Xtalks Life Science Podcast

Stories about the development of COVID-19 vaccines have dominated the news for months, but a huge breakthrough in the prevention of another infectious disease has just been announced. Listen to this episode to learn about a new malaria vaccine developed by researchers at the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford that is 77 percent effective at blocking the parasite.

In this episode, Ayesha also shares the results of a study that gives parents another reason to limit their kids’ sugar intake. Research involving rats has identified a mechanistic link between high sugar consumption and impaired learning and memory later in life that involves a specific genus of gut bacteria. The team discusses the challenges of regulating added sugar in processed foods, and the applicability of animal models in understanding human development. 

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Malaria Vaccine a Breakthrough Success with 77 Percent Efficacy 

How Sugar May Impair Brain Development in Children

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More cases of blood clots in those vaccinated against COVID-19 — this time in six women who took the J&J shot — has US regulators recommending that vaccination efforts be paused. In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science podcast, Ayesha discusses the type of thrombotic events reported in these patients, and the team explores whether the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh the risks of getting COVID-19, and suffering infection-associated thrombosis. 

Also in this episode, Ayesha talks about the approval of the first non-surgical option for patients with severe pulmonary valve regurgitation, a system developed by medical technology veteran Medtronic, called the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve. The team debates the ethical and religious considerations of using pig tissue in heart valves.

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First Non-Surgical Heart Valve Wins FDA Approval for Severe Pulmonary Valve Regurgitation

US Regulators Recommend Pause on J&J’s COVID-19 Vaccine, But Just as a Precaution

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FDA-mandated clinical holds, strategic partnership breakups and $800 million biotech acquisitions. In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Sarah revisits two Parkinson’s biotech companies — Prevail Therapeutics and Voyager Therapeutics — to see what progress they’ve made in their gene therapy clinical development programs since April 2019. She shares how well the firms have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, and the team discusses the outlook for the drug development industry in general.

Also in this episode, Ayesha explores the link between Parkinson’s disease and melanoma, and how gene therapies could target both. The team discusses the disconnect between basic, academic research and applied research in industry, and how funding is at the heart of the problem.

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6 Parkinson’s Biotech Companies: Where Are They in 2021?

Parkinson’s and Melanoma Share an Amyloid Link, Says New Research

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Ayesha also talks about the latest clinical trial results for Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine. New data shows that the vaccine is safe and effective in children, performs extremely well against some of the new variants and vaccine-generated immune responses last for up to six months. While the new data is exciting and can help build greater confidence in the vaccine, can there be such a thing as too much information, and too fast, especially since data around the vaccines is evolving so quickly?

For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.

In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Ayesha discusses the results of a new NIH study that suggest a link between moderate caffeine consumption during pregnancy and lower birth weight and reduced body size. Should pregnant women avoid caffeine altogether, or is this yet another restriction placed on expectant mothers that might not be necessary? 

Ayesha also talks about a new medical device that could help improve gait and balance in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The portable neuromodulation stimulator developed by Helius Medical Technologies helped those with MS achieve a significant improvement in balance in a small trial conducted by the FDA, but will the device’s unique mouthpiece design limit its use?

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New Study Suggests Pregnant Women Should Avoid Caffeine Altogether. Here’s Why

Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator Gets FDA Authorization for MS Treatment

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This podcast was recorded on March 15, 2021

Ayesha also discusses the four largest cancer biotech acquisitions of 2021 so far, including deals made by Agilent, Takeda and Amgen. The team discusses the potential benefits of these acquisitions and shares results of a study that found that innovation can sometimes be stalled when smaller biotech firms are absorbed by big pharmas.

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Reflections on the 1-Year Anniversary of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The 4 Biggest Cancer Biotech Acquisitions of 2021 So Far

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This podcast was recorded on March 2, 2021

Listen to Episode 2 of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast to hear about Mira's experience with getting vaccinated in the UAE, and why "COVID-19 vaccine shopping" should be discouraged.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Messaging: Why Vaccine Efficacies Can’t Be Compared and Shopped

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This podcast was recorded on February 23rd, 2021

 Tune into this episode to hear a clip from Sarah’s interview with Dr. Richard Hom, optometric director at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, who talks about the impact of prolonged screen time on eye health. And hear from Anu Rajora, director of medical marketing at HTL-STREFA, the company behind the innovative Droplet Micron insulin needle, who explains why technology needs to make it easier for patients to adhere to medication schedules.

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Why Mask-Associated Dry Eye Won’t Necessarily Boost Restasis Sales

Patient Centricity in Insulin Delivery: Improving the Injection Experience with Droplet Micron

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