SJOGRINGO
6 years ago
Pig hearts could soon be tested in humans after scientists pass important milestone
telegraph.co.uk
Pig hearts could soon be tested in humans after scientists passed an important milestone when transplanting the organs into primates.
In 2000, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT)suggested that human trials would be considered once 60 per cent of primates could live for three months, with at least some indication that longer survival was possible.
Previous studies have only achieved up to 57 days survival, so the new research is the first to meet the criteria set out by the ISHLT, and represents a major step in the clinical use of pig hearts in humans.
Now surgeons in Germany, using hearts from pigs that had been genetically modified to remove threatening viruses...
SJOGRINGO
10 years ago
Acorda Therapeutics.
Also, Cramer checked in with Dr. Ron Cohen, the founder and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics. "In this increasingly difficult market, I think it's worth circling the wagons around secular growth companies, like the biotechs, because they're not sensitive to swings in the global economy," Cramer said.
And with Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) buying the privately held Civitas Therapeutics for $525 million, Cramer felt the company deserved a closer look.
"Through the acquisition, Acorda will get a promising inhaled dry powder formulation that helps alleviate some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Not only does this drug address a real unmet medical need, but it's right on the cusp of entering phase 3 trials and it could potentially do $500 million in peak sales. If this drug can get FDA approval then Civitas will look like a total steal. But if it gets bottled up because of weak phase 3 results, it might be a colossal overpay."
Cramers Comments of Parkinson