BioTech Nation ... with Dr. Moira Gunn Moira Gunn

This week on BioTech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn and Dr. Daniel Kraft discuss how robotics, AI, and virtual reality are transforming surgery. These technologies make procedures less invasive and improve training and outcomes worldwide. Future advancements may include tiny robots performing internal procedures. Security is crucial to prevent hacking of medical devices. 

Dr. John Scarlett, President and CEO of Geron Corporation talks about their drug Imetelstat for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). MDS patients often require frequent blood transfusions, impacting their quality of life. Imetelstat, a telomerase inhibitor, aims to reduce transfusion dependence by targeting cancer cells in the bone marrow. Phase three trials showed promising results, with 40% of patients experiencing at least an 8-week transfusion-free interval. 

Dr. Daniel Kraft, Tech Nation Health Chief Correspondent discusses the gap between medical innovation and its adoption into standard practice. He highlights that it typically takes 17 years for a medical discovery to become common practice, but big data and AI could accelerate this. He emphasizes the importance of sharing medical data and initiatives like Stuff That Works Health and EveryCure. 

This week, Dr. Steve Quake from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative about their goal to tackle all human diseases in the next century. We discuss CZI's innovative approach, including building Biohubs and funding collaborative research. Dr. Quake explains the importance of something called The Virtual Cell project, aiming to use AI to model every human cell. We also address ethical concerns about AI in bioweapons research and the need for regulatory measures. 

This week on Biotech Nation, I speak with Dr. Neal Kassell about focused ultrasound technology. We discuss its noninvasive approach, its diverse applications in treating various medical conditions, and its potential to revolutionize treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cancer. Dr. Kassell also shares insights into ongoing clinical trials and the rapid growth of focused ultrasound as a global standard of care.

This week on BioTech Nation, we explore new efforts in treating cancer with Dr. Sean Bohen, President and CEO of Olema Oncology. We discuss progress in treating breast cancer, particularly ER+/HER2- breast cancer, which accounts for 70% of diagnoses this year. They examine the biology behind these cancers and how Olema's lead compound, palazestrant, works to antagonize the estrogen receptor, halting cancer cell growth. They also touch on the ongoing Phase 3 trial, OPERA-01, and the potential for combining palazestrant with other treatments.