This is the pharmaceutical giant's first collaboration with an Israeli technology commercialization center and is based on a scientific breakthrough by Prof. Natan Kerin and his team from the Rapaport Institute, in the Faculty of Medicine of the Technion, Haifa
BioRap Technologies, the Rappaport Institute's technology commercialization company, signed a cooperation agreement with the global pharmaceutical giant Glaxo-Smith-Kline (GSK), for the development and commercialization of a drug for a new treatment to prevent bone marrow transplant rejection (GVHD), and in autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's and multiple sclerosis.
The collaboration is based on a scientific breakthrough by Prof. Natan Kerin and his team: Dr. Yeftah Barshat and Dr. Gizi Wildbaum, from the Rappaport Institute for Biomedical Research at the Technion. The scientists of the institute, with the support of the "Kamin" program of the Ministry of Health, identified a new mechanism that increases the activity of the regulatory T-cells in the body, those cells that play an extremely important role in regulating the harmful activity of the autoimmune cells that contribute to the development of a series of autoimmune diseases and GVHD.
GVHD is common in patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants. Among the other autoimmune diseases that can be treated with the new development, one can also find Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis) and Multiple Sclerosis. The autoimmune diseases (autoimmune diseases) are characterized by the fact that the body's immune system cells - antibodies and T-type lymphocytes - attack the body's own cells and tissues instead of attacking external invaders. Autoimmune diseases are estimated to affect more than 5% of the population. In the last 20 years, many efforts have been made to develop biological drugs and small molecules that can neutralize the harmful activity of the autoimmune cells.
The cooperation of GSK, one of the largest companies in the world in the field of pharmaceuticals, health and medical products, with Biorap, is part of the cooperation plan that the company has with academia, designed to connect GSK's capabilities with various groups in academia engaged in the search for new drugs. As part of the agreement, GSK will combine the extensive experience it has in the field, in cooperation with Prof. Kerin's team at the Rapaport Institute, for the benefit of the development of the new drugs. The transaction was accompanied by the office of Pearl Cohen and attorney Yael Bartz.
Dr. Orit Shaked, CEO of Biorap: "As an academic research institute, we are proud of the opportunity we have, for the first time, to collaborate with GSK, one of the leaders in its field in the world, for the benefit of the joint development of a new drug treatment. We believe that the results of the collaboration have the potential to significantly improve the treatment of life-threatening autoimmune diseases and relieve many patients suffering from them."
According to Dr. Pearl Huang, Vice President at GSK, the collaboration will combine the impressive biological knowledge of Prof. Kerin and his team from the Rapaport Institute, with GSK's experience in drug discovery. "We hope that this partnership, which joins forces from both sides, will help translate the innovative research into new medicines that will make life easier for many patients around the world."
Dr. Iris Geffen Glor, director of the biomed field, at the UK Israel Tech Hub, of the British Embassy: "GSK's collaboration program with academia (DPAC), is looking for the most promising researchers and organizations worldwide, to join them in research and discovery of new drugs. We are proud to have been able to take part in the current connection and happy that GSK recognized the great potential of the life sciences arena in Israel and that it chose as its first Israeli partner the team of the Rapaport Institute, as part of a limited number of collaborations of this type that it currently has in the world."
Yes Faith reports on the development plans for 2014
Yes-Fate reports on its development plan and milestones for 2014. Following the company's achievements and meeting its 2013 goals, Yes-Fate plans in 2014 to continue and advance in the development of its pharmaceutical portfolio. The milestones detailed below give expression to the company's goals for 2014, and emphasize important clinical results that are expected to be published during the period and which may promote the business and competitive positioning of Yes-Fate.
Prof. Panina Fishman, CEO of Yes-Fayt, said today, "We are happy to inform the shareholders of the important milestones expected for the company in 2014. These are a direct continuation of the company's achievements in 2013 and meeting its goals. Our work plans are currently in an advanced state and we are committed to continuing the development of innovative, effective and safe drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in addition to liver cancer and glaucoma. We are working so that the collaborations we have and the ongoing clinical studies will bear fruit for the company during this year."
Biondwax will present its clinical findings and the company's strategy for assessing influenza pandemics before they break out at a major conference of the World Health Organization
Biondwax will present at a conference of the World Health Organization
Biondvax Pharmaceuticals, which develops a universal flu vaccine, has announced that it will present at the prestigious and important conference of the World Health Organization (WHO), which will be held in May in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference is an initiative of the health organization in the field of vaccine research (Initiative for Vaccine Research - IVR), and will discuss developments in the field of influenza vaccines, with the aim of working to achieve extensive and effective long-term protection of the population. Dr. Tamar Ben Yedidiya, Biondvax's chief scientist, will present the results of the various experiments carried out by Biondvax and the company's strategy for assessing flu epidemics before they break out based on the universal flu vaccine developed by the company as part of a session that will deal with new approaches to the production of flu vaccines. The conference will be attended by senior officials in the global vaccine industry, opinion leaders, and global research and regulatory bodies.
Endimed received the approval of the Ministry of Health for a medical device
Endimed announced that its subsidiary "Endimed Medical Ltd" received the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Health for registration in the register of medical accessories and devices (AMR), for the marketing of the home product, NEWA, which it developed for the reduction of wrinkles and the firming of the skin in the facial area. AMR approval can help promote regulatory registration procedures in countries where approval is required from the country of origin where the product is manufactured.
Protlix reports positive results in the trial
Protlix Company has published the results of the first phase clinical trial in GCD with oral administration (112-PRX) for the treatment of Gaucher's disease, which will be presented by Prof. Ari Zimmern, as part of the 10th annual conference on lysosomal diseases, WORLD 2014, which will be held on 10-13 in February in San Diego, California.
GCD oral (oral) is a glucocerebrosidase (GCD) enzyme expressed in plant cells in a formulation unique to Protelix and can be administered orally, and contains the same active enzyme present in tliglucerase (Allaiso) - Protelix's approved enzyme treatment.
"The data from the clinical trial show that oral GCD has the ability to dramatically change the way Gaucher patients are treated - not only by improving their quality of life by reducing the need for intravenous infusions every two weeks, but also by having a potential clinical advantage in light of the treatment's ability to maintain Constant and uniform enzyme levels in the blood stream of the patients over time," said Prof. Ari Zimmeran, director of the Gosha Clinic at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem and one of the main researchers in this experiment.
