Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Invizius estimates that about 20% of dialysis patients may have "angry blood," where an overzealous inflammatory response can lead to serious complications. Invizius has completed a first-in-human study of its approach to taming the immune system’s overreaction to dialysis—with the goal of addressing the complications that can come with “angry blood.” While you would normally want a zealous white blood cell to attack any newcomers to the body, to protect it against infections and the like, heightened inflammation can take its toll during hemodialysis.  As the living blood makes its way through the machine, every surface is a surface that triggers the foreign-body response: From the cells' point of view, none of it should be there. Enter Invizius’ H-Guard priming solution, which is run through the machine before each procedure. It coats the insides with a layer of proteins that effectively camouflage the dialysis hardware from the immune system—stealing a trick from certain bacteria that are capable of evading white blood cells, without triggering the cascading inflammatory reactions known as the complement system. Late last month, the Scotland-based company—and former Fierce 15 winner—announced that its first eight patients had been successfully treated in a phase 1 study. Analyses before and after dialysis showed that the blood filtration process worked as expected. Its next step will be to perform a phase 2b trial of hospitalized patients with acute kidney injuries, looking to see if H-Guard can lower the amount of time spent in the ICU or reduce renal damage from the immune system’s reactions to dialysis. “This is an important milestone for H-Guard and Invizius, allowing us to progress into a larger efficacy study showing the clinical benefits of controlling complement activation in [continuous renal replacement therapy] and a number of extracorporeal systems,” CEO Magnus Nicolson said in a statement. The priming solution is also being studied preclinically for use during heart bypass procedures and in other life support systems. A previous biomarker analysis study by the company screened blood samples from over 350 participants that undergo routine hemodialysis and found that patients can be categorized by their immune reactions to the procedure.  While chronic, low-grade inflammation is common among dialysis patients, those with the strongest responses can carry higher risks of developing serious complications—such as blood clots, organ damage or a wide range of other conditions—and may benefit the most from the addition of a product like H-Guard.  Dubbed “angry blood,” Invizius estimates that about one-in-five dialysis patients may be susceptible to the overreactions, out of the more than 3 million people worldwide who undergo the procedure multiple times per week. According to Invizius, the results of the biomarker study won “best abstract” last month at the annual meeting of the European Renal Association in Stockholm, as presented by Duha Ilyas, a clinical research fellow at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the site of the first-in-human trial. “This is the largest kinetic analysis of complement activation in routine haemodialysis (HD) ever undertaken in [the U.K.],” said study leader Sandip Mitra, a professor of renal medicine at the Manchester NHS trust. “Our results indicate patient-specific complement activation associated with inflammatory response during routine haemodialysis. Reduction in complement activation in HD may yield significant clinical outcome benefits.” The company previously raised £5.3 million in a 2021 series A round, joined by Mercia, Downing Ventures, Old College Capital, Scottish Enterprise, Solvay Ventures and Calculus Capital.

As per the findings of the research, up to 25% of post-menopausal women at high risk of developing breast cancer will not benefit from taking the medication MFT scientists developed a hormone blood test which can determine the effectiveness of anastrozole. (Credit: Nappy on Unsplash) Scientists at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) have developed a new highly sensitive hormone blood test to assess the efficacy of the preventative breast cancer drug, anastrozole. Anastrozole is currently the recommended preventative therapy for women in the post-menopausal stage who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. MFT published the findings of the research in the Lancet Oncology journal. The research demonstrated that up to 25% of these post-menopausal women will not benefit from taking the medication. It also showed that clinicians will be able to provide these patients with a customised treatment plan if they conduct routine hormone testing. This will prevent thousands of women from experiencing negative effects of the drug, the NHS trust said. According to the study, anastrozole would have little to no effect on a woman’s risk of breast cancer if her oestradiol levels were low. As a result, these women might have avoided the medication’s potential five-year adverse effects, which frequently include hot flushes, pains, and low mood. MFT medical genetics and cancer epidemiology consultant D Gareth Evans said: “These results indicate the importance of incorporating serum oestrogen levels into risk models, so women can be reassured despite other risk factors if their levels are low, and likewise, higher levels may make more women eligible for anastrozole.” In postmenopausal women, anastrozozole reduces oestrogen levels, which would otherwise promote the growth of breast cancer cells. The once daily 1mg tablet of the hormone therapy medication known to be an aromatase inhibitor is administered over five years. It can only be taken by women who have gone through menopause as the medication cannot reduce oestrogen in women whose ovaries are still functioning. Anastrozole has been suggested as a preventive treatment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) since 2017. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted the medication a licence for use on the NHS in November 2023. It was based on results from an earlier study from the IBIS-II preventive trial, which was funded by MFT researchers. The trial revealed that anastrozole lowers the incidence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are at increased risk by 49%.

