October 24, 2022

Taconic Biosciences Launches First and Only Super Immunodeficient Mouse Models Lacking Residual Murine Fc Gamma Receptors, for Improved Antibody Therapy Assessment

FcResolv NOG Models Provide Greater Clarity and More Translatable Data

RENSSELAER, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Taconic Biosciences, a global leader in providing drug discovery animal model solutions, has launched the FcResolv NOG portfolio, the first and only super immunodeficient mouse models lacking residual murine Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) known to confound results in antibody-based therapy studies.

Murine FcγRs can cause false positives or false negatives, leading to incorrect conclusions and derail drug discovery. FcResolv NOG models knock out these receptors for greater clarity in antibody-based drug studies, affording investigators greater confidence and more translatable data with fewer studies and fewer animals. With applicability in oncology, immuno-oncology, and autoimmune disease, FcResolv NOG models are suitable for engrafting a wide range of human cells and tissues, including simultaneous human tumor engraftment and immune system humanization.

“Antibody-based therapies represent one of the fastest-growing classes of drugs, creating a pressing need for better preclinical tools to assess therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and bispecific antibodies,” said Dr. Michael Seiler, vice president of commercial products at Taconic. “Taconic’s FcResolv NOG portfolio enables researchers to evaluate drug candidates like these on their own merits, free of interference from residual murine Fc gamma receptor activity.”

FcResolv NOG models eliminate the false negatives that occur when an antibody-based therapeutic’s Fc domain interacts with murine FcγRs as well as the false positives that result when FcγRs trigger residual murine immune activity. They also eliminate costly deconvolution steps otherwise needed to distinguish true drug efficacy from off-target effects mediated through the mouse immune system. With more reliable answers, researchers can target their drug discovery investments more strategically and effectively.

The FcResolv NOG model portfolio is based on the super immunodeficient CIEA NOG mouse^®. The portfolio currently includes two models:

FcResolv NOG, for tumor xenografts using cell lines or patient-derived tumors, engraftment of other normal or pathological human cells and tissues, and immune system humanization studies
FcResolv hIL-15 NOG, which supports engraftment of human NK cells and is suitable for efficacy studies on antibody-based therapeutics with an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mechanism of action

To learn more about the FcResolv NOG portfolio, visit www.Taconic.com/fcresolv. Or call 1-888-TACONIC (888-822-6642) in the US, +45 70 23 04 05 in Europe, or email info@taconic.com.

About Taconic Biosciences, Inc.

Taconic Biosciences is a fully licensed, global leader in genetically engineered rodent models and services. Founded in 1952, Taconic provides the best animal solutions so that customers can acquire, custom-generate, breed, precondition, test, and distribute valuable research models worldwide. Specialists in genetically engineered mouse and rat models, microbiome, immuno-oncology mouse models, and integrated model design and breeding services, Taconic operates service laboratories and breeding facilities in the U.S. and Europe, maintains distributor relationships in Asia and has global shipping capabilities to provide animal models almost anywhere in the world.

Media Contact:

Louise Baskin, Senior Director New Product Pipeline

303-432-2495

Louise.Baskin@taconic.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8670208

October 24, 2022

Taconic Biosciences lance le premier et le seul modèle de souris super immunodéficientes dépourvus de récepteurs Fc Gamma murins résiduels, pour une évaluation améliorée de la thérapie par anticorps

Les modèles FcResolv NOG offrent une plus grande clarté et des données plus traduisibles

RENSSELAER, New York, 24 oct. 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Taconic Biosciences, un leader mondial dans la fourniture de solutions de modèles animaux pour la découverte de médicaments, a lancé le portefeuille FcResolv NOG, les premiers et seuls modèles de souris super immunodéficientes dépourvus de récepteurs Fc Gamma murins résiduels (FcyRs) connus pour fausser les résultats dans les études thérapeutiques à base d’anticorps.

