Latest news with #UniversityofPittsburghMedicalCenter
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KAHR Bio Announces Positive Phase 2 Results of DSP107 in Combination with anti-PD-L1 in Colorectal Cancer
- Findings presented in an oral presentation at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting - DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab in 3rd line microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) patients elicits anti-tumor activity and extends survival including in patients with liver metastases MODI'IN, Israel, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- KAHR, a clinical-stage biotech company developing DSP107, a first-in-class bi-specific 4-1BB T-cell engager that activates innate and adaptive immunity to treat solid tumors, today announced positive results from the Phase 2 dose expansion cohort of DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), an anti-PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy, in patients with 3rd line microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC). In addition to its favorable safety profile, the combination has shown anti-tumor activity and extended survival including in patients with liver metastases. The results were presented in an oral presentation by Anwaar Saeed, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Director, Gastrointestinal Disease Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 Annual Meeting, May 30 – June 3, 2025, in Chicago, IL. "Colorectal cancer, the second largest cause of cancer deaths worldwide, is considered a 'cold' tumor that usually does not elicit an efficient immune response," said Dr. Saeed. "This immunotherapy combination showed durable results in MSS-CRC patients. Not only is the median survival of DSP107 with atezolizumab longer than current standard treatments, it is also very well tolerated by patients, without the severe, sometimes life-threatening side effects of chemotherapy in such advanced lines of treatment. Importantly, the majority of patients in the combination cohort had active liver metastases and the activity and survival benefit were also seen in these patients, who are very difficult to treat, suggesting that DSP107 in combination with a PD1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor may become an effective immunotherapy treatment option for this patient population." Yaron Pereg, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of KAHR, said, "We are extremely encouraged by the dose expansion data, showing objective responses and extended survival in response to DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab in patients with 3rd line MSS-CRC. We look forward to initiating a Phase 2b, randomized, controlled study to confirm these promising efficacy signals. In addition, we expect data in 2026 from a Phase 2 dose expansion cohort in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide." Results from the completed dose expansion cohort show that DSP107 monotherapy and combination treatment with atezolizumab were well tolerated with no dose limiting toxicities. The median OS from the efficacy-evaluable patients who received DSP107 monotherapy (n=19) and combination therapy with atezolizumab (n=21) has not been reached, but currently (May 2025 cutoff) stands at 8.1 and 17 months, respectively. Disease control was demonstrated in 21% (monotherapy) and 62% (combination) of evaluable patients including a patient who achieved a complete response (> 2.5 years) and a patient with a deep (86% target lesion reduction) and durable (> 16 months) confirmed partial response and disappearance of pulmonary and hepatic metastases. Immunofluorescence analysis of baseline tumor biopsies demonstrated very high levels of CD47 expression, the DSP107 target, in all samples collected from liver metastases. The MSS-CRC dose expansion phase of the study was an open label, multi-center trial (NCT04440735) that enrolled patients with 3rd line MSS colorectal cancer patients, treated weekly with 10 mg/kg DSP107 infusions and atezolizumab (1200 mg) every three weeks, until disease progression. The primary objective was to determine the safety and tolerability of DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab. The secondary objective was to assess the preliminary efficacy of DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab. Presentation information: Abstract Title: Phase 2 dose expansion study of DSP107, a first-in-class bi-specific 4-1BB T-cell engager, with and without atezolizumab in metastatic MSS colorectal cancer patients. Abstract Number for Publication: 3517 About DSP107 KAHR's lead drug candidate, DSP107, is a first-in-class bi-specific 4-1BB T-cell engager utilizing CD47 overexpression as a tumor anchor. DSP107 binds to CD47 that cancer cells express on their cell surface. Once bound, DSP107 converts the CD47 signal, which cancer uses to camouflage itself from the innate immune system, into a 4-1BB signal, which attracts and activates adaptive immune cells, primarily cancer cytotoxic CD8 T-cells. In this way, DSP107 engages both parts of the immune system in a wholistic anti-cancer response. This is particularly relevant in colorectal cancer, where 70%+ of the metastatic patients have metastases in the liver, and where liver metastases highly express CD47 in response to first- and second-line chemotherapy treatments. Previous attempts to treat colorectal cancer with immunotherapy have failed as there is a lack of immune