Connect with us

Technology

Lupus Research Alliance Awards Lupus Insight Prize to Two Trailblazers in CAR T Cell Therapy

Published

on

Drs. Marko Radic and Georg Schett Honored at FOCIS 2024 Meeting

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) announced the recipients of the 2024 Lupus Insight Prize to Marko Radic, Ph.D., The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Georg Schett, M.D., Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, for their groundbreaking discoveries in utilizing CAR T cell therapy to potentially revolutionize lupus treatment. Drs. Radic and Schett were honored at a celebratory award ceremony during the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) 2024 meeting.

The Lupus Insight Prize is awarded to outstanding investigators who have made a significant discovery in the last five years that will advance our understanding of the development, diagnosis, or treatment of lupus.

Revolutionizing Lupus Treatment Through CAR T Cell Therapy

T cells are an essential pillar of the immune system— they mount a response against harmful invaders, targeting and eliminating pathogens like viruses and bacteria to protect us from infection. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy involves reprogramming a patient’s own T cells to target and eliminate cells contributing to the disease. CAR T cell therapy has garnered significant attention and success in cancer treatment. Drs. Marko Radic and Georg Schett have made pioneering contributions to the field of CAR T cell therapies for lupus, charting a new course in the treatment landscape and offering hope for individuals with this complex condition.

“We are thrilled to award Drs. Marko Radic and Georg Schett the 2024 Lupus Insight Prize for their groundbreaking contributions to engineered cell therapies in lupus,” noted Teodora Staeva, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at the LRA. “Their innovative application of CAR T cell therapy offers unprecedented hope for a cure for individuals living with lupus.”

Pioneering CAR T Cell Therapy in Mouse Models of Lupus

Dr. Marko Radic’s seminal study, partly funded by the LRA, highlighted the profound efficacy of CAR T cells targeting CD19, a protein found on B cells. By using CD19-targeted CAR T cells to deplete B cells, which serve as key orchestrators of lupus disease, Dr. Radic’s innovative approach reduced disease progression in two mouse models of lupus. The CAR T-treated mice lived longer, and several features of lupus were eliminated or reduced substantially, including autoantibodies, proteinuria (excess protein in the urine), and markers of inflammation. Notably, the CAR T cells continued working several months after administration. Dr. Radic’s work laid the cornerstone for exploring CAR T cell therapy as a promising avenue for treating lupus in human patients, offering a glimpse into the potential of immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Radic will use his Lupus Insight Prize to study how a process called trogocytosis affects the success or failure of CAR T cell therapy. In some cases, when a CAR T cell attaches to its target antigen (CD19 on the surface of B cells, in this case), the CAR T cell can take in a piece of the target cell’s membrane, including CD19, without killing the target B cell. This process, called trogocytosis (also known as “cell nibbling”), may lead to exhaustion and death of the CAR T cells, potentially impacting the effectiveness of CAR T therapy. Dr. Radic’s proposed study will guide the development of more effective cell therapies for people with lupus.

Translating CAR T Cell Therapy to Clinical Success

Building upon Dr. Radic’s foundational research, Dr. Georg Schett made significant strides in translating CAR T cell therapy from preclinical studies to clinical application. In his groundbreaking publication and follow-up study, Dr. Schett and his team reported compelling outcomes from a single patient followed by a small case series involving individuals with refractory (resistant to treatment) lupus. Infusing CAR T cells that target CD19 eliminated B cells from the blood by the second day after CAR T administration. All individuals treated with anti-CD19 CAR T cells showed a reduction in or disappearance of lupus features including the presence of autoantibodies, nephritis (kidney inflammation), and other manifestations such as arthritis, fatigue, and lung issues.

In addition, four of the five patients reached a SLEDAI score (a commonly used tool to measure disease activity) of 0, indicating no detectable disease activity, and all five were able to stop taking immunosuppressive drugs, achieving drug-free remission. Notably, although their B cells returned about 100 days after CAR T cell therapy, lupus remained absent, raising the possibility that the immune system has been “rebooted” by the treatment, offering hope for transformative treatments for people with lupus who are resistant to conventional therapies.