Les FcyRs murins peuvent provoquer de faux positifs ou de faux négatifs, ce qui conduit à des conclusions erronées et fait dérailler la découverte de médicaments. Les modèles FcResolv NOG éliminent ces récepteurs pour une plus grande clarté dans les études médicamenteuses à base d’anticorps, offrant aux chercheurs une plus grande confiance et des données plus traduisibles avec moins d’études et moins d’animaux. Avec une applicabilité en oncologie, en immuno-oncologie et en maladie auto-immune, les modèles FcResolv NOG sont adaptés à la greffe d’un large éventail de cellules et tissus humains, y compris la greffe de tumeurs humaines simultanée et l’humanisation du système immunitaire.

« Les thérapies à base d’anticorps représentent l’une des classes de médicaments à la croissance la plus rapide, créant un besoin urgent de meilleurs outils précliniques pour évaluer des traitements tels que les anticorps monoclonaux, les conjugués anticorps-médicaments et les anticorps bispécifiques », a déclaré le Dr Michael Seiler, vice-président des produits commerciaux chez Taconic. « Le portefeuille de récepteurs FcResolv NOG de Taconic permet aux chercheurs d’évaluer des médicaments candidats tels que ceux-ci selon leurs propres mérites, sans interférence de l’activité résiduelle du récepteur Fc Gamma murin. »

Les modèles FcResolv NOG éliminent les faux négatifs qui se produisent lorsqu’un domaine Fc thérapeutique à base d’anticorps interagit avec les FcyRs murins, ainsi que les faux positifs qui en résultent lorsque les FcyRs déclenchent une activité immunitaire murine résiduelle. Ils éliminent également les étapes de déconvolution coûteuses nécessaires pour distinguer une véritable efficacité médicamenteuse des effets hors cible induits par le système immunitaire de la souris. Grâce à des réponses plus fiables, les chercheurs peuvent cibler leurs investissements dans la découverte de médicaments de manière plus stratégique et plus efficace.

Le portefeuille de modèles NOG FcResolv est basé sur la souris^® NOG CIEA super immunodéficiente. Le portefeuille comprend actuellement deux modèles :

FcResolv NOG, pour les xérogreffes tumorales utilisant des lignées cellulaires ou des tumeurs dérivées des patients, la greffe d’autres cellules et tissus humains normaux ou pathologiques, et les études d’humanisation du système immunitaire
FcResolv hIL-15 NOG, qui supporte la greffe des cellules NK humaines et convient pour des études d’efficacité sur les thérapies à base d’anticorps avec un mécanisme d’action de cytotoxicité cellulaire dépendant des anticorps (ADCC)

Pour en savoir plus sur le portefeuille de FcResolv NOG, rendez-vous sur www.Taconic.com/fcresolv. Vous pouvez également appeler le 1-888-TACONIC (888-822-6642) aux États-Unis, le +45 70 23 04 05 en Europe, ou envoyer un e-mail à l’adresse info@taconic.com.

À propos de Taconic Biosciences, Inc.

Taconic Biosciences est un leader mondial pleinement agréé dans les modèles et les services de rongeurs génétiquement modifiés. Fondée en 1952, Taconic offre les meilleures solutions animales afin que les clients puissent acquérir, générer d’une manière personnalisée, élever, pré-conditionner, tester et distribuer des modèles de recherche précieux dans le monde entier. Spécialiste des modèles de souris et de rats génétiquement modifiés, du microbiome, des modèles de souris pour l’immuno-oncologie et des services de conception de modèles intégrés et d’élevage, Taconic exploite des laboratoires de services et des établissements d’élevage aux États-Unis et en Europe, entretient des relations de distribution en Asie et dispose de capacités d’expédition mondiales pour fournir des modèles animaux presque partout dans le monde.

