WESTCHESTER COUNTY BIOSCIENCES UPDATE
Featuring news, events and industry trends
A Conversation with Jason Gorevic, CEO of Teladoc Health

In a recent interview with Managed Healthcare Executive® Managing Editor Peter Wehrwein, and Jason Gorevic, CEO of Teladoc Health, headquartered in Purchase, discuss a wide range of issues, including the company’s deal with Amazon to provide telehealth services through Amazon’s smartspeaker technology, Alexa; its ambitions to increase per-participant revenues by 27-fold by providing “whole person virtual care”; and whether Teladoc is a threat to primary care and bricks-and-mortar healthcare system.
The longtime CEO of Teladoc discusses the company's deal with Amazon and providing telehealth services via Alexa in this first part of a three-part article series.
You can read the first of this three-part series here.
Changing the Lives of Children Living with Cerebral Palsy through Innovative Clinical Trials
 
With a deep understanding that there is an urgent need to advance treatments for Cerebral Palsy (CP), the most common motor disability in childhood, Dr. Kathleen Friel and her lab of dedicated researchers at White Plains headquartered, Burke Neurological Institute (BNI), are changing the lives of children living with Cerebral Palsy through innovative therapies that are test-driven in clinical trials. For nearly twelve years, the Friel Lab has collaborated with Dr. Andrew Gordon of the Center for Cerebral Palsy Research at the Teachers College-Columbia University, where over 300 children have participated in developing and testing treatment approaches for children with CP. The collaborative teamwork led by Drs. Friel and Gordon on intensive hand and arm training therapies has shown improvements in hand and arm function, allowing children with CP to learn new, long-term life skills.

More about this work can be found here.
IN THE NEWS
Late-breaking Phase 3 Data at AAD 2022 Show Dupixent® (dupilumab) Significantly Improved Signs and Symptoms of Prurigo Nodularis

Tarrytown headquartered, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi announced that detailed positive results from the Phase 3 PRIME2 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Dupixent® (dupilumab) were presented today in a late-breaking session at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2022 Annual Meeting. The companies previously announced topline results from PRIME2 and a second trial, called PRIME, investigating the use of Dupixent in adults with uncontrolled prurigo nodularis. In both trials, Dupixent significantly reduced itch and skin lesions compared to placebo. In total, 21 scientific abstracts evaluating the safety and efficacy of Dupixent in patients with atopic dermatitis in different age groups, as well as investigational indications of prurigo nodularis and chronic spontaneous urticaria will be presented at the congress.
Students Win $1.8 Million at Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 for Exceptional Research on Neutron Star--Black Hole Systems, Narrowband Radar, and Ribosome Movement in Protein Translation

Tarrytown headquartered, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Society for Science (the Society) announced the top ten winners headed by Christine Ye, 17, of Sammamish, Wash., who won the top award in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation's oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. 

For the first time since 2019, the competition was held in person under strict COVID-19 protocols in Washington, D.C., after virtual competitions in 2020 and 2021. Forty finalists, including Christine, were honored during a livestreamed award ceremony emceed by Saturday Night Live's Melissa Villaseñor. More than $1.8 million was awarded to the finalists, who were evaluated based on their projects' scientific rigor, their exceptional problem-solving abilities and their potential to become scientific leaders.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search provides a national stage for future leaders in STEM – bringing together the best and brightest young minds to present their original research ideas to world-class scientists. The competition celebrates the hard work, innovative thinking, and creativity of students who are bringing a fresh perspective to solving significant global challenges through rigorous research and cutting-edge discoveries. The judging panel also considers how these research efforts, innovative thinking and leadership qualities demonstrate the students' ability to drive forward critical STEM fields in the future.
Decoding COVID Brain Fog, a Discussion with Dr. Rajiv Ratan CEO of Burke Neurological Institute

Now as a Recorded Webinar
Speaker:
Chief Executive Officer
Burke Neurological Institute
Burke Professor, Associate Dean (affiliate)
Weill Cornell Medicine
Enjoy at your convenience our newest recorded Science Gives Hope webinar on “Decoding COVID Brain Fog, a Discussion with Dr. Rajiv Ratan CEO of Burke Neurological Institute.” Both enduring the pandemic and post coronavirus disease can cause difficulty thinking or concentrating, also known as “brain fog.” Dr. Ratan’s insightful talk discusses and answers questions about brain fog, how long does it last, treatment options, what to do if you have COVID brain fog, and research underway.
Clarapath Trailblazes in Automating Laboratory Pathology Processes

Hawthorne-based Clarapath’s technology will meet a long-overdue need not only for clinical markets like hospitals, clinics and medical centers, but also for nonclinical settings in which cell and tissue samples are necessary, like drug and toxicology development, pharmaceutical firms and contract research organizations.
Central New York Biotech Accelerator Now Accepting Applications for 2022 Medical Device Innovation Challenge
 
The CNYBAC Medical Device Innovation Challenge is a 6-month intensive mentorship / network expansion / resource rich program for early-stage innovators. This highly competitive program accepts 5-6 teams each year to participate. To date, 26 teams have graduated from the program and have amassed milestone achievements during and following their participation. The MDIC serves as a complement and a pipeline to other incubation/acceleration programs.
 
Applications are accepted January 1 through April 30 each year and are reviewed through a due diligence process performed by The Innovation Law Center, Syracuse University. Participants are selected by the MDIC Review Committee - interviews may be convened to assist in team selection. The program starts August 1 (some teams receive early commercialization research in advance of program start). You may participate virtually or on-site. If on-site, you receive 6-months of free work space in the CNYBC Creation Garage, 841 E. Fayette St., Syracuse, NY. All selected teams can utilize this facility at any point in time during the program. 
EVENTS
Biotech & Patient Engagement: More Important Than Ever
 
NewYorkBIO is holding its second annual Patient Engagement Summit on April 6th, bringing together industry, advocacy organizations, and - most importantly - the patient community for a dialogue on how innovation in healthcare can be more inclusive.

April 6, 2022
9:00am to 1:00pm
Fully virtual, free event

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