'AX-158 Proof-of-Mechanism Safety Study: Evaluating a Novel T cell Receptor (TCR) Signal Modulator in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Plaque Psoriasis (NCT05725057),' final abstract ID number LB1150, on May 9, 2025, in the Concurrent Mini-symposium 11: Late-Breaking Abstracts session taking place from 8:30 to 11:15 am PT in the Aqua D/E/F room of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. Members of the Artax Biopharma management team will be present at the meeting. Please reach out via contact@artaxbiopharma to set up a meeting or request a copy of the presentation. About Artax Biopharma Artax Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company transforming the treatment of T Cell-driven autoimmune diseases. Artax's first-in-class oral small molecules aim to deliver immune system modulation without immunosuppression, potentially unlocking new treatment options as both monotherapy and in combination with other treatments. Artax Biopharma is based in the Boston area and raised funding from investors including Advent Life Sciences, Sound Bioventures, The Termeer Family Office, the Fuhrer Family Office and Columbus Venture Partners. For more info, see or follow us on LinkedIn. About Nck modulation We believe there is significant potential for Nck modulation to revolutionize treatment of T Cell-driven diseases. Immunomodulation maintains healthy control of the immune system, while addressing the underlying source of T Cell-driven diseases. Central to a well-functioning immune system is the T Cell Receptor (TCR). When TCR signaling becomes dysregulated, it causes T Cell-driven conditions, including autoimmune diseases. We believe the immunomodulation mechanism offered by our investigational agents holds broad potential to revolutionize how these T Cell-driven autoimmune diseases are addressed, while not impairing the ability of a patient's immune system to function properly. AX-158, our lead Nck modulator, has shown strong, broad cytokine modulation as well as modulation of mixed lymphocyte reactions. Good data on therapeutic efficacy with AX-158 were observed in murine models of self-antigen activation (EAE), with a prolonged pharmacodynamic effect in EAE, suggesting durable immune modulation. AX-158 showed no immunosuppression in models of strong antigen stimulation. Studies with AX-158 showed substantial preclinical evidence of activity in the Th2, Th17, Th1/Th0 pathways, suggesting that applications could be quite broad across the autoimmune space. For future clinical study inquiries: contact@ Contacts: Maria Nichol, DPhil, EPA, CPA Chief Business Officer mnichol@ Media: Madelin HawtinLifeSci Communicationsmhawtin@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Funding to fight measles outbreak in Texas hit by DOGE cuts
This week, the Texas Department of State Health Services made the Department of Government Efficiency's list of targets. DOGE plans to cut $877 million of a $1.5 billion federal grant and $97 million of a $473 million grant both from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These grants included funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help the state, city and county health departments fight infectious diseases, including measles, which has infected more 335 people in the state since January. Texas was one of multiple state health departments that received notice of the funding cuts, totaling $12 billion, on Monday. Texas had the largest cuts among the states, according to DOGE's "Wall of Receipts" online "efficiency" list. "We're evaluating the potential effects of the funding changes," said Chris Van Deusen, director of media relations for the Texas Department of State Health Services. He did not answer questions about how the state would manage its programs without this funding or whether his department would be asking for more funding from the state Legislature, which is now in session. In a statement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the funding being cut was linked to COVID-19 funds, and "the COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago." The cuts are coming as Texas is experiencing a measles outbreak with 335 positive cases this year, most in Gaines County in West Texas, but one in Travis County from an infant who got the highly contagious disease while traveling out of the country. The baby was not being old enough for the first measles, mumps and rubella vaccination, which is typically given at 1 years old. In Lubbock, where doctors are treating the patients who have needed to be hospitalized with measles, the city public health department was told to stop work it was doing to try to control the outbreak because the funding is no longer available, according to a statement from the department. Before these latest cuts, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, and two other representatives from Texas sent a letter to the CDC's acting director about funding cuts, what the CDC would be able to do to help the state with the measles outbreak and whether the CDC had the ability to give the public accurate information after the Trump administration has sought to limit information the agency can share with the public. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Funding to fight Texas measles outbreak hit by DOGE cuts