cells in the tumor. DSP107 is unique in that it takes advantage of CD47 expression to drive immune cells into the tumor. DSP107 is also being tested in Phase 2 expansion cohort in 2L/3L PD1-experienced NSCLC. About microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) Microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) is a subtype of colorectal cancer that lacks deficiencies in the DNA mismatch repair system, resulting in stable microsatellite regions within the genome. Unlike microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, MSS-CRC exhibits lower tumor mutational burden and is less responsive to immunotherapy. MSS tumors represent the majority of colorectal cancer cases and are typically more challenging to treat. Standard treatment for metastatic MSS-CRC often involves a combination of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and in select cases, surgical intervention. About KAHR KAHR develops novel, dual-targeting fusion protein therapeutics engineered to activate both the innate and adaptive immune systems simultaneously and localize that response in the tumor microenvironment. The Company is developing multifunctional fusion proteins that boost the immune systems' response to cancer. KAHR Bio was founded based on technology developed at the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University. For more information, please visit Media contact:Tsipi HaitovskyGlobal Media LiaisonKAHR +972-52-598-9892Tsipihai5@ View original content: SOURCE KAHR Medical Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Documentary drives home seriousness of heart attacks among South Asians
During a hike at Nainital in Uttarakhand, US-based physician Dr Renu Joshi had chest pain and for a minute was scared she would not make it. Though she recovered, this incident – combined with the alarming number of friends and acquaintances in the South Asian community developing early and severe heart disease, some even passing away — prompted her and her husband, Dr Nirmal Joshi, to take action. The two medical school sweethearts and senior physicians from Pennsylvania with over 70 years of medical practice set out to uncover what was behind this increasing loss of life. In the process, they met more than 40 heart specialists ,well-known actors and directors to now release a documentary drama called The Brown Heart. Released in May this year, the film unites voices from across fields to spark awareness and change and confronts this crisis head-on through real-life stories and expert insights. Heart attacks are a significant health concern, particularly in South Asia where the risk of cardiovascular disease is high and tends to occur earlier in life. According to the World Health Organisation, this premature onset of heart disease is attributed to a combination of genetic factors, lifestyle choices and environmental factors. Dr Nirmal Joshi recalled how Renu and he would discuss the issue and decided to undertake this journey two years ago. 'We travelled to India, USA and UK to gather human stories of survival and loss related to the menace of heart disease in South Asians (from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka and Nepal). We were able to weave over 100 hours of these interviews into a two-hour documentary film,' Dr Joshi said, adding that a longer version with four 45-minute episodes in the form of a web-series has also been taken up. Dr Joshi, who had earlier written and directed The Hippocratic Oath, a 45-minute digital film that was used for educating doctors in training across the United States, also directed the professional short film Goodnight Giggles that was selected in the Satyajit Ray short film competition at the London Indian Film Festival in November 2023. Dr Renu Joshi, who was also Vice-President of Population Health and Diabetes at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, participated actively in the unique venture. The duo soon connected with Yogendra Singh as the film's associate director. This ambitious project received donations from private donors in Central Pennsylvania but the majority of funding was provided by two couples Hersha and Hasu P Shah and Madhavi and Ramesh Bathini. While in India, the senior doctors travelled to Pune and spent an entire day at the Diabetes Research Unit at KEM Hospital Pune. Dr C S Yajnik, director of the unit who is well-known for his research on the `thin-fat' Indian phenotype said that it was a great effort taken and the film was a one-stop compendium of factors associated with heart attack in young Indians.. Dr Yajnik also encouraged the Joshi's to create 15-minute documentaries with simple, easy-to-understand messages aimed at students in schools and colleges.'This will reinforce the importance of guiding youngsters to take concrete steps to improve their lifestyle, get necessary tests done to assess their risk of future health problems. This is the need of the hour,' he added. The Brown Heart premiered recently on JioHotstar and according to Dr Joshi, they embarked upon this unique venture hoping to bring about a change. 'Even if we can inspire a small percentage of viewers to change after watching the film, our hard work would have been worth it,' Dr Joshi said. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Time Magazine
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time Magazine
Shiv Rao