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Health On Cloud, an innovator in advanced healthcare solutions, is excited to announce the global expansion of its revolutionary metaverse medical consultation platform, CURISALL, along with its medical education platform, MEDTIS. This expansion is scheduled to launch in Kazakhstan, Colombia, and several other Latin American countries in 2024, marking a strategic move that underscores the company's commitment to harnessing metaverse technology for remote medical and educational services. Continue Reading Metaverse medical consultation platform, CURISALL Health On Cloud Expands Global Presence with Innovative Metaverse Medical Platform Mike Dowding, Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) of Health On Cloud, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "Leveraging metaverse technology for remote medical and educational services holds tremendous potential, particularly in rural communities of developing countries with limited access to high-quality healthcare services." Health On Cloud is focused on deploying a globally connected Virtual University Hospital consisting of (i) Meta-Versity; and (ii) Cloud Hospital. In line with WHO's vision, Health On Cloud envisions creating a world where no one is excluded from medical services. To achieve this goal, HOC is utilizing its technologies to introduce state-of-the-art digital healthcare solutions to several countries, notably Colombia. HOC intends to sequentially introduce the CLOUD HOSPITAL and META-VERSITY in Colombia as part of a collaborative Feasibility Study involving local leading medical institutions and global industry partners. The aim is to ensure the health of the country's citizens and enhance its healthcare capabilities, thereby contributing to the country's long-term well-being. Additionally, by collecting medical data through remote consultations, Health On Cloud aims to contribute to the latest advancements in healthcare technology. This study aims to extend beyond Colombia and expand sequentially into neighboring countries. After Colombia, the introduction of Digital Healthcare Solutions is being considered in other Latin American countries, which are relatively geographically limited by the Amazon jungle. Furthermore, Health On Cloud will extend its impact through MEDTIS, a cloud-based educational platform offering specialized courses in oncology, cardiology, and neuroscience. Leveraging extended reality technology, the platform also provides virtual reality medical training for healthcare professionals. The initiative marks a significant step towards creating a world where basic medical services are accessible to everyone. Health On Cloud aims to pioneer the integration of the metaverse and healthcare on an international scale to provide an opportunity for individuals worldwide to receive top-notch medical treatment from leading professionals by merging the metaverse with healthcare. To expedite this initiative, Dr. Sanghoon Jheon, the president of the Asian Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, founded the Smart Hospital Alliance committed to advancing global medical accessibility, education, patient safety, and customer satisfaction through the adoption of ICT and metaverse technologies. Notable participants include Seoul National University Hospital Group and Asan Medical Center in South Korea, as well as leading institutions in the UK, Singapore, and the USA, such as the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. As a pivotal member of the Smart Hospital Alliance (SHA), Health On Cloud is dedicated to fostering the progression of healthcare through technology and international partnerships. "Beyond remote consultations, personalized medical advice, and innovative educational initiatives, Health On Cloud is committed to supporting transformative projects in simulation centers, advancing research in tropical disease genomics, and pioneering early cancer detection. This underscores our dedication to fostering a healthier and more connected world," concluded Tim Jheon. SOURCE Health On Cloud