Vanessa Kachadurian Bioscience - New COPD drug clears Phase III

 

Novartis ($NVS), working to get a pair of Europe-approved COPD treatments onto the U.S. market, reported some positive Phase III data while awaiting final word from the FDA.

The two inhaled treatments are NVA237, a bronchodilator marketed as Seebri Breezhaler overseas, and QVA149, which combines the active ingredient in NVA237 with Novartis' approved Onbrez.
In one Phase III program, the twice-daily QVA149 met its goals of significantly improving COPD patients' lung function compared to placebo and its individual components alone. The inhaler also met its secondary goals of improving breathlessness and quality of life, Novartis said. And in two separate late-stage studies, NVA237 beat placebo in improving lung function, meeting its primary endpoint. Both treatments charted a similar profile to placebo and their comparator agents, the company said.
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/novartis-duo-copd-drugs-clears-phase-iii-path-fda-decision/2015-05-22

Vanessa Kachadurian, Bioscience firm in Colorado raised $2.274 million in new funding

BOULDER - Mosaic Biosciences Inc. raised $2.274 million in new funding, according to a federal regulatory document.

In all, the Boulder-based company plans to raise $2.31 million in all in the latest funding round, according to the federal regulatory document. Company co-founder and president Marty Stanton did not immediately return a call requesting comment.

Mosaic makes a water-soluble gel that can be used to fill and heal wounds. The gel currently is going through testing required to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. It's made of polyethylene glycol, which also is used in cosmetics, drugs and food additives in the United States.

Stanton co-founded the company in 2009 with research colleagues at the University of Colorado-Boulder, including Pete Mariner, Kristi Anseth and Chris Bowman. The company licensed the gel substance for an undisclosed sum from Anseth's research lab at CU-Boulder, where it was developed over a period of five years.

The gel substance has biophysical and biochemical properties that support a patient's tissue structure. As a wound heals, the gel is taken over by healthy cells and dissolves into the body over a two-week period, according to Mariner.

The tissue-regeneration substance also can be used in bone regeneration and cartilage repair. It can be used on patients with bed sores, or as stem-cell therapy.

Stanton previously raised $1.3 million in venture capital funding in 2011. Well-known bioscience venture capital firms HealthCare Ventures in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Morganthaler Ventures in Menlo Park, California, with an office in Boulder, High Country Ventures in Boulder and Ganot Capital LLC in Hollywood, Florida, have all put money into the company in the past.

Vanessa Kachadurian Bioscience Firm in Kansas City rewarded for adding 230 jobs!!

This is what America is all about!!!

State incentives will help a global life sciences company create 230 new jobs in south Kansas City.
Catalent Pharma Solutions Inc., which has a 50-employee workforce at 10245 Hickman Mills Drive in Marion Business Park, will receive $2.65 million through the Missouri Quality Jobs program if it meets job and investment targets, said Amy Susan, a spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
Missouri Quality Jobs allows employers to retain the withholding taxes of eligible employees for a number of years.
Besides the 230 new jobs, the expansion calls for Catalent to invest $30 million in the south Kansas City site.
RELATED: Global pharma company will add 230 jobs in south KC
Based in Somerset, N.J., Catalent acquired Aptuit Inc.'s drug-development operations in Marion Business Park two years ago. Marion Business Park is the former home of Marion Laboratories and current home of Cerner Corp.'s Innovation Campus.
Gov. Jay Nixon and Kansas City Mayor Sly James are scheduled to visit the south Kansas City site Tuesday for a formal announcement of Catalent's expansion.
The expansion news is the latest of several positive economic development announcements involving Kansas City. Last month, Cerner confirmed plans to create as many as 15,000 new jobs as part of a $4.3 billion plan to redevelop the former Bannister Mall site, and Aviation Technical Services announced that it would create 500 jobs at Kansas City International Airport. Last week, Sedgwick LLP, an international law firm based in San Francisco, announced plans to create a new 100-job administrative center in Kansas City.