CAR T cell administration effectively eliminated B cells from the individuals’ blood. However, if some self-reactive B cells remain in the body’s tissues, such as the lymph nodes, the immune system may continue to malfunction. Dr. Schett has recently developed a method to take tissue biopsies from people with lupus to assess the extent of B cell depletion in their lymph nodes, which are small lumps of tissue that are critical components of the immune system. He will use his Lupus Insight Prize to analyze these biopsies to assess how well the CD19-CAR T cell therapy was able to eliminate B cells from this tissue. These findings could inform and optimize treatment strategies, leading to improved long-term disease management and better patient outcomes.

The groundbreaking use of CAR T cell therapy represents a convergence of cutting-edge science and clinical innovation, signaling a major shift in our approach to lupus management. As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of both Drs. Radic and Schett, we eagerly anticipate the continued advancements that will emerge to unravel the complexities of lupus and improve outcomes for people with lupus.

About Lupus
Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women, often striking during the childbearing years of 15-45. Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Asian/Pacific Islander people are disproportionately affected by lupus and are more likely to experience severe lupus symptoms. Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Asian/Pacific Islander people are disproportionately affected by lupus and are more likely to experience severe lupus symptoms. In lupus, the immune system, meant to defend against infections, produces antibodies that mistakenly recognize the body’s own cells as foreign, prompting other immune cells to attack and potentially damage organs such as the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood, skin, and joints.

About the Lupus Research Alliance
The Lupus Research Alliance is the largest non-governmental, non-profit funder of lupus research worldwide. The organization aims to transform treatment by funding the most innovative lupus research, fostering diverse scientific talent, and driving discovery toward better diagnostics, improved treatments, and ultimately, a cure for lupus. Because the Lupus Research Alliance’s Board of Directors funds all administrative and fundraising costs, 100% of all donations goes to support lupus research programs.  For more information, please visit the LRA at LupusResearch.org and on social media at: XFacebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

CONTACT:
Margy Meislin
mmeislin@lupusresearch.org 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lupus-research-alliance-awards-lupus-insight-prize-to-two-trailblazers-in-car-t-cell-therapy-302177620.html

SOURCE Lupus Research Alliance

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

CMC Japan Opens Third Office: A Major Step In AI Transformation and Business Expansion

Published

on

By

HANOI, Vietnam, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On September 18, CMC Japan – the Japanese subsidiary of CMC Global celebrated the opening of its third office in Tokyo –  a key milestone in its 7-year journey of bringing Vietnamese technology to Japan. This expansion highlights CMC Japan’s leadership in advancing the “AI-X” strategy, further solidifying its position following its membership in the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). 

Under the theme “Enable Your AI-X,” the inauguration ceremony of CMC Japan‘s third office was held at the Gajoen Tokyo Hotel, Japan, underscoring CMC’s efforts to accelerate the global “AI Transformation” Strategy for the 2024-2028 period. The new office is a pivotal step in executing this ambitious vision. 

Presenting about the AI Transformation Strategy, Mr. Nguyen Chung Chinh Chairman/CEO of CMC Corporation, stated: “Japan has been a cornerstone in CMC’s global expansion strategy for over three decades. Our achievements in Japan have paved the way for further growth in challenging markets like the U.S. and Europe. Opening our third office here marks a significant moment in our journey, reaffirming CMC’S dedication to leading AI transformation and providing cutting-edge solutions that empower clients in their digital transformation and AI-driven optimization.” 

On this occasion, CMC Japan also announced its membership in Keidanren, one of the most influential organizations in Japan’s foreign economic relations and economic policy development. This opens the door to strategic collaboration with leading corporations and reaffirms CMC’s commitment to contributing to Japan’s socio-economic development through advanced AI solutions. 

