MEMS Implant for Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment: A Future Therapy

 By: Rita Metrani, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common and specific microvascular complication of diabetes and one of the leading global causes of preventable blindness. The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) found 3.6% of type 1 diabetes patients and 1.6% of type 2 diabetes patients were legally blind. Diabetic retinopathy is rare among children at age 10 and younger. About 10% of teens with diabetes at ages 15 to 19 have diabetic retinopathy. The proportion rises from 10% to 40% between ages 20 and 29. By age 30, about 60% of people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy, and by age 45 the figure rises to 70%.

Tricagrelor; New landmark in the evolution of Antiplatelet Therapy

By: Dr. Smitha Hegadi, Medical Analyst, Aissel Solutions

The understanding of platelet biology has yielded several targets which gave new dimensions to management of coronary syndromes. Over the years this understanding resulted in the metamorphosis of treatment of acute coronary syndromes with aspirin and Clopidogrel. But the limitations of this new therapy kept the research live and today we have Tricagrelor, new landmark in the evolution of antiplatelet therapy. Tricagrelor has qualities like faster onset of action, resistant to drug interactions which make it beneficial over the existing standard therapy.

Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts: New therapy for Coronary Revascularization

By: Smita Kadam, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions
 

Despite over 50 years of research in the field of Synthetic Materials, native Vein and Artery segments are most commonly used for Revascularization procedures in Cardiac Surgery. Unfortunately suitable Veins or Arteries are not always available for peripheral or Coronary Revascularization, on the other hand artificial grafts do not grow with the body and frequent replacement is must. More over artificial grafts are susceptible to infection, poor durability and calcification when being attacked by the immune system. But the development of functional Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts (TEVG) using tissue engineering techniques and engineering principles has the potential of tremendously effecting Coronary and Peripheral Artery Bypass Surgeries.

Tumor Specific T cells with improved efficacy; Experts thank new age genetic engineering tools

By: Nityanand C, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions

Cancer Immunotherapy is one of the recent successful approaches in the treatment of cancer. This concept has evolved on the principle that a competent immune system can prevent the spread and growth of tumors very effectively than any other therapeutics. The earlier days of this concept’s inception didn’t see any promising practical results but over the years there has been a tremendous improvement in the approach and results as well. Many of the therapeutics evolved through this concept are already in clinical use today.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI); new breakthrough technology for Heart Valve replacement

By: Nityanand C, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions

Aortic Valve replacement in Aortic Stenosis subjects is usually carried out by highly invasive cardiac surgery; commonly known as open heart surgery. Because of operational complications and post-operative risks most of the subjects with severe Stenosis are not referred to this surgery. But a new minimally invasive technology TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) which utilizes less than 10mm catheters to replace the deteriorated valve would set a new bench mark in Cardiac Surgery, if it meets all the safety parameters. CoreValve Revalving System and Edwards SAPIEN XT Transcatheter Heart Valve are fabricated on this principle and are under clinical trials.

SiRNA; a short nuleotide chain with a great potential to combat cancer

By: Rita Metrani, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions

RNA interference (RNAi), an accurate and potent gene-silencing method, was first experimentally documented in 1998 in Caenorhabditis elegans by Fire et al., who subsequently were awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize in Medicine. The discovery of 21-23 nucleotide RNA duplexes, called small interference RNA (siRNA) may be one of the transforming events in biology in the past decade. RNAi can result in gene silencing or even in removing of sequences from the genome. Efforts to understand its mode of action have revealed a central role in gene regulation and host defense. The specificity, efficiency and potency of RNAi make it an attractive tool for analyzing the function of genes. This focuses on the potential therapeutic use of RNAi for various diseases, the current understanding of RNAi biology and how RNAi has been utilized to study the role of different genes in the pathogenesis of cancer, HIV, infectious diseases, Hepatitis B virus (HBV), cardiovascular and cerebral diseases, neurogenerative diseases, malaria, etc..

New Drugs to Diabetes Prevention kit, but a healthy lifestyle is must!!

By: Dr. Smitha Hegadi, Medical Analyst, Aissel Solutions

Diabetes is one of the major global healthcare burdens which affects all age group population. There has been rigorous research going on since decades towards finding a most significant medication to combat this burden. The additions to the existing chain of medications sound never ending but to prevent the addition of more number of people to Diabetes Subjects’ registry, there is an evident need of educating people about Diabetes and the importance of healthy lifestyle. 

“Lucanix” rising hope for advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

By: Smita Kadam, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions

Tumor cells' ability to produce significant immune suppressive substances to hide themselves from the body’s immune system has made most of the medications inefficient in destroying them. Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF –β) is very common among those immune suppressive substances. NovaRX Corporation has genetically engineered one of its vaccines Lucanix to expose the tumor cells to body’s immune system by inhibiting the production of TGF-β. This experimental therapeutic vaccine’s success speaks the potential of addressing cancer through immune activation against one of the major healthcare burdens like Cancer.

Alemtuzumab promises to be an effective Anti-MS drug

By: Nityanand C, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions

Alemtuzumab is a licensed monoclonal antibody for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It has been put under evaluation since the day it has shown the ability to treat one of the complex neurological diseases like Multiple Sclerosis.  Clinical trial results announced till date including the one presented recently at the 63^rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology held in Hawaii have been very appreciative. Will it really meet the unmet needs of treating MS??

CETP inhibition; new era of treating hypercholesterolemia

By: Nityanand C, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions

Anacetrapib, Merck’s cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor has dissolved the cloud covered over the CETP inhibition concept due to a major failure of first ever CETP inhibitor Pfizer’s Torcetrapib. Dr. Christopher P. Cannon, Senior Investigator of the TIMI Study Group presented its Phase III clinical trial results at the scientific sessions of American Heart Association which made healthcare professionals across the globe to reconsider their opinion about CETP inhibition concept. Merck has planned to take forward its promising candidate into larger clinical trial which decides the future of this new era of anti-cholesterol drug concept.

Oral direct Factor Xa inhibitors seem to override existing anticoagulants in treating stroke

By: Nityanand C, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions

Managing stroke in subjects suffering from Atrial Fibrillation (AF) has been one of the greatest healthcare burdens across the world since decades. Several medications namely Vitamin K Antagonists (class of anticoagulants) and antiplatelet therapy are available but are at the cost of acquiring severe unpredictable adverse side effects. Oral direct Factor Xa inhibition is a new anticoagulation concept seems to be a better approach than the existing ones. Apixaban, a joint venture of BMS and Pfizer from this class has shown appreciative results.