BioWatch: Maryland biotechs show clinical, financial progress in oncology
A half-dozen Maryland bioscience companies that are working on various cancer therapies recently have reported promising advances, on both the financial and scientific fronts.
Northwest Biotherapeutics, which develops treatments for brain cancer, announced financing arrangements to the tune of $28 million.
The Bethesda biotech reported that it gained access to $25 million in financing, on top of $3 million already received, to help complete its 240-patient clinical trial of DCVax-L to treat glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer.
The initial $3 million investment was from a multibillion-dollar institutional investment fund in Minnesota, which Northwest did not further identify in its statement. The investment is structured as a convertible note with warrants.
The $25 million, 30-month equity package was made available by venture capital firm Toucan Partners of Bethesda. Toucan’s managing director and co-founder is Linda Powers, Northwest’s chairwoman and recently named CEO.
“This equity facility marks an important step in taking control of our own financing destiny, as it will enable us to access a much wider pool of investors who have been expressing interest but can only invest in tradable shares, while also providing the comfort of knowing that the equity facility will be administered by a major shareholder whose interests are aligned with the company’s,” Alton Boynton, chief scientific officer and former CEO, said in the statement. “The facility also affords us substantially more favorable terms than have been available to us in financings with unregistered shares or convertible debt.”
Another Montgomery County biotech, Micromet, reported more encouraging results from a phase 2 trial of its leukemia treatment.
Blinatumomab “produced a high complete remission rate in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had relapsed following treatment with standard therapy,” according to a statement by the Rockville company.
Blinatumomab involves antibodies designed to harness the body's T cells to kill cancer cells.
Nine out of 12 patients achieved a complete remission or complete remission with partial recovery of blood counts following treatment.
“To date, blinatumomab has shown an impressive and unprecedented level of efficacy in a patient population with limited therapeutic options," said professor Max Topp of the University of Wuerzburg and chairman of the study. "These results are particularly striking relative to the fact that the majority of enrolled patients had characteristics typically associated with a dismal outlook.
Acute Lumbar Strain - News
At the time of her injury, he diagnosed her with post-traumatic syndrome, coccygeal fracture, acute lumbosacral sprain and anxiety reaction. Due to her pain level, Dr. Littman stated that he sent Claimant to a neurologist who provided Claimant with
He diagnosed her with resolved lumbar sprain and strain, resolved lumbosacral contusion, resolved acute posttraumatic S1-2 radiculopathy and resolved sacroiliac dysfunction. He did not see any evidence of low back radiculopathy or lumbar disc syndrome.
His treating doctor did not identify any serious injury; his diagnoses included, as relevant here, possible L4-5 sciatica discogenic disease and SP lumbar strain (severe). The doctor did not make any reference to the claimed injury to the right knee or
In August and September 1986, Mr. Mattress complained of neck pain that he said had begun in 1984, and he was diagnosed with acute recurrent cervical muscle spasms. In November 1987, Mr. Mattress was also diagnosed with a lumbar muscle strain.
Safety data from the first 12 patients, who received injections in the lumbar region of the spine only, persuaded the trial's safety monitoring board to unanimously approve transplantations in the cervical region, the Rockville company said in a
Lower Back Pain Causes – A Comprehensive Guide | Kill BackPain
Lower Back Pain Causes – A Comprehensive Guide
Many people have experienced lower back pain at least once in their lifetime. Luckily, there are known lower back pain causes that can be one by one ruled out with the help of medical professional. The availability of information makes it easier to find treatment, so read on and know more about the different causes of lower back pain.
Lower back pain causes such as nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, lumbar strain, and joints and bone conditions are some of the reasons you feel pain in your lower back. All these lower back pain causes will be discussed in this article.
1. Nerve Irritation
Being one of lower back pain causes, nerve irritation can cause the sufferer too much pain because any disease along the path of nerves can irritate the lumbar spine. This can occur anywhere from the spinal cord roots to the skin surface. This condition is often associated with different back pain diseases such as lumbar disc disease, bony encroachment, and nerve inflammation.
2. Lumbar Strain
Being one of lower back pain causes, a lumbar strain can be very painful as it is the result of a stretching injury that occurred in the lower back muscle ligaments and tendons, thereby causing different degrees of microscopic degeneration in the affected tissues. This condition is often caused by trauma, overuse, or improper use. Lumbar strain is classified into two types: acute lumbar strain which means that the lower back pain has been felt by the patient for days or weeks while chronic lumbar strain has been felt for more than three months already.
3. Bony Encroachment
Bony encroachment results from movement in or growth of the vertebrae in the lumbar spine, thereby limiting the space for the adjacent spinal cord and nerves. This condition is one of the main lower back pain causes as it is caused by any of the following: Spondylolisthesis; Spinal stenosis and foraminal narrowing. The three above conditions cause sciatica pain with extreme pain radiating down to the lower extremities. Spinal stenosis is very painful especially when walking but this pain can relieved by resting. These conditions have different treatments depending on their severity. The treatments can be as simple as taking some rest or as complex as surgical decompression which involves bone removal.
Acute Lumbar Strain - Bookshelf
Essentials of physical medicine and rehabilitation, musculoskeletal disorders, pain, and rehabilitation
Low Back Strain or Sprain 44 ... DEFINITION Lumbar strain or sprain is a term used by clinicians to describe an episode of reported acute low back pain. ...Common simple emergencies
Acute lumbar strain 165 Acute Lumbar Strain (Low Back Pain, Facet Syndrome) Presentation: Suddenly or gradually after lifting, sneezing, bending, ...On-site occupational health and rehabilitation, a model for the manufacturing and service industries
... Low Back Pain/Sciatica Acute Lumbar Strain Chronic Low Back Pain Lumbar Strain Lumbar Discomfort Low Back Pain Back Pain Low Back Strain Lumbar Strain ...The complete doctor's healthy back bible, a practical manual for understanding, preventing and treating back pain
Lumbar Strain Facts "You've strained your back." Lumbar strain is the most common diagnosis made for the individual with acute low back pain. ...Essentials of family medicine
MANAGEMENT Acute Lumbar Strain Acute lumbar strain, which accounts for the bulk of back pain diagnoses, has a good prognosis and can be treated ...Day-to-day Report Directory
Lumbar Strain Treatment - Back Muscle Strain Treatment
Treatment of a lumbar strain is very important so that a patient can make a full recovery from a low back injury. Learn the treatments available for ...
Low Back Pain
9.06 Acute Lumbar Strain ("Mechanical" Low Back Pain, Sacroiliac Dysfunction) ... With acute pain, reassurance plus limited medication may be the most useful intervention. ...
Low Back Strain | Lumbar Strain | Back Muscle Injury
A low back strain, often called a lumbar strain, is an injury to the large muscles in the low back. These injuries are very common, affecting most ...
Sprains And Strains Back - Medical Disability Guidelines
MDGuidelines is the most trusted source of disability guidelines, disability durations, and return to work information on sprains and strains back.
STMS - 5 (1) 2000 - Controversies and management of lumbar ...
Most acute muscle strains are localized to the erector spinae, and most recurrent muscle ... Management of acute and recurrent lumbar strain during tennis ...