 

 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cmc-japan-opens-third-office-a-major-step-in-ai-transformation-and-business-expansion-302254889.html

SOURCE CMC Global

Continue Reading

Technology

TECNO SPARK 30 Series Launches with TRANSFORMERS Edition, Converting Next-level Fluency and Durability

Published

on

By

HONG KONG, Sept. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Innovative technology brand TECNO announces the debut of its latest smartphone, the SPARK 30 Series, featuring a dynamic lineup of five models including the exciting SPARK 30 Series TRANSFORMERS Edition. The new series brings revolutionary durability and playability with 5-year guaranteed lag-free performance, more immersive audiovisuals, an incredible main camera and much more.

The SPARK 30 Series features a special TRANSFORMERS Edition, under license by TRANSFORMERS brand from leading toy and game company Hasbro, made up of SPARK 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition and SPARK 30 Bumblebee Edition. In addition to powerful performance, these special devices feature iconic TRANSFORMERS elements, delivering iconic design, entertainment, and interaction like never before.

“The SPARK 30 Series is poised to revolutionize the smartphone experience, offering a symphony of unparalleled features and a coveted exclusive TRANSFORMERS Edition,” said Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO. “With continuous enhancements to the SPARK Series, we are ensuring that vibrant, tech-savvy youth to embrace and revel in the power of our innovations to create new possibilities.” 

Creating Seamless Fluency and Durability Assured by a 5-year Lag-free Commitment

The SPARK 30 Series gives users long-lasting value for money. Certified by TÜV Rheinland, SPARK 30 Pro offers incredible 5-year lag-free operation, standing out in its class as a must-have device for a seamless experience.

Making everyday use even smoother, the SPARK 30 Series is equipped with exceptional battery capacity, impressive storage and powerful performance, with battery health at 80%+ enduring after 1,000 charge cycles. The SPARK 30 Pro’s convenient 33W Fast Charge offers 3 intelligent charging modes and can charge the device from 0-100% in approximately 70 minutes. The SPARK 30 Series offers up to 256GB+16GB (8GB Extended RAM) storage with a system slimming feature that frees up ROM space. The SPARK 30 Pro is powered by MediaTek Helio G100 processor, boasting an Antutu score over 420,000, adding to the fluid performance even more.

With super WIFI and ultra-fast 4.5G Lightning Network, consumers can enjoy enhanced online smoothness. The 4.5G Lightning Network on SPARK 30 Pro delivers speeds up to 100% faster than 4G, with download speeds reaching up to 300Mbps, while super WIFI sets internet speeds apart in a crowd, improving ability to access networks by 616% compared to without this feature. Leveraging its exceptional performance, the SPARK 30 Series demonstrates power and durability akin to that of the formidable TRANSFORMERS robots.

Inspiring with a Design Rebirth Full of the Transformers’ Visual Splendor

Complementing its ultimate performance, the TECNO SPARK 30 Series features a trendy, sleek and tech-infused design. The SPARK family’s signature large circular design is now enhanced and refined for a more streamlined appearance. With a 7.4mm ultra-thin body, the SPARK 30 Pro embraces the emerging minimalist technology trend, bringing an unprecedented grip experience in-hand. With evolved Magic Skin 3.0, it provides a blend of soft plush and premium leather with an ultra-refined texture.

Taking inspiration from the unstoppable TRANSFORMERS robots, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, the SPARK 30 Series TRANSFORMERS Edition infuses technology with a Cybertronian-inspired design texture.  The integrated DECO design crafted with a metallic sheen and precision color coordination, adding a vibrant look while paying homage to the resilience of the iconic characters. Additionally, the edition debuts a customized interface adorned with TRANSFORMERS motifs, bringing the iconic world to life and providing a dynamic platform for users of all ages to express their love for the franchise.