Vanessa Kachadurian Bioscience response of Oxidation in Cells

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new method for accurately measuring a key process governing a wide variety of cellular functions that may become the basis for a "health checkup" for living cells.
The NIST technique measures changes in a living cell's internal redox (reduction-oxidation) potential, a chemistry concept that expresses the favorability of reactions in which molecules or atoms either gain or lose electrons. Redox reactions are important to cell chemistry because they regulate many genes and the proteins they produce. An accurate measure of redox potential can provide insight into how well these genes are working, and in turn, whether or not the activities they control—such as differentiation and growth—are functioning normally.
To assess this, scientists customarily measure the levels of both the reduced (electrons added) and oxidized (electrons lost) forms of glutathione, a peptide the cell uses as an antioxidant. Glutathione in cells is found predominately in the reduced state, known as GSH, but some gets converted to the oxidized form, known as GSSG. A high amount of GSSG indicates a cell has suffered oxidative stress, a process believed to contribute to cell aging, breakdown, malfunction (such as cancer) and eventual death.
Unfortunately, traditional methods of obtaining this data are akin to an autopsy. The only way to measure the relative amounts of GSH and GSSG within a cell has been to rupture its membrane—killing it—and then examine the released contents.
The NIST team developed a way to measure GSH and GSSG levels in living cells in real time using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)spectroscopy, a technique that images individual molecules similar to how doctors use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to noninvasively view organs. "NMR has been shown in recent years to be a powerful tool for studying metabolites as they operate in living cells, so we felt it could work well as a noninvasive way to do the same for GSH and GSSG," says NIST research chemist Vytas Reipa.
In their proof-of-concept experiment,* the NIST researchers grew a mutant strain of yeast cells that could not manufacture their own glutathione in a medium containing the peptide tagged with a nitrogen isotope. This ensured that the only glutathione available in the cells would be detectable using NMR during its conversion from GSH to GSSG.
GSH and GSSG levels were measured by NMR for both cells at rest and under oxidative stress, and then used to calculate the changing intracellular redox potentials over time. The results showed, for the first time ever, that redox potential can serve as an indicator of how cells perform in response to oxidation in real time.
"We know that when oxidation tips the balance toward too much GSSG, we get a redox potential shifted more to the positive than it should be," Reipa explains. "A healthy cell compensates by reversing the process and when that happens, the redox potential shifts back to its original value. A sick cell, on the other hand, does not compensate and the value stays positive. Therefore, an accurate in-cell measurement of redox potential could one day help us determine how well cells can recover from oxidative stress and, as a result, give us a picture of the cell's overall health."
Currently, the NIST researchers are exploring other NMR-detectable peptides involved in reduction and oxidation processes to conduct studies with mammalian cells.
The NMR spectroscopy in this experiment was conducted at NIST's Gaithersburg, Md., facility in collaboration with NIST scientists at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) in Charleston, S.C., and the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) in Rockville, Md.
Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST

