Israel Active

In January I mentioned Apocell from Israeli biotech Enlivex, which prevents GVHD rejection of bone marrow transplants. Now, the treatment has received US FDA “orphan” status due to its importance and lack of alternatives for treating the unwanted autoimmune response.

Hebrew University researchers have discovered the mechanisms that the body uses to shut down the immune system. The process can be beneficial in preventing chronic inflammation, but very dangerous in patients with cancer and HIV. This knowledge can help develop better therapeutic strategies.

For the 3rd year running, an Israeli has won the L’Oréal-UNESCO “Women in Science” prize. Osnat Zomer-Penn received the European award for determining the genetic basis of autism. Israelis Hadar Gelber-Sagiv won in 2012, and Na’ama Geva Zatursky in 2011.

There were two positive results from the latest trials by Israel’s largest biotech. Patients who started Teva’s Laquinimod MS treatment early halted progression of the disease. Then Teva’s Azilect add-on treatment for Parkinson’s disease improved patients’ condition significantly.

(Thanks to NoCamels) Diabetics can now measure their blood-glucose level with the Israeli-developed “Dario” attachment to their smartphone. A lancing device takes your blood and a test strip measures the glucose. The smartphone displays the result and records it, for sharing with the doctor.

To mark “Save Your Vision Month”, Weizmann Institute’s vision research projects include sensory whiskers, glaucoma medication, photon analysis and brain imaging.

Israel’s Biocancell Therapeutics Ltd has reported success in the Phase IIb clinical trial of BC-819 for the treatment of bladder cancer in patients for whom chemotherapy or standard treatment using Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) failed.

A team led by Hebrew University neurobiologist Prof. Israel Nelken has discovered much about the brain’s response to sounds by studying the auditory cortices of rats. The research, published in the journal “Neuron”, could lead to the development of better hearing aids in humans.

Israel’s first international Meeting of Translational Research on Stem Cells, Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine will take place on April 22 & 23 in Ramat Gan. Israeli biotechs and academic groups lead the development of cell therapy products for cancer and chronic diseases.

Prof. Jonathan Rabinowitz, of Bar-Ilan University is the academic head of the NewMeds group on advanced data analysis techniques. He is working in a EU-funded consortium to find new methods for developing treatments for depression and schizophrenia.