Captivating with an Exceptional Audiovisual Entertainment Experience

The SPARK 30 Series creates an immersive entertainment space for users through vibrant audiovisual experiences. The SPARK 30 Pro, which features 120Hz AMOLED Eye-care Screen recognized by TÜV Low Blue Light Eye certification, delivers vivid images while providing an eye-friendly experience. The 100% full-link DCI-P3 cinema-level color gamut and 10bit color depth bring a broader color range and more accurate color expression for entertainment and enjoyment.

On the audio front, the SPARK 30 Series provides symmetrical stereo sound. With Volume Plus 2.0 algorithms and a Dual Speaker, the SPARK 30 Pro delivers up to 300% full-scene louder volume for an immersive and balanced sound. The addition of Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res certified speakers significantly enhances entertainment quality.

Furthermore, the SPARK 30 Series is also equipped with the Infrared Remote Control for 15 household devices, allowing intelligent control of home life, enabling a personalized space at will.

On the camera front, the SPARK 30 Pro boasts a 108MP main camera, complemented by 3x lossless zoom and 10x digital zoom, delivering finely tuned images no matter the distance. The SPARK 30’s SONY IMX682 Main Camera with 64MP, offers larger pixels, greater detail, and increased cropping flexibility. Equipped with TECNO AI, the SPARK 30 Series offers an array of advanced AI-driven features, including AIGC portrait, AI Eraser and AI Artboard, enhancing your productivity and creativity.

Lead by the masterful SPARK 30 and SPARK 30 Pro, the new SPARK 30 Series also features the exceptional SPARK 30C, SPARK 30 5G and SPARK 30C 5G. As well as a groundbreaking special edition device, the TRANSFORMERS collaboration adds a further layer of excitement for energetic youth, with exclusive branded merchandise and gift sets also available.

About TECNO

As a global innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 markets, TECNO has been committed to revolutionizing the digital experience in global emerging markets, relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of contemporary, aesthetic design with the latest technologies. TECNO offers a wide range of smartphones, smart wearables, laptops and tablets, HiOS operating systems and smart home products. Guided by its brand essence of “Stop At Nothing”, TECNO is committed to unlocking the best and newest technologies for forward-looking individuals, inspiring them to never stop pursuing their best selves and their best futures. For more information, please visit TECNO’s official site: www.tecno-mobile.com.

ABOUT HASBRO 

Hasbro is a leading toy and game company whose mission is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers play experiences for fans of all ages around the world, through toys, games, licensed consumer products, digital games and services, location-based entertainment, film, TV, and more. With a portfolio of over 1,800 iconic brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands, Hasbro brings fans together wherever they are, from tabletop to screen. 

Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com or @Hasbro on LinkedIn. 

ABOUT TRANSFORMERS 

The TRANSFORMERS brand is a global powerhouse franchise with millions of fans around the world. Since 1984, the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons has come to life in movies, TV shows, comic books, innovative toys, and digital media, bringing incredible “MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE” experiences to fans of all ages. The brand’s enduring connection is made possible by its rich storytelling and characters: the heroic Autobots who seek to protect all life.

 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tecno-spark-30-series-launches-with-transformers-edition-converting-next-level-fluency-and-durability-302254900.html

SOURCE TECNO

Continue Reading

Technology

DeepL unveils industry-first Glossary Generator to solve business communication and brand consistency challenges

Published

on

By

Enhanced DeepL glossary functionality – including new glossary generator, expanded language support and more – will boost global business translations, saving time, effort, and costs

COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — DeepL, a leading global Language AI company, today announced several updates to its glossary feature, which is a powerful tool that enhances translation consistency and accuracy by enabling professionals and companies to personalize translations for specific terms. The tool now offers the industry’s first smart glossary generator, which helps simplify and speed up the process of creating glossaries for translations. Glossary is also available in several new languages and within DeepL’s browser extensions and integrations, fitting seamlessly into existing workflows to offer an even more accessible and smooth user experience across the web and applications like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

“AI-powered translations are essential for businesses looking to overcome language barriers in today’s increasingly connected world, and DeepL’s powerful glossary tool takes this a step further by ensuring translations are personalized to a company’s unique phrases and needs,” said Christopher Osborne, VP of Product, DeepL. “We’re always looking for ways to improve the DeepL experience and drive even more value and ROI for 100,000+ customers worldwide, and these new capabilities make our glossary even more efficient, accessible and user-friendly – empowering teams to achieve the customization and consistency they are looking for, while minimising time spent on costly alternatives like manual translations or find-and-replace tools.”