Vanessa Kachadurian Bioscience, Liventa Bioscience partners with Medline

Philadelphia, Pa. (PRWEB) February 12, 2014

Liventa Bioscience (formerly AFCell Medical), the trusted innovator in living donor birth tissues to advance wound care healing, has joined forces with industry leader Medline Industries, Inc. to enter the U.S. wound care market.
The partnership will introduce Liventa’s advanced placental-based technology to Medline’s extensive customer base of Veteran’s Administration (VA) hospitals, non-VA hospitals, home health care, wound care centers and other care providers. The partnership will allow Liventa’s innovative wound care technology to be used in the treatment of chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers and other hard-to-heal chronic skin ulcers.
“Medline’s industry leading track record of supplying high quality products and services to the VA system and other health care providers combined with Liventa’s innovative living donor processing technology is a truly synergistic combination,” said David Buche, chief operating officer for Liventa Bioscience. “Medline’s commitment to advanced biologics for wound care combined with their supply chain management expertise creates the ideal solution for wound care centers that seek to control costs while simultaneously enhancing their quality of care.”
Medline’s extensive on-staff clinical and product expertise and exceptional sales and service organization provides a strong platform for introducing Liventa’s advanced innovation into the entire continuum of care, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health care providers and wound care centers over the course of the partnership.
About Medline
As the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of health care products, Medline is a leading provider of innovative advanced wound care products, programs and educational support. Medline’s team of clinical consultants and product experts provide comprehensive wound care solutions to healthcare providers throughout the country. Overall, Medline manufactures and distributes more than 350,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, physician offices, home care agencies and providers, and retailers. Named one of the country’s "Best and Brightest Companies to Work For,” Medline is headquartered in Mundelein, Ill. and has more than 1,100 dedicated sales representatives to support its broad product line and cost management services. For more information on Medline, go to http://www.medline.com. Click here to find out how to connect with Medline on a variety of social media channels for the most recent news on initiatives, innovations and products.
About Liventa Bioscience
Liventa Bioscience is a privately held, commercial stage biotechnology company focused on bringing advanced biologics to market. Its innovative allograft tissue forms come from living donors and are available through independent distribution. Liventa is currently offering or is in the process of developing a number of advanced orthopedic biologics. These products include human collagen membrane sheets derived from placental tissues, flowable wound coverings, synovial fluid transplants and innovative new soft tissue repair implants.
Liventa’s advanced biologics for wound care include a range of placental derived coverings, which promise to significantly improve the cost/efficacy dynamic for chronic wound care patients. In addition to its strategic alliance with Medline, Liventa is also a key strategic partner with Cryoport, Inc. and Crosslink Orthopaedics.
For more information on Liventa, visit http://www.liventabioscience.com.
About Robin Young
Liventa Chief Executive Officer, Robin Young has more than three decades of experience in medical technology and is one of the leading regenerative medicine technology experts in the United States. He is the founder and CEO of the annual New York Stem Cell Summit now in its eighth year. Young is also publisher of Orthopedics This Week, a leading industry journal. He has published more than 1,000 research reports and six books regarding regenerative medicine technologies and markets. Young was named “Best on the Street” by the Wall Street Journal and was identified as one of the top ten analysts in the United States by Institutional Investor Magazine.
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/02/prweb11576903.htm

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1734317#ixzz2tEma6G45

Vanessa Kachadurian, Bioscience spotlight on Semprus Bioscience preventing complications from medical device implants

Any medical device implanted in the body attracts bacteria, proteins, and other microbes to its surface, causing infections and thrombosis (blood clotting) that lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. Devices can be coated with antibiotics, blood thinners, and other agents – but these eventually dissolve, limiting their longevity and effectiveness.

Now, Semprus BioSciences, a startup co-founded by two MIT alumni – Christopher Loose PhD ’07 and CEO David Lucchino MBA ’06 – is developing a novel biomaterial for implanted medical devices that permanently barricades these troublesome microbes from the device’s surface.

The biomaterial is a nonleaching polymeric sulfobetaine (polySB) that, when applied to a medical device, sprouts a thicket of polymers that attract water, creating an impenetrable barrier for microbes. Its chemical makeup also mimics that of cells important to homeostasis, potentially reducing the body’s natural rejection of implanted devices.

“Basically, we’ve developed a long-lasting solution that blocks negative consequences in the body by making devices look more like the human body,” Loose says.

The application of polySB to catheters yields a significant reduction in the buildup of protein, mammalian cells, and microbes on a device’s surface, compared with unmodified catheters. This has potential to reduce blood clots and infection, and improve overall patient health, the co-founders say.

The technology was described in a paper published last year in the journal Science Translation Medicine, co-authored by Loose, Lucchino, MIT Institute Professor Robert Langer, and other researchers.

Based on Loose’s work at MIT, the biomaterial has positioned Semprus as a fast-growing biotech firm in Kendall Square. In its six years, the startup – seed-funded, in part, by the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition – has earned millions of dollars in private and federal funding. In 2012, Semprus sold to a medical device-manufacturing giant for an amount that could reach $80 million. As a wholly owned subsidiary, the Semprus team continues developing the technology.

Semprus’ first commercial product based on the biomaterial, Semprus Sustain technology, is designed specifically for venous catheters and recently earned clearance from the Food and Drug Administration as a medical device deemed safe and effective for commercial distribution in the United States. It also recently received designation as a product meeting European Union standards of health, safety, and environmental protection.

Addressing an ‘unmet need’
The Semprus story began in Langer’s lab, where Loose, a chemical engineering PhD student, was charged with developing medical devices that could permanently be inserted in the body without triggering an immune response – in other words, creating medical devices that “looked more human,” Loose says.