Contact auprès des médias :

Louise Baskin, directrice principale du nouveau Pipeline de produits

303-432-2495

Louise.Baskin@taconic.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8670426

October 24, 2022

Taconic Biosciences Lança Primeiro e Único Modelo de Camundongo Super Imunodeficiente Sem Receptores Gama Fc Murino Residuais, para Avaliação de Terapia de Anticorpo Aprimorada

Modelos FcResolv NOG proporcionam dados mais claros e mais traduzíveis

RENSSELAER, NY, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Taconic Biosciences, líder global no fornecimento de soluções de modelo animal para descoberta de medicamentos, lançou o portfólio FcResolv NOG, o primeiro e único modelo de camundongo superimunodeficiente sem receptores Fc gama murinos residuais (FcγRs) conhecidos por confundir os resultados nos estudos de terapia com base em anticorpos.

Os FcγRs murinos podem causar falsos positivos ou falsos negativos, levando a conclusões incorretas e afetar a descoberta de medicamentos. Os modelos FcResolv NOG eliminam esses receptores para maior clareza nos estudos de medicamentos com base em anticorpos, proporcionando aos investigadores maior confiança e dados mais traduzíveis, com menos estudos e menos animais. Com aplicabilidade em oncologia, imuno-oncologia e doença autoimune, os modelos FcResolv NOG são adequados para enxertos de uma ampla gama de células e tecidos humanos, incluindo enxerto simultâneo de tumor humano e humanização do sistema imunológico.

“As terapias com base em anticorpos são uma das classes de medicamentos de crescimento mais rápido, criando uma necessidade urgente de melhores ferramentas pré-clínicas para a avaliação terapêutica, como de anticorpos monoclonais, conjugados anticorpo-droga e anticorpos biespecíficos”, disse o Dr. Michael Seiler, vice-presidente de produtos comerciais da Taconic. “O portfólio FcResolv NOG da Taconic permite que pesquisadores avaliem candidatos a medicamentos como esses por si próprios, sem interferência da atividade residual do receptor Fc gama murino.”

Os modelos FcResolv NOG eliminam os falsos negativos que ocorrem quando o domínio Fc de um terapêutico com base em anticorpos interage com os FcγRs murinos, bem como os falsos positivos que resultam quando os FcγRs desencadeiam atividade imune murina residual. Eles também eliminam as etapas dispendiosas de desconvolução que normalmente são necessárias para distinguir a verdadeira eficácia do medicamento dos efeitos fora do alvo mediados pelo sistema imunológico do camundongo. Com respostas mais confiáveis, os pesquisadores podem direcionar seus investimentos em descoberta de medicamentos de forma mais estratégica e eficaz.

O portfólio do modelo FcResolv NOG tem como base o CIEA NOG mouse^® superimunodeficiente. Atualmente, o portfólio inclui dois modelos:

FcResolv NOG, para xenoenxertos de tumores com linhagens celulares ou tumores derivados de pacientes, enxerto de outras células e tecidos humanos normais ou patológicos, e estudos de humanização do sistema imunológico
FcResolv hIL-15 NOG, que aceita enxertos de células NK humanas e é adequado para estudos de eficácia em terapêutica com base em anticorpos com um mecanismo de ação de citotoxicidade celular dependente de anticorpos (ADCC)

Para mais informação sobre o portfólio FcResolv NOG, visite www.Taconic.com/fcresolv. Ou ligue para 1-888-TACONIC (888-822-6642) nos EUA, +45 70 23 04 05 na Europa, ou envie email para info@taconic.com.

Sobre a Taconic Biosciences, Inc.

A Taconic Biosciences é uma líder global totalmente licenciada em serviços e modelos geneticamente modificados. Fundada em 1952, a Taconic oferece as melhores soluções/modelos de pesquisas em murinos, para que os clientes possam adquirir, customizar, criar, pré-condicionar, testar e distribuir valiosos modelos de pesquisa em todo o mundo. Especializada em modelos de camundongos e de ratos geneticamente projetados, microbioma, modelos de camundongos imuno-oncologia, e serviços de design e criação de modelos integrados, a Taconic opera laboratórios de serviços e instalações de criação nos EUA e na Europa, mantém relações com distribuidores na Ásia , e tem capacidades de entrega em nível global para oferecer modelos em quase qualquer lugar no mundo.