For global businesses aiming to drive revenue growth, investing in brand consistency across all communications and languages is essential to ensure that every message—whether technical terminology, product names, or branded terms—resonates clearly with teams, customers, and markets worldwide. Consistent branding has been proven to increase revenue by 20% or more[1] and enhance visibility by 3 to 4 times[2] – however, maintaining this consistency can be expensive and complex. DeepL’s glossary tool simplifies this process, helping businesses and professionals easily create and scale high-quality, consistent multilingual communications across teams. With glossary, companies can create and manage custom translation glossaries to ensure that specific words or phrases are translated consistently according to their unique terminology.

DeepL’s glossary now offers the following expanded capabilities:

The industry’s first smart, AI-powered glossary generator: DeepL’s new glossary generator is a first-of-its-kind tool enabling teams to create custom translation glossaries with a simple file upload. Previously translated files can be leveraged to generate entries for personalized DeepL glossaries, reducing the need for manual work and significantly enhancing efficiency, enabling teams to facilitate more consistent communication at scale.Expanded glossary language functionality: Glossary now supports Korean, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Romanian translations, bringing the total number of languages to 16. This allows for more precise and nuanced translations across a wider range of linguistic contexts, helping businesses reach a broader audience.More convenient access across DeepL platforms: Users are now able to access and apply the glossary directly within the DeepL browser extensions for Chrome and Edge, enabling consistent translations across the web, including Google Workspace applications. Furthermore, the glossary can now also be applied directly within DeepL for Microsoft 365 integrations, including Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Additionally, the glossary can be accessed through DeepL’s web browser, desktop apps, and API.

Unlike other find-and-replace tools, DeepL’s glossary excels with its advanced contextual understanding and ability to process complex grammatical elements—such as case, gender, and tense—to deliver nuanced, natural-sounding translations. This results in substantial productivity gains, largely due to the time saved in post-editing. Blind tests with language experts show that DeepL reduces post-editing time by 30% compared to Google Translate and 20% compared to Chat GPT-4. Furthermore, DeepL requires significantly fewer edits, with Google Translate and Chat GPT-4 needing two to three times as many feedback rounds.

Glossary with DeepL Pro also offers enhanced data security, including proprietary data centers, the highest level of certification and compliance standards (ISO 27001 certification, GDPR/SOC 2 type 2 compliance), data encryption, and a commitment to never using Pro customer data to train models.

DeepL’s glossary generator is now available to Pro Advanced and Ultimate subscribers with support for TMX/DOCX/PDF files. It is initially available for glossaries in German, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, French, and Russian (to and from English), with more languages coming soon.

Learn more about DeepL Pro and try out glossary yourself here.

About DeepL

DeepL is on a mission to break down language barriers for businesses everywhere. Over 100,000 businesses and governments and millions of individuals in 228 global markets trust DeepL’s Language AI platform for human-like translation and better writing. Designed with enterprise security in mind, companies around the world leverage DeepL’s AI solutions that are specifically tuned for language to transform business communications, expand markets, and improve productivity. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jaroslaw (Jarek) Kutylowski, DeepL today has over 900 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures.

[1] Marq, “2021 Brand Consistency Report”
[2] Demand Metric x Lucid Press, “Impact of Brand Consistency” Report, 2016

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/deepl-unveils-industry-first-glossary-generator-to-solve-business-communication-and-brand-consistency-challenges-302254939.html

SOURCE DeepL

Continue Reading

Trending