Imagine Pharma

Last month, Imagine Pharma's Dr. Rita Bottino moderated the "Xenotransplantation’s regulatory road to the clinic" session at the 30th Congress of The Transplantation Society (TTS) in Istanbul. The session included presentations by Wayne John Hawthorne, Efstratios (Stratos) Chatzixiros, and Leo Hans Buhler. The session explored the pioneering efforts that have shaped the landscape of xenotransplantation, from its inception to current breakthroughs. Additionally, the session provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in continuing the registration of clinical xenotransplantation, paving the way for its widespread implementation. #Xenotransplantation #BioTech #RegenerativeMedicine #ImaginePharma #TTS2024

Recently, our Director of Islet Cell Transplantation, Dr. Rita Bottino, discussed the importance of regulatory reform for islet allotransplantation, a type 1 diabetes therapy with Drug Discovery World. Dr. Bottino's insights also highlight the importance of maintaining safety and efficacy standards for patients. Thank you, Drug Discovery World for increasing awareness of how allotransplantation is beneficial to type 1 diabetics and the importance of continuing type 1 diabetes therapeutics research to improve patient experience and outcomes. https://lnkd.in/eVKHu9qG #T1D #IsletCells #DiabetesResearch #Allotransplantation #ImaginePharma

We’re excited to recognize the groundbreaking research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes e.V. (EASD) 2024 Annual Meeting in Madrid, Spain: "Characterization of Pancreas and Islet Structure and Function in Longstanding Type 1 Diabetes" led by Dr. Chunhua Dai from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in collaboration with University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Imagine Pharma's own Dr. Rita Bottino. The study was sponsored by the The Helmsley Charitable Trust, NIH, and Veteran's Administration. This innovative study discusses the progress in obtaining islets and living slices from organ donors with long-standing type 1 diabetes, allowing researchers to study the physiology of these tissues. These findings hold significant potential for advancing treatments aimed at preventing hypoglycemia in those with long-standing T1D. Read the study on page 16 here: https://lnkd.in/eGMutDAW #T1D #IsletCells #DiabetesResearch #EASD2024 #ImaginePharma

Pittsburgh's buzzing biotech scene continues to thrive with the addition of ElevateBio at the University of Pittsburgh’s BioForge in Hazelwood Green. ElevateBio’s focus on advancing allogeneic therapies—'off-the-shelf' treatments made from healthy donor cells—marks a significant step in making life-saving therapies more accessible and scalable. These innovations are critical for treating a range of diseases, from childhood leukemia to insulin resistance, with faster turnaround times and safer techniques. Imagine Pharma’s Dr. Rita Bottino shares her perspective on the incredible progress made in gene therapies, highlighting how the last two decades of innovation have improved the safety and effectiveness of these treatments. Thank you, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Kris Mamula, for spotlighting the resurgence of allogeneic therapeutics and the pioneering work happening here in Pittsburgh. https://lnkd.in/eZDqvTBz #DrugDiscovery #RegenerativeMedicine #ImaginePharma

Imagine Pharma is excited to announce the expansion of our research team and warmly welcome Anna Barto, our newest laboratory technician. We're thrilled to have her join us as we continue to advance first-in-class innovative therapies and treatments that improve patient outcomes. Welcome, Anna! #ImaginePharma #BioTech #DrugDiscovery #RegenerativeMedicine #IsletCells #OralDelivery #DiabetesResearch #T1D

Happy Labor Day!

Meet Alison Thai, Imagine Pharma’s newest Program Manager. Alison’s commitment to innovation and helping our team bring game-changing therapies to market make her a valuable addition to the team. Welcome, Alison! #ImaginePharma #BioTech #DrugDiscovery #RegenerativeMedicine #OralDelivery

The FDA needs to re-evaluate its rules and regulations regarding islet cell transplantation. Let me explain: Autologous islet cell transplantation (AIT) is a procedure that can preserve insulin production in patients who've had their pancreas removed due to chronic pancreatitis. Clinical evidence suggests that allogeneic islet transplantation (i.e., islets taken from donors) can provide a similar benefit to patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). There's just one problem — you need a BLA to perform an allogeneic islet cell transplant. If you ask Imagine Pharma's director of islet programs, Dr. Rita Bottino, this BLA requirement prevents a lot of T1D patients from receiving life-changing transplants. She believes, as do many other experts, that donor islets should be regulated like organs for organ transplant rather than a biologic drug requiring a BLA. Changing this regulation would provide more access to treatment and, ultimately, better serve patients living with T1D Read more about my talk with Bottino here: https://lnkd.in/gJNx52Ai #celltherapy #CGT #FDA

Our Director of Islet Cell Transplantation, Dr. Rita Bottino, is deeply committed to advancing research on autologous islet-cell transplantation as a treatment for pancreatectomies, as well as allogeneic islet-cell transplantation for T1D. In a recent conversation with Cell and Gene, Dr. Bottino explored the regulatory challenges surrounding this innovative therapy and its potential to transform patient care. Thank you, Cell & Gene Tyler Menichiello for spotlighting the critical need to reassess islet cell regulations and advocating for a new regulatory framework in islet-cell transplantation. https://lnkd.in/erVDKrb7 #T1D #Diabetes #DiabetesResearch #IsletCellTherapy #RegenerativeMedicine #ImaginePharma

Imagine Pharma's Director of Islet Cell Transplantation, Dr. Rita Bottino, recently contributed to a crucial discussion in Inside Precision Medicine about the future of cell therapies for Type 1 Diabetes. Her insights into the role of pancreatic islet transplants as potential micro-organs shed light on groundbreaking therapeutic possibilities.   Thank you, Inside Precision Medicine Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD for bringing to light the importance of Type 1 diabetes therapeutics research and the different methods of discovery happening across the industry.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eMjnk4Mz   #T1D #Diabetes #DiabetesResearch #IsletCellTherapy #RegenerativeMedicine #ImaginePharma