Contato com a Mídia:

Louise Baskin, Diretora Sênior de Pipeline de Novos Produtos

303-432-2495

Louise.Baskin@taconic.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8670426

October 24, 2022October 25, 2022

WFP at COP 27: Climate adaptation solutions needed to halt global food crisis

ROME – As world leaders gather at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt next month, WFP highlights the urgent need for climate adaptation solutions to stem the tide of growing hunger. The unfolding global food crisis cannot be stopped until we support communities and nations to manage the risks associated with a changing climate.

Extreme climate impacts like droughts, heatwaves and floods are one of the leading causes of hunger destroying crops and agricultural land, decimating livelihoods and wreaking havoc in already vulnerable communities. A shocking 40 percent of the global population lives in areas that are already highly vulnerable to climate extremes.

At COP27, WFP is showcasing solutions to avert and minimize loss and damage in vulnerable livelihoods and food systems. WFP is also calling for increased investment in climate adaptation for communities in fragile contexts, and the transformation of global food systems towards greener, more equitable and resilient pathways.

WFP is making available to the media experts at COP27 who can comment on the changing climate, its impact on food security and WFP solutions:

Gernot Laganda – WFP Director of Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction

Martin Frick – Climate and Food Systems Expert and Director of the WFP Berlin Office

Corinne Fleischer – WFP Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa

Menghestab Haile – WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa

Mathieu Dubreuil – WFP Climate Insurance Expert

Elizabeth Nyamayaro – WFP Special Advisor

(Other experts available on request)

**WFP is also pleased to invite media to a press conference **on Saturday 12 November at 11:30am at the press conference room ‘Cairo’ in the Nefertiti Area. For registrations contact: jenny.wilson@wfp.org; +39 342 123 5169

WFP will be present at the following sessions at COP 27.

The Climate Emergency is a Hunger Emergency, UNFCCC Pavilion, 8 November, 2pm

Environmentally Sustainable Solutions to Climate Change – Impact on vulnerable communities in Egypt and other African countries, UN in Egypt Pavilion, 9 November, 5pm

Climate-resilient food systems and peace: Exploring the interconnections, Room 8, 11 November 1:15pm

Turning Ambition into Action through the Power of Partnerships: Scaling up Anticipatory Action, UAE Pavillion, 12 November 10am

Disrupt Hunger | Innovating For People And Planet, UNFCCC Pavilion, 17 November 4pm

Join us on Twitter Spaces @WFP:

25 October, 10am – Loss and Damage: Solutions for communities on the frontlines

31 October, 11am – Anticipatory Action: First-hand accounts

**Examples of WFP’s work from the forefront of climate and hunger – **video footage here, photos here.

Source: World Food Programme

October 24, 2022October 25, 2022

Cholera outbreaks threaten children’s survival in the Middle East [EN/AR]

AMMAN– “The fast pace of the cholera outbreak in Syria and Lebanon is alarming and the risks of the disease further spreading to other countries in the region call for immediate action. Urgent support is needed to respond and contain the spread of the disease.

“The acute epidemic in Syria has left over 20,000 suspected cases with acute watery diarrhoea and 75 cholera-associated deaths since its start [1]. In Lebanon, confirmed cholera cases reached 448 in just two weeks, with 10 associated deaths [2].

“Several neighbouring countries are already affected with a high number of acute watery diarrhoea cases and may be at risk of cholera.

“Cholera outbreaks and acute watery diarrhoea add to children’s struggles in these countries. Malnourished children are more vulnerable to developing severe cholera disease, and the cholera outbreak is yet another blow to already overstretched health systems in the region.

