CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Verastem, Inc., (VSTM) focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells, held a mesothelioma briefing session on Saturday morning with Dr. Dean Fennell at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, IL. Dr. Fennell is the Chair of Thoracic Medical Oncology at the University of Leicester, incoming President of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig) and a member of the Verastem Mesothelioma Steering Committee. Dr. Fennell presented together with Verastem Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joanna Horobin and Head of Research, Dr. Jonathan Pachter. Asbestos is the causative agent in the vast majority of mesothelioma cases, said Dr. Fennell. Sadly, the use of asbestos continues worldwide. Due to the 10-50 year latency period from asbestos exposure to development of disease, we expect that the current trend of increasing mesothelioma incidence worldwide will continue. There is a large unmet medical need in mesothelioma and an opportunity to develop targeted agents to bring new hope to patients struggling with their disease. According to published reports there are still nearly two million tons of asbestos consumed globally each year. The incidence rate of mesothelioma is increasing in the United … Continue reading →

Sarasota, Florida (PRWEB) June 03, 2013 Guy DaSilva, MD, ABAARM, will begin conducting clinical trials for many degenerative diseases using adipose-derived stem cell therapy at the DaSilva Institute in Sarasota, Florida. The independent review board of the International Stem Cell Society will oversee the trials. Following the FDA-approved protocols, Dr. DaSilva will treat patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Type 2 Diabetes, osteoarthritis, critical limb ischemia and erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, Alzheimers disease, dementia and Parkinsons disease are pending approval, and approximately five new protocols are added each month. While stem cell therapy is most often associated with the controversial use of embryonic stem cells, Dr. DaSilva will be exclusively using adult autologous stem cells, harvested from the patients own adipose (fat) tissue or bone marrow if fat is not available. Because patients are receiving their own cells, there is no risk of rejection, and success rates are far greater compared to the more contentious therapies. Autologous stem cell therapy works by mimicking the bodys natural healing process, but at a more potent, concentrated level. Stem cells, which are unspecialized cells with the potential to develop into any cell, are stored throughout the body. When disease or injury strikes, … Continue reading →