30% of adults over 75 suffer retinal degeneration with 6-8% going blind. Researchers at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital transplanted retinal pigment cells from embryonic stem cells into five such sufferers and the new cells were absorbed into the retina, preventing loss … Continue reading →

Scientists at Ben Gurion University have slowed the progress of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s). They used part of the FDA-approved cancer / autoimmune disease treatment MabThera (Rituximab) to combat glial cells, which kill the body’s motor neuron cells.  It may also … Continue reading →

Israel’s Teva has reported positive results from Phase III trials of its chronic migraine treatment fremanezumab.  Patients experienced statistically significant reduction in the number of moderate severity headache days vs the placebo. FDA approval is expected by end 2017. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-teva-reports-positive-phase-iii-migraine-drug-trial-results-1001190672

Israeli biotech NewStem, founded by Hebrew University of Jerusalem Professor Nissim Benvenisty, has developed a test that verifies if a tumor will be susceptible to chemotherapy.  It prevents a patient having to endure needless treatment with its associated severe adverse … Continue reading →

33% of US cancer patients get poor advice. Eliran Malki, founder & CEO of Israeli startup Belong, describes his new app for cancer patients to chat with physicians, receive good advice and make treatment choices as they battle the disease. … Continue reading →

Israeli scientists from the Rehovot-based company Nucleix succeeded in developing a first of its kind blood test to diagnose lung cancer long before it spreads in the body, thus increasing the chance of survival. The test examines anomalies of the … Continue reading →

Scientists from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a model for preventing the reintroduction of the Poliomyelitis virus into a previously polio-free country. They use environmental surveillance to detect the virus – rather than the alternative of waiting for … Continue reading →

In the latest annual report from the World Health Organization (WHO), Israeli males born today can expect on average to live 80.6 years, whereas Israeli women should live 84.3 years. Israel’s Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) ranking was 5th. http://israelbetweenthelines.com/2017/06/01/life-expectancy-in-israel-on-the-rise/