Loose developed a means of applying naturally occurring antibiotics, called antimicrobial peptides – found in bacteria and human sweat – on medical devices. These peptides would puncture bacteria that came near, and microbes would have trouble developing resistance to them. In 2007, Loose was named one of “35 innovators under 35” by MIT Technology Review for this innovation.

Seeing commercial potential, Langer – a chemical engineer, bioengineer, and famed MIT entrepreneur – “played matchmaker” between Loose and Lucchino, who had previously worked for Polaris Ventures Partners and was, at the time, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

The two had an instant rapport, Lucchino says – and an ambition to commercialize Loose’s innovation. So they “went to school” on the medical-device market, canvassing hospitals to meet patients and to talk with nurses and doctors about unmet clinical needs.

“We learned quickly that the most successful entrepreneurs are good listeners,” Lucchino says. “We conducted our own ‘listening tour’ to understand the problem, so we could develop the most strategic business and technology solution.”

They found many patients suffering from chronic diseases – such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease – and a lack of permanent “coatings” for medical implants that might help these patients. Thus, Loose says, they were ahead of the curve in addressing the “unmet need” of the medical devices market.

“We realized an unmet need that was going to grow over the next few years and we were one of the first to have a solution to it,” he says. “Everything starts with the unmet need.”

Today, the Semprus technology has proven its effectiveness. In the Science Translation Medicine paper, the co-founders exposed polySB-modified catheters to blood for 60 days. In vitro, the modified catheters – on both their external and internal surfaces – saw a 98% reduction in the accumulation of platelets and three types of white blood cells. Additionally, thrombotic material on the device was reduced by 99%. In vivo, the modified catheters showed a 99 percent reduction in thrombus accumulation, 50% less inflammation, and fewer bacteria.

‘A pathway’ for a startup
A catalyst for starting Semprus was winning MIT’s $100K (as SteriCoat) in 2006, and going on to win similar business-plan competitions at Harvard and Oxford universities.

“Once we had clear confirmation that there was an enormous unmet need, in terms of cost and patient impact, we had a clear business plan refined through the competitions, and even more so thereafter,” Loose says. “It gave us a pathway to say, ‘This is how we can solve a big problem and here’s the pathway to do it.’”

The two were also “very diligent in going to any networking and entrepreneur event at MIT. There is a tremendous [number] of MIT alumni, very open with their time, who provided critical support and advice,” Loose says.

Through MIT’s network of entrepreneurs, investors, and lawyers, “we were able to assemble a great team of advisers to refine our plans and give us the momentum to go out and do financing,” Lucchino says.

Under Lucchino’s stewardship, Semprus secured $28.5 million in venture capital financing and $2.4 million in federal funding, primarily from the National Science Foundation, and grew from two to 40 employees.

Lucchino says he owes some of his business acumen to his education at MIT Sloan, which taught him a broad set of entrepreneurial skills in finance, business, and operations strategies. “It was continuing to fertilize my entrepreneurial soil to get me in the best position to succeed,” Lucchino says.

Today, the two entrepreneurs continue to mentor students and give talks at MIT and Harvard Business School, sharing startup advice, or their “rules of the road” – such as knowing your technological and personal limitations, working with limited resources, being flexible to economic and other changes, and, most importantly, teamwork.

“No one person builds a company alone,” says Lucchino, who has served as guest lecturer at MIT Sloan. “As your company grows and there’s real value attached to what you’re doing, you need to be able to trust the people you’re working with. Chris and I, as a team, made Semprus a success. The most important skill and functionality we have is trust.”

Source: MIT News

http://www.onlinetmd.com/semprus-bioscience-medical-developments-123013.aspx

 

Vanessa Kachadurian Teaches Businesses To Sell | Segment News

Here is the accompanying article from Segment News, thank you my Journalist friends.


Most people have to sell something to someone at some point in their lives, and knows the task is sometimes daunting. But effective sales techniques are important for individuals and businesses to learn and incorporate. Everyone is in sales, no matter what their “profession” is.

Every once in a while, everyone is called on to sell something. People sell products, services, plans, ideas and beliefs. Sales is a positive thing, in and of itself. While many sales myths persist, most often people sell things of value—things that matter.

Vanessa Kachadurian built a career selling medical devices and supplies. The products she sold helped numerous people achieve relief from their ailments and receive better care from their health care providers.