“Cholera doesn’t know borders and lines of control, and spreads along population movements, including displacements. In hard-hit countries, the spread of the disease is fueled by weak water and sanitation systems, poor water management, increased poverty, climate change, and conflicts – all of which make safe water more and more scarce for families and their children and reliance on unsafe water exposes them to the risk of contracting the water-borne disease.

“Since the start of the outbreak, UNICEF has been delivering lifesaving health and water, hygiene, and sanitation supplies and services to affected areas, while helping families improve their hygiene practices. Simultaneously, preparedness and response efforts are being stepped up in neighbouring countries.

“UNICEF urgently needs US$40.5 million[3] to expand its emergency cholera response in Syria and Lebanon alone. This includes support in health, water, hygiene and sanitation, risk communication and community engagement in the next three months.”

Notes to editors:

In Syria, UNICEF:

Is distributing 7 million water treatment tablets to 350,000 people in affected governorates.

Distributed 408 tons of sodium hypochlorite during the first two weeks of October to increase chlorine dosages and concentration. Since the beginning of the cholera response, a total of 1,095 tons of sodium hypochlorite have been distributed, providing 13.5 million people with safe and clean water.

Delivered acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) kits to support treating an estimated 12,700 moderate cases and 11,700 severe AWD cases and distributed 244 kits in affected governorates.

Trained 438 health care workers and hygiene promotion teams, 160 religious leaders and 161 school health education officers on Interpersonal communication and community mobilization skills to prevent cholera outbreak.

The social behaviour change outreach teams have engaged 159,000 people through community dialogues with influential leaders, community health workers and volunteers and 71,000 children through health education sessions in schools, while 93,161 people were reached via door-to-door visits with key messages and actions on cholera prevention in Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Al Hasakeh, Al Raqqa, Damascus city and Damascus Rural.

In Lebanon, UNICEF:

Distributed 98,800 litres of fuel to water pumping stations and waste-water treatment stations in locations with confirmed and suspected cholera cases

Procured emergency medical supplies including 150,000 Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and 40 Cholera Treatment Kits to support the treatment of 5,000 cholera cases and symptoms including moderate to severe diarrhoea

Delivered Chlorinated Trucked water, wastewater desludging and ensuring disinfection in informal settlements with suspected or confirmed cases.

Trained over 4,369 frontline workers and partners on cholera awareness, including transmission, symptoms, treatment, prevention and referral mechanisms.

Scaled up safe water deliveries and increased desludging to over 250,000 people living in informal settlements.

In Iraq, UNICEF:

Supported capacity strengthening of laboratories with water testing and sampling instruments to reach 1 million people, as well as scaling-up on-site chlorine generation, and advocate for the establishment of local factories for chlorine.

Distributed 1.5 million units of ORS in affected governorates.

Trained over 700 frontline workers on issues ranging from water, sanitation and hygiene infection, prevention and control measures to cholera prevention messages.

Has been conducting social mobilization on the ground in the areas with high cases, as well as the airing of awareness-raising messages across TV, radio, social media and SMS, with over 14 million people reached so far.

[1] WHO, Syria, as of 15 October 2022.

[2] Ministry of Public Health, as of 21 October 2022.

[3] US$11.14 million in Syria and US$29.38 in Lebanon.

Source: UN Children’s Fund

October 24, 2022October 25, 2022

Rishi Sunak Wins Race to Be Next UK Prime Minister

Rishi Sunak ran for Britain’s top job and lost. Then he got another shot — and the chance to say, “I told you so.”

The former U.K. Treasury chief was runner-up to Liz Truss in the contest to replace the scandal-plagued Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader and prime minister.

But Truss quit after a turbulent 45-day term, and Johnson has abandoned a comeback attempt.

That left Sunak out front, and he won the race Monday to be leader of the Conservative Party and will assume the office he missed out on less than two months ago.

