Xtalks Life Science Podcast

In this episode, Ayesha talked about World Immunization Week, which is celebrated during the last week of April every year. The theme of this year’s World Immunization Week is “Long Life For All,” which aims to communicate the importance of vaccines for a healthy and fulfilling life by protecting yourself and your loved ones against deadly diseases. Immunization programs were impacted by the COVID...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed BioNTech’s new collaboration with Matinas BioPharma to explore the company’s lipid nanocrystal (LNC) delivery technology for mRNA vaccines. LNC structures are more stable than the lipid nanoparticle technology used in the current COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Learn about how BioNTech hopes to leverage Matinas’ LNC platform to develop improved mRNA vaccines, including th...

In this episode, Xtalks is marking World Parkinson’s Day (April 11) and Parkinson’s Awareness Month, which are observed every year to help raise awareness about the disease and the individuals living with it. To learn more about new Parkinson’s disease research, Ayesha discussed a new study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center that shows statins may help decrease the risk of parkinsoni...

In this episode, Ayesha shared insights she obtained from experts at NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) about clinical trial diversity. The panel of experts outlined some of the challenges in recruiting participants from minority and disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, and talked about an NHLBI initiative based on community outreach that helped recruit more participants fr...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed Pfizer’s voluntary recall of several lots of its blood pressure medication Accuretic and two generic versions of it due to higher than acceptable levels of a carcinogenic nitrosamine compound. The recall affects lots produced between November 2019 and March 2022. The editorial team discussed the increasing frequency of recalls of commonly prescribed drugs like blo...

In this episode, Ayesha shed light on National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by talking about a new colon cancer screening campaign from Exact Sciences that features a TV ad with Katie Couric. Couric, who is a long-time advocate of colon cancer screening after her husband passed away from colon cancer over 20 years ago, continues her mission to help raise awareness about the importance of earl...

In this episode, Ayesha talks about new revelations about how Johnson & Johnson funded studies in the early 1970s that involved injecting prisoners in a Pennsylvania jail, most of whom were Black, with asbestos. The company wanted to compare the effects of asbestos versus talc, one of the main ingredients in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder, on the skin. The company says it regrets backing...

In this episode, Ayesha spoke about some of the top women leaders in life science industries in celebration of International Women’s Day. While women remain underrepresented in STEM and life science industries, there are more women in leadership positions at pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies than ever before. Studies also show that women’s leadership training programs prov...

In this episode, the editorial team discussed Rare Disease Day which is celebrated every year on February 28 (or February 29 in leap years). This year’s theme was “Share Your Colours,” where individuals with rare diseases were encouraged to share their experiences and aspirations to help raise awareness. The campaign from rarediseaseday.org included a touching video in which patients with rare dis...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed BioNTech’s new modular mRNA factories, called the BioNTainer, that are destined for Africa to help boost COVID-19 vaccine supplies on the continent. The modular production units are housed in containers that come equipped with raw starting materials and state-of-the-art technology for producing mRNA-based vaccines from start to finish, except for the fill-and-fini...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed the NHS’s recommendation of Libmeldy, a gene therapy for the treatment of the rare disease MLD, which is officially the world’s most expensive drug with a list price of almost $4 million USD. The drug was developed by Orchard Therapeutics and the NHS was able to negotiate a greater discount on it with the company so that it can offer it to patients in England. Lib...

In this episode, Ayesha talked about a new at-home blood pressure monitor developed by Inbody that can track blood pressure in real time. The device uses the automated oscillometric method, commonly used in clinical settings now, to generate mean arterial pressure and calculate systolic and diastolic blood pressure from it using an algorithm. The device has a one-touch cuff and can be synced to In...

In this episode, Ayesha talked about the recent FDA approval for Immunocore’s Kimmtrak for the treatment of a rare type of eye cancer called uveal melanoma. Not only has the treatment become Immunocore’s first commercial product, but it has also become the first approved treatment for uveal melanoma and the first ever approved T cell receptor (TCR) therapeutic. Kimmtrak is priced at $400,000 per t...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed Gilead Science’s lawsuit against a network of distributors selling counterfeits of the company’s best-selling HIV drugs Biktarvy and Descovy. The drugs were being sold in pharmacies across several states. Gilead said it had been working with the US Marshals and local law enforcement to conduct seizures of over 85,000 bottles of the counterfeit drugs. Gilead says i...

In this episode, Ayesha talks about a new study from UCSF that shows how physical activity can maintain brain health in older individuals. The research shows that exercise increases levels of synaptic proteins in the brain involved in maintaining and strengthening neuronal connections. The researchers also found these proteins could be protective even in people with dementia and other neurodegener...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed a new blood test developed by researchers at the University of Oxford that can detect cancers and even if they’ve metastasized. The test is based on measuring metabolites produced by tumor cells in blood samples using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The researchers found that the test could identify cancer among healthy people, those with localized...

In the first episode of 2022, Ayesha provided updates on Omicron and COVID-19 vaccine boosters. The FDA expanded authorization of booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to youth between 12 and 15 years of age, a third dose for immunocompromised children between five and 11 years old and a shorter wait time to get a booster for individuals 12 and older. Meanwhile, the CDC reduced isolation and...

In this episode, which is the last episode for the year (the team will be back in January!), Ayesha discusses the FDA approval of Biohaven’s intranasal spray Zavegepant indicated for the acute treatment of migraines in adults. The drug is similar to the company oral dose tablet (ODT) Nurtec but is the first CGRP receptor antagonist in a nasal spray formulation. Some of the editorial team members s...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed statements from Moderna and Pfizer regarding Omicron and the need for new variant-specific boosters. Moderna’s CEO sparked concerns when he said the current vaccines likely won’t be effective against Omicron, while Pfizer’s CEO said vaccines for COVID-19 will likely be needed for many years. The editorial team discussed the impact of these comments as they were re...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed Omicron, the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern. The editorial team talked about the emergence of variants amid low vaccine uptake in some parts of the world owing to vaccine inequities and vaccine hesitancy. Omicron’s transmissibility, severity and the effectiveness of the current vaccines against it remain unknown. Amid border closures and travel bans being in...

In this episode, Ayesha discussed the first FDA-approved virtual reality treatment for chronic lower back pain. The virtual reality system is called EaseVRx and is developed by virtual reality medtech company AppliedVR. The non-invasive treatment system is self-administered and is designed for at-home use. It consists of a virtual reality headset, controller and breath amplifier, and has preloaded...

In this episode, the editorial team had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Brett Wingeier, CEO of neuromodulation MedTech company Magnus Medical about the company’s Magnus System for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The neurostimulation device received breakthrough device designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month. The team heard from Dr. Wingeier about t...

In this episode, the editorial team discussed Pfizer’s new oral antiviral pill for the treatment of COVID-19. Pfizer released data from an interim analysis of a Phase III trial evaluating the drug, which shows that it can reduce the risk of hospitalizations by almost 90 percent. It also prevented COVID-19 related deaths in the study. The results were so strong that an independent data monitoring c...

In this episode, Ayesha discusses the FDA’s authorization of Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between five and 11 years of age. The authorization was based on trial data that showed the vaccine was safe, well-tolerated and induced robust immune responses among children in this age group; side effects were generally mild to moderate. Amid concerns of the rare adverse event of myocard...

In this episode, the editorial team discusses the FDA approval of Cyltezo as the first interchangeable biosimilar for AbbVie’s Humira. The approval lends to the growing Humira biosimilars market, which will take off in 2023 with Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cyltezo and biosimilars from Amgen, Merck and Alvotech. AbbVie has been facing a lot of heat over accusations of price gouging and patent abuses to...