Without sales, the economy and much of the way people understand the world simply would not exist. People sell themselves to get jobs, children sell ideas in school, researchers sell their knowledge and products are created. Sales is little more than effective communication, and Vanessa Kachadurian believes the following tips will help anyone learn to sell.

Ditch the Pitch. This vocabulary makes sales much harder. A pitch, in baseball terms, is something that is either avoided or swung at to bat it away. These are not ideal outcomes for a salesperson. Instead, think of the pitch as a recommendation. During the recommendation listen to the needs of the client and find a way to address those needs with the product. Vanessa Kachadurian argues that listening is more important than talking in these meetings because when a sales person knows their product well they have to hear what a client needs to know how to sell to them.

Honesty matters. Sales professionals must value honesty in their approach at all times. There is a difference between dishonesty and strategic positioning. When selling an idea or a product, outline the truth.

Knowledge is power. Effective sales people know as much as possible about the product, idea or service they are selling. It is a given that when making a sales pitch people are likely to ask questions that the seller does not know the answer to. Admitting this and promising to find an answer and following up is a great remedy to this situation. And follow-up shows dedication and commitment. Vanessa Kachadurian teaches people to present as much information as possible including potential drawbacks and how to address them.

Establish trust with clients. Trust comes from knowledge. During her career, Vanessa Kachadurian quickly established trust with clients by demonstrating expertise on the supplies she was selling. When clients trust the sales person, they believe that they can invest in the product or service and have little worry of future problems. They might also believe that if problems do arise, the company that sold the product will fix the issue.

Connect with clients. Connecting with clients during a sales meeting goes beyond establishing trust. Finding a personal connection between a client, the sales person and the product is essential for closing the deal. Vanessa Kachadurian regularly finds clients who have personal connections to the devices she is selling. By fostering a sense of relationship, she is able to show clients how a product will enhance their lives and businesses. Sales people who take an interest in their clients fare better when making their arguments because the client is comfortable with the seller.

Do not push. There is a difference between strong sales and aggression. Clients are likely to shut down if they feel they are forced into a corner. The decision to buy should come from the client, not the seller. The best sales people make their pitches and let the clients decide what to do next.

Vanessa Kachadurian Urges Businesses to Build Strong Sales Teams

Businesses need effective sales teams to grow. Even doctors, lawyers and other professional service providers have to sell to attract business. Particularly for small and new businesses, training a sales staff is one of the most important tasks leaders will conduct.

Training a sales staff requires in-depth knowledge. One of the biggest mistakes companies make is thinking that sales training is just an overview of the products and services offered, Vanessa Kachadurian notes. Training should take time and allow each member of the sales team to practice in situations similar to actual client meetings. Sales representatives should know where to find answers and have a working knowledge before they hold their first meetings.

The small business administration argues that sales forces should have expert knowledge in order to succeed. Because of technology, customers are more informed about products and competition than ever before, Ms. Kachadurian notes, it is important for sales people to have even more knowledge and skill.

All training of sales teams should include an awareness of any competition. When questions arise about competing products and services, a good sales person should have the ability to address the merits of the competition and position his or her product more favorably.

Without a strong sales force it is nearly impossible for businesses to grow. One-time training is also not enough to ensure continued growth and increased revenues. Sales teams should meet regularly to discuss successful methods and questions they receive. They should also stay abreast of industry developments and competition advancements.

Vanessa Kachadurian understands that for many businesses these measures are costly, but encourages owners to make the investment for the long-term health of their companies.

ABOUT:

Vanessa Kachadurian is a medical professional who built a successful career in sales. She is a driven individual who found success by building relationships and knowing the products she was tasked with selling. By becoming an expert with a highly specialized working knowledge of medical supplies and devices, she successfully raised revenues for the companies she worked for. She earned her bachelor’s degree from National University and graduated cum laude. In 2000 her career began with a position at Cardinal Health and her strong business acumen has propelled her forward ever since. She is of Armenian descent and enjoys promoting her culture through philanthropic activities.

Vanessa Kachadurian Teaches Businesses the Art of Selling by Jon Dye  - See more at: http://segment.com/vanessa-kachadurian-art-of-selling/#sthash.WpK5GdSC.dpuf