Victory in the Conservative leadership contest is vindication for Sunak, who warned in the last campaign that Truss’ tax-cutting economic plans were reckless and would cause havoc. And so, they did.

Truss resigned last week after her package of tax cuts spooked financial markets, hammered the value of the pound and obliterated her authority.

Sunak will be Britain’s first leader of color and first Hindu to take the top job. At 42, he’ll also be the youngest prime minister in more than 200 years, a political prodigy whose youthful looks, sharp suits, and smooth, confident manner saw him dubbed “Dishy Rishi” by the British media.

To win, Sunak had to overcome allegations by opponents that he was a turncoat for quitting Johnson’s government as it foundered amid ethics scandals.

The near-simultaneous resignations of Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid on July 5 set off a chain reaction. Within 48 hours, some 50 members of the government had quit, and Johnson was forced to step down.

Sunak painted it as a matter of principle, saying he wanted to repair the “breakdown of trust” in politics. He also accused Truss of offering “fairy tales” by promising immediate tax cuts when he felt curbing soaring inflation was a bigger priority.

Sunak was born in 1980 in Southampton on England’s south coast to parents of Indian descent who were both born in East Africa. He grew up in a middle-class family, his father a family doctor and his mother a pharmacist, and says he inherited their hard-working ethos.

He has described how his parents saved to send him to Winchester College, one of Britain’s most expensive and exclusive boarding schools.

After high school, Sunak studied politics, philosophy and economics at the University of Oxford — the degree of choice for future prime ministers – then received an MBA at Stanford University.

He worked for the investment bank Goldman Sachs as a hedge fund manager and lived in the United States, where he met his wife, Akshata Murty. They have two daughters.

Returning to Britain, Sunak was elected to parliament for the safe Tory seat of Richmond in Yorkshire in 2015. In Britain’s 2016 Brexit referendum, he supported leaving the European Union — a risky career move, since it went against the Conservative government’s policy.

When “leave” unexpectedly won, Sunak’s career took off. He served in several junior ministerial posts before being appointed chancellor of the exchequer – head of the Treasury – by Johnson in February 2020, just before the pandemic hit.

An instinctively low-tax, small state politician who idolizes former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he nonetheless forked out billions in government money to keep people and businesses afloat during the pandemic.

His furlough program, which paid the salaries of millions of workers when they were temporarily laid off, made him the most popular member of the government — a status he burnished with slick social media messages that rivals and critics said stressed his own brand more than the government’s.

Sunak, however, has had his wobbles over the years. Critics said a campaign to get people to eat in restaurants after lockdown restrictions were eased in the summer of 2020 contributed to another wave of COVID-19.

Others have said Sunak’s family’s vast wealth and Silicon Valley past put him out of touch with the struggles of ordinary people.

He also faced questions about his finances and those of his wife. Murty is the daughter of the billionaire founder of Indian tech giant Infosys, and the couple is worth 730 million pounds ($877 million), according to The Sunday Times’ Rich List.

In April 2022, it emerged that Murty did not pay U.K. tax on her overseas income.

The practice was legal, but it looked bad at a time when Sunak was raising taxes for millions of Britons. Sunak also was criticized for holding on to his American green card, which signifies an intent to settle in the U.S., for two years after he became Britain’s finance minister.Sunak was cleared of wrongdoing, but the revelations still hurt.

He was fined by police, along with Johnson and dozens of others, for attending a party in the prime minister’s office in 2020 that broke coronavirus lockdown rules.

Outrage over those parties at a time when Britons were forced to stay home contributed to Johnson’s downfall. Sunak has said he attended inadvertently and briefly.

In his first leadership campaign, he depicted himself as the candidate of grown-up decisions and fiscal probity, criticizing Truss’ plans to lower taxes and increase borrowing, and vowing to get inflation under control.

That’s now a harder job than ever.

Source: Voice of America