Much of what inspires people to go to medical school or nursing school is the opportunity—the "privilege," as Dr. Shiv Rao sees it—to serve patients while building strong relationships with them. But the reality of the job often means being consumed with paperwork for hours after the last appointment of the day. That's why Rao, a practicing cardiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with an interest in machine learning, founded Abridge, which uses AI to turn doctors' conversations with patients into billable clinical notes that are integrated directly into health records. The tool works by recording a patient's visit (with their consent), automatically transcribing it, and creating a useful summary. 'Abridge unburdens clinicians from the clerical work that crushes their souls, so they can focus on the person in front of them,' says CEO Rao. Abridge is now used at more than 100 health systems across the U.S., including Kaiser Permanente, Duke Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and UChicago Medicine. Rao expects that growth to continue: In February, the company raised $250 million, which it will funnel into research and development. It also started rolling out a product built for nurses at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The same month, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association concluded that 67% of clinicians using Abridge believed their risk of burnout due to paperwork had decreased, and 77% felt the tool improved patient care. Rao recalls a rural primary care physician who wrote to the company about her experience with the tool. When she sat down to dinner with her family, her young son asked her: 'Mommy, why aren't you working right now?' The woman explained that she was using Abridge, a tool that allowed her to come home early enough for dinner—and that now, she could do so every night. 'Clinicians across the country can get their life back,' Rao says. 'But they can also hopefully deliver more empathetic care because they're more present and building better relationships.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Is Running Really THAT Bad On Your Knees? The Answer May Surprise You.
You're probably familiar with the idea that running is bad for your knees. It's a pervasive thought that keeps many folks from going out for a jog. Some people say running is hard on your joints while others say the impact can cause arthritis. Is this true? Or is running just a fitness regimen with a bad rap? Thanks to recent research, doctors now have a more full view of running's impact on the knees (and other joints). Below, doctors shared with HuffPost their thoughts on whether running is safe for your knees. 'Anybody that already has arthritis or any other type of medical condition or orthopedic problem should probably consult with their doctor to ensure that running is safe for them,' said Dr. Jeffrey Fleming, a sports medicine physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the medical director of the Pittsburgh Marathon. There are lots of restrictions and symptoms associated with arthritis and injuries, and they vary greatly from person to person. 'We want to make sure that we're treating each individual person appropriately,' Fleming said. If you notice sharp pain or even a dull pain in the joints after each run, you should see a doctor before you continue your running regimen, added Dr. A.J. Monseau, an emergency medicine and sports medicine physician at West Virginia University. This way, a doctor can figure out what is going on before a larger issue happens. 'I think there's good evidence at this point that running can actually improve cartilage health to some extent, as long as we are not injuring ourselves,' Monseau said. Healthy cartilage allows your joints and bones to function properly and in a painless manner by lubricating the joints and absorbing the shock that happens when you move around. This way, your bones don't directly feel the impact. Running can also 'help strengthen the muscles and the bones around the knees,' according to Dr. Sean Thompson, an orthopedic surgeon and owner of East Coast Bone and Joint Surgeons. '[Running] can help prevent osteoporosis by increasing bone density,' Thompson shows that exercise like running can help build strong bones. Folks with osteoporosis have weak or brittle bones because of a loss of bone density. It's particularly common in women who are postmenopausal. The loss of estrogen that happens in menopause can also cause a loss of bone density. As Thompson mentioned, exercise, particularly before menopause (but during menopause is valuable, too), can help build up bone density and give folks higher levels of bone density when the estrogen loss does begin. A common misconception is that running can lead to knee arthritis, but experts say that isn't accurate. 'If you look at the most recent research that we have on this subject, the short answer to that question is we don't think that running causes arthritis in your knees,' Fleming said. Some evidence even shows that recreational runners are sometimes less likely to develop arthritis when compared to non-runners, Fleming said, but added that it's unclear if it's the running that leads to a less arthritis incidence or the healthier lifestyle that's often followed by runners,such as a healthier diet and a dedicated workout regimen. 