Immune Pharmacodynamic Responses of the Novel Cancer Immunotherapeutic Imprime PGG in Healthy Volunteers.

Imprime PGG (Imprime) is an i.v. administered, yeast ß-1,3/1,6 glucan in clinical development with checkpoint inhibitors. Imprime-mediated innate immune activation requires immune complex formation with naturally occurring IgG anti-ß glucan Abs (ABA). We administered Imprime to healthy human volunteers to assess the necessity of ABA for Imprime-mediated immunopharmacodynamic (IPD) changes. Imprime (4 mg/kg) was administered i.v. in single and multiple infusions. Subsets of subjects were premedicated with antihistamine and corticosteroid. Peripheral blood was measured before, during and after Imprime administration for IPD changes (e.g., ABA, circulating immune complexes, complement activation, complete blood counts, cytokine/chemokine, and gene expression changes). IPD changes were analyzed based on pretreatment serum ABA levels: low-ABA (<20 µg/ml), mid-ABA (≥20-50 µg/ml), and high-ABA (≥50 µg/ml). At the end of infusion, free serum ABA levels decreased, circulating immune complex levels increased, and complement activation was observed. At ∼1-4 h after end of infusion, increased expression of cytokines/chemokines, a 1.5-4-fold increase in neutrophil and monocyte counts and a broad activation of innate immune genes were observed. Low-ABA subjects typically showed minimal IPD changes except when ABA levels rose above 20 µg/ml after repeated Imprime dosing. Mild-to-moderate infusion-related reactions occurred in subjects with ABA ≥20 µg/ml. Premedications alleviated some of the infusion-related reactions, but also inhibited cytokine responses. In conclusion, ABA levels, being critical for Imprime-mediated immune activation may provide a plausible, mechanism-based biomarker to identify patients most likely to respond to Imprime-based anticancer immunotherapy.

Metformin and Covid-19: Focused Review of Mechanisms and Current Literature Suggesting Benefit.

Metformin is the first-line medication for type 2 diabetes, but it also has a long history of improved outcomes in infectious diseases, such as influenza, hepatitis C, and in-vitro assays of zika. In the current Covid-19 pandemic, which has rapidly spread throughout the world, 4 observational studies have been published showing reduced mortality among individuals with home metformin use. There are several potential overlapping mechanisms by which metformin may reduce mortality from Covid-19. Metformin's past anti-infectious benefits have been both against the infectious agent directly, as well as by improving the underlying health of the human host. It is unknown if the lower mortality suggested by observational studies in patients infected with Covid-19 who are on home metformin is due to direct activity against the virus itself, improved host substrate, or both.

A randomized, controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of BTH1677 in combination with bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel in first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: BTH1677, a beta-glucan pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecule, drives an anti-cancer immune response in combination with oncology antibody therapies. This phase II study explored the efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), and safety of BTH1677 combined with bevacizumab/carboplatin/paclitaxel in patients with untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Patients were randomized to the BTH1677 arm (N = 61; intravenous [IV] BTH1677, 4 mg/kg, weekly; IV bevacizumab, 15 mg/kg, once each 3-week cycle [Q3W]; IV carboplatin, 6 mg/mL/min Calvert formula area-under-the-curve, Q3W; and IV paclitaxel, 200 mg/m2, Q3W) or Control arm (N = 31; bevacizumab/carboplatin/paclitaxel as above). Carboplatin/paclitaxel was discontinued after 4-6 cycles and patients who responded or remained stable received maintenance therapy with BTH1677/bevacizumab (BTH1677 arm) or bevacizumab (Control arm). Efficacy assessments, based on blinded central radiology review, included objective response rate (ORR; primary endpoint), disease control rate, duration of objective response, and progression-free survival. Overall survival and adverse events (AEs) were also assessed. RESULTS: ORR was higher in the BTH1677 vs Control arm but the difference between groups was not statistically significant (60.4% vs 43.5%; P = .2096). All other clinical endpoints also favored the BTH1677 arm but none statistically differed between arms. PK was consistent with previous studies. Although a higher incidence of Grade 3/4 AEs occurred in the BTH1677 vs Control arm (93.2% vs 66.7%), no unexpected AEs were observed. Serious AEs and discontinuations due to AEs were lower in the BTH1677 vs Control arm. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in tumor assessments and survival were observed with BTH1677/bevacizumab/carboplatin/paclitaxel compared with control treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration ID: NCT00874107 . Registered 2 April 2009. First participant was enrolled on 29 September 2009.

Surgical management of the neuropathic bladder.

In a simplified view, the "normal" bladder, through a multifaceted neuromuscular event, allows the basic functions of urinary storage and emptying. More specifically, the urinary bladder accommodates increasing urinary volume with little to no increase in vesicular pressure while maintaining continence. The normal act of emptying integrates the relaxation of the urinary sphincters (external and internal) with the subsequent bladder contraction to void to completion when full. There are a multitude of conditions, both congenital and acquired, that can affect the bladder's ability to perform these functions in a smooth and coordinated fashion. The most common causes of pediatric bladder dysfunction necessitating surgical intervention are those associated with spina bifida/myelodysplasia, posterior urethral valves, and bladder exstrophy. Over the last 2 decades, the evolution of complex reconstruction for lower urinary tract dysfunction has resulted in an improved quality of life for children afflicted with upper urinary tract changes or incontinence despite maximum utilization of nonoperative therapies. Because each patient represents a unique therapeutic entity, an individualized approach to each child is recommended.