Michael Tattory

The first robotic surgery took place in 1985 when the PUMA 560 was used in a stereotaxic operation in which computed tomography (or x-ray) was used intraoperatively to guide a robot as it inserted a needle into the brain for biopsy. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, robotic systems began to be used for […]

Plano-based drug developer Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc. raised more than $505 million in a stock sale Monday to speed its transition from a clinical-stage biotech startup to a company that makes treatments for life-threatening diseases. The publicly-traded company will use the money to register and commercialize its first two treatments: one for Alport syndrome, a genetic

Two novel RNA interference agents, one targeting apolipoprotein C-III and one targeting angiopoietin-like protein 3, improved various lipid parameters in early studies with healthy volunteers, according to new data presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. One agent targeting apolipoprotein C-III (ARO-APOC3, Arrowhead) was associated with reductions in serum APOC3 and improvements in other

Valneva chikungunya vaccine candidate VLA1553 was generally safe in all dose groups and the local tolerability profile was excellent.

The FDA’s decision to approve Talicia could have far-reaching impact, as this bug infects millions of American adults a year and is one of the strongest known causes of stomach cancer. Talicia is a three-drug combination of omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, a penicillin-class antibacterial, and rifabutin, a rifamycin antibacterial. It is indicated for

The interim results come from an ongoing phase I trial in patients with colorectal cancer. Of the 12 patients given Celyad’s CAR T-cell immunotherapy so far, six have seen their tumors shrink. The therapy has also shown no evidence of causing graft-versus-host disease, a condition where foreign immune cells attack the host body. Celyad’s CAR T-cell immunotherapy is

The 28-patient study showed that Angion’s drug improved kidney function, based on patients’ estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a key renal function metric.

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) said Friday they eradicated nearly all traces of hepatitis B virus in a Phase 2 study — sending Arrowhead stock careening toward a record high. On the stock market today, Arrowhead stock jumped 6.3% to 42.10. On Monday, shares hit a record high in intraday action of 42.29. Arrowhead stock broke out on Oct.

ProQR Therapeutics is a Netherlands-based company currently researching RNA therapies to inhibit or counteract the harmful effects of the defective genes associated with the above retinal diseases. How does that work? As you may recall from biology class, genes are the building blocks for the proteins that build and maintain our bodies.

Neurosurgery is often thought of as one of the most difficult medical disciplines to pursue. Surgeons are tasked with breaching the multiple protective layers of the brain then navigating through an intricate web of fibers, tissues, blood vessels and fluid to extract a tumor or implant a device — all this without harming the delicate

Product-release testing is required for all drug products to ensure their quality and safety. For most conventional small-molecule and biologic drugs, batches are held until the release testing results are received and confirm the product is within specifications. Cell and gene therapies and some of their components (e.g., viral vectors), however, often must be used

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR) is using a technology called RNAi to tackle two colossal hurdles in treating genetic diseases. And it’s helping Arrowhead stock to finally realize profits after the biotech company operated for years in the red. RNAi, or RNA interference, is a method of silencing genes. Some genetic diseases cause the overproduction of troublesome

Biopharmaceutical executives, especially those who have founded their own companies, never cease to amaze me. Why? Well for starters, the process of starting with nothing but an idea and then pulling together all the necessary resources to build a company capable of developing and delivering a product to patients is an amazing logistical challenge. It

In the early 2000s, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells emerged on the scene with promise as a revolutionary cancer treatment. However, several key challenges and, in particular, downsides related to manufacturing, continue to hamper broad adoption of this therapeutic approach. In addition, existing CAR-T cell therapies are based on autologous approaches (i.e. using the own

Sepofarsen has received rare pediatric disease designation from the FDA for the treatment of Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10, according to a press release from ProQR Therapeutics. Sepofarsen, an RNA-based oligonucleotide, is designed to address the underlying cause of LCA10 in the CEP290 gene. With the designation, the drug will receive priority review by the FDA, and it could

At a medical mycology meeting here earlier this month, scientists presented promising phase II clinical data for rezafungin, a new member of an existing class called the echinocandins developed by Cidara Therapeutics in San Diego.

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals stock flirted with a breakout Friday after the biotech company said it’s experimenting with drugs that will “silence” multiple troublesome genes simultaneously. Previously, that was impossible, Chief Executive Christopher Anzalone said late Thursday on CNBC’s Mad Money. Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR) is among a slew of biotech companies using technology called RNA interference to silence genes responsible for creating

Eye drops that can reverse poor vision? It may sound like science fiction, but one Israeli company is aiming to bring this product to market. The drops passed their Phase 2b clinical trial earlier this month, meaning they’ve proven to improve farsightedness, the inability to see or read nearby objects, and are highly tolerable. Although results

Fortunes can shift precipitously in the drug-discovery world. At the start of the twenty-first century, all eyes were focused on a powerful gene-silencing technology called RNA interference (RNAi), and many companies saw the almost limitless potential of harnessing the tool to manipulate genes implicated in diseases.

Kitov Pharmaceuticals today announced its combination drug to treat osteoarthritis pain and hypertension.