'Strengthening the muscles around the knee, like the quads or the gluteal ... muscles, and especially the core muscles, can help to prevent injury from running, especially when you're first starting,' Thompson said. This aligns with the activity recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine, which recommend strength and resistance training in addition to cardiovascular exercise, said Monseau. If you haven't exercised for some time or are nervous about potential joint pain, there are a few things you can do to decrease the risk of pain. First, you should consider doing a warm-up. 'That is a completely personal thing. If your body and your knees and your hips and everything feel good after a rather gentle warm-up for even a few minutes, that's probably sufficient for you, but some people find that they need longer time of warming up before they really get after it,' said Monseau. You should also start training gradually, said Fleming. Meaning, if you are a new runner who's training for a half-marathon, you shouldn't go out and try to run 5 miles without building up. 'We often see people develop injuries whenever they start preparing for a marathon, and often it's because they're doing too much too soon,' Fleming said. 'The other big thing that can help prevent injury or help prevent arthritis is just making sure that you're using an appropriate running form and you have the appropriate equipment — you have a decent pair of running shoes,' said Fleming. 'These are all pretty simple things, but if you overlook them, and you run in a way that doesn't support these things, you can definitely develop some pain and have a greater risk for injury and arthritis down the line.' You can talk to anyone from a sports medicine physician to personal trainer to physical therapist about proper running form and proper running gear. Many towns even have dedicated running stores you can visit for shoe fittings and advice. Running on softer surfaces such as a track or on the grass can be a good option, said Thompson. Research shows that there's less impact on your joints when running on these kinds of surfaces. 'If there are limitations that don't allow the individual to run, even walking at a brisk pace or incline walking can show similar benefits to running,' Thompson said. 'The general rule of thumb that I often tell people is movement is so important for overall health, and I'm not very picky in terms of what type of movement you go out and get, whether that's running or cycling or weightlifting, just as long as you're doing something,' said Fleming. 'So, if running is something you want to do, I fully encourage you to give it a try, as long as it'll help you move more,' he added. Beyond the benefit to your joint health, running is also good for your mental health and your cardiovascular health. Plus, regular physical activity (like running) can lower your risk of dementia and certain cancers. So, the benefits of running on your health potentially outweigh any of the joint or arthritis risks you hear about, Fleming said. Running Experts Reveal The Foods They Avoid For A Poop-Free Run 'Rucking' Is The Latest Walking Trend You Need To Try. Here's Why. Study Reveals How Much Exercise Older Adults Need Each Week To Live Longer
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Melonie R. Jackson named Chief People Officer at Baystate Health
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Baystate Health has announced the appointment of Melonie R. Jackson as its new Chief People Officer (CPO). Jackson will be responsible for shaping the organization's human resources strategy with a focus on attracting, developing, and retaining top healthcare talent. In her new role, Jackson will oversee leadership development, talent acquisition, employee engagement, workforce wellness, and labor relations. She will also play a central role in promoting a culture of inclusion and continuous improvement throughout Baystate Health, one of the largest employers and healthcare providers in western Massachusetts. Springfield opens new downtown parking garage with over 800 spaces 'Melonie's dynamic leadership and commitment to innovation in human resources will be invaluable as we work to build a clinically driven, physician-led health system,' said Dean Sanpei, Baystate Health's Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. 'Her experience in leading HR within large, integrated health systems and health plans will further strengthen our ability to serve our caregivers and help drive future growth.' Jackson joins Baystate Health with more than two decades of experience in human resources across healthcare, finance, and technology sectors. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Human Resources at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), where she oversaw HR strategy for nine hospitals across Pennsylvania and New York. There, she led several initiatives that transformed workforce operations, improved employee engagement, and strengthened organizational culture. Her previous leadership experience includes roles at Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health System), Capital One, Methodist Health System, and Regions Bank. Jackson's background in workforce analytics and strategic planning is expected to bolster Baystate Health's ongoing efforts to be a premier destination for healthcare professionals. Jackson earned her Bachelor of Arts from Southeast Missouri State University and an MBA from Texas Woman's University. She also holds a certificate in Executive Compensation from the Wharton Executive Education program at the University of Pennsylvania. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
