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eator the first timeone patient in the United States presented with a severe case bird flu. A man in Louisiana is currently located patient with the disease, which he caught from sick and dead birds from a flock he kept on his property. The virus with which he was infected is similar in H5N1 strains found infestation of poultry in the United States, as well as a serious case in another person in British Columbia a few weeks ago. This strain has differences from the strain currently in circulation dairy cattle.
Meanwhile, California has declared a state of emergency for the spread of H5N1, which has currently been found on 640 dairies in the state. “This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure that government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak.” Governor Newsom he said in a statement.
On the bright side, there are still no documented cases of bird flu spreading person to person. In addition, the federal government has H5N1 doses vaccines stock, and Modern entered into a contract with HHS the latest to develop a bird flu vaccine, which is currently in clinical trials.
PS Quick housekeeping note: this will be the last edition of InnovationRx of 2024. We’ll be back on January 8th with a new co-author and a new format. happy holidays!
This next-generation IVF startup has made it easy to have a baby for the first time
Gameto
Many founders joke that their companies are like their “baby”. But for Dina Radenkovic, it took on a whole new meaning on December 7, when the first baby conceived using her company’s IVF product, Fertilo, was born in Peru.
“Something that went from a very primitive deck in my first rented apartment in New York, to a real baby, is definitely a huge emotional journey,” Radenkovic says of the milestone.
Since 1978, millions of babies have been born using in vitro fertilization (IVF). Last year in the United States, over 2% of all births used the procedure. It works, but it’s also time-consuming, expensive, and unpleasant. Furthermore, successful egg retrievals only work in the first cycle about half the time for patients under 35 (with success rates dropping to less than 10% for those over 40), meaning many patients must undergo multiple physically demanding—and costly—efforts to complete a successful egg retrieval.
These challenges are what inspired Radenkowicz to found Gameto with Martin Varsavsky in 2021. Both had a background in fertility health. Radenkovic, a doctor by profession, had worked in clinical and research roles at places such as the National Health Service’s Barts Health and St Thomas’. Varsavsky was a founder of many years—including Prelude Fertility, North America’s largest chain of fertility clinics.
Read the full story here.
Pipeline & Deal Updates
Excretions of worms: Biotech startup Holoclara, which develops treatments for diseases derived from worm secretions, has announced that it is entering phase 1 clinical trials with its first drug, a potential treatment for the inflammatory disorder eosinophilic esophagitis.
Portliness: AI drug developer Verge Genomics was announced plans to bring a new obesity management pill to clinical trials later this year. The drug aims to help patients who have lost weight with GLP-1 keep the excess weight off.
Gerontology: BioAge Labs has entered in a research collaboration with Novartis aimed at discovering potential targets for age-related diseases. Novartis will pay BioAge Labs $20 million upfront, and the deal calls for up to $530 million in potential milestone payments plus tiered royalties.
Graft vs Host: The FDA has approved remestemcel-L-rknd, marketed by Mesoblast as Ryoncil, for the treatment of pediatric patients with graft-versus-host disease unresponsive to steroids.
Non-Opioid Pain Relief: SiteOne Therapeutics, which is developing non-opioid pain relievers, announced that it has raised a $100 million Series C led by Novo Holdings.
Skin cancer: The FDA has approved cosibelimab-ipdl, marketed by Checkpoint Therapeutics as Unloxcyt, for aggressive skin cancers that cannot be treated with radiation or surgery.
Brain-computer implants: Precision Neuroscience, which is developing an AI-powered brain implant that allows paralyzed patients to operate smartphones, computers and other devices; a $102 million Series C funding round.
The third pig kidney transplant is successful
AFP via Getty Images
A woman from Alabama is in “excellent” health after becoming the third living person to receive a pig kidney transplant, NYU Langone Health announced Tuesday, as doctors say the increasingly studied procedure could help thousands of people waiting for organ donors. The patient was discharged 11 days after transplantation and is evaluated daily in the hospital. So far her renal levels — a measurement of kidney function — appear to be “absolutely normal,” according to the lead surgeon.
The kidney, which was genetically modified to make the organ more receptive to the human body and reduce the chance of rejection, was provided by Virginia-based Revivicor, a subsidiary of United Therapeutics. It is one of two companies that have provided pig kidneys for human transplantation, the other being Boston-based eGenesis.
Read the full story.
Other health news
FDA Considers Banning Artificial Food Coloring Red No. 3which has been linked to thyroid cancer in animals and behavioral health problems in children.
Luigi Maggionethe suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been charged with first-degree murder and second-degree murder as an act of terrorism.
Infections from dengue viruses have increased dramatically in the past two years, but public health officials are concerned about the limited options available to treat patients.
Legislation in Congress to regulate pharmacy benefit managers; may be good news for pharmacies owned by Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid and thousands of independent pharmacies.
All over Forbes
What else are we reading?
Polio report could preview more challenges (Axios)
Real or Reflex Contrarian: Which Marty Makary Would Run the FDA? (Statistics)
