< PreviousDIABETES EXPOSÉ30Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.netunderstanding around diabetes. It is type 2 diabetes, however, that isby far and away the most prevalentcategory of the disease, accounting forninety per cent of all diabetes cases inthe UK. This type has been growing at astaggering rate, becoming one of theworld’s most common long-term healthconditions. Indeed, most countriesaround the globe are reporting risingnumbers. It is now largely attributed tolifestyle, occurring as a direct result ofpoor diet, a lack of exercise and beingobese and overweight – though age andgenerics are both still precursors. Such isthe severity of these rising figures thatresearch has identified a “pre-diabetes”state. This proto-version of the diseasecan progress into full-blown type 2 ifpreventative steps – such as healthyeating, losing weight and getting plentyof exercise – aren’t met. To say there is a pressing need forinnovation in the diabetes space is anunderstatement. Fortunately, manypharmaceutical companies andorganisations are hard at work, adding toour collective understanding and workingtowards better solutions and treatments.One of the most exciting examples aimsto utilise gene editing.Switzerland’s CRISPR Therapeutics iscollaborating with California-basedregenerative medicine company ViaCyteto discover, develop and commercialisegene-editing allogenic stem cell therapiesaimed at treating diabetes. There’s been decades of clinical datawith inset transplants indicating thatbeta-cell replacement approaches maybe of benefit to patients with insulin-requiring diabetes. ViaCyte haspioneered the approach of generatingpancreatic-lineage cells from stem cellsand delivering them safely and efficientlyto patients. The company’s lead productcandidate – PEC-Direct – is currentlybeing evaluated in the clinic. It uses a28-31.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2018 12:25 Page 3DIABETES EXPOSÉ© Shutterstock/Novikov AlexPharma Business International 31www.pbiforum.netnon-immunoprotective delivery device that permitsdirect vascularisation of the cell therapy. While there is abenefit to this approach, it does come with a caveat.The patient’s immune system will identify these cells asforeign, meaning PEC-Direct will require long-termimmunosuppression to avoid rejection. For that reason,the treatment is being developed as a therapyspecifically aimed at the subset of patients with type 1diabetes at high risk for acute complications. Combining ViaCyte’s stem cell capabilities withCRISPR’s gene editing capabilities can potentiallyenable a beta-cell replacement product that may delivera durable benefit to patients without triggering animmune reaction. CRISPR gene editing will likelybecoming of increasing importance in tackling diabetes,given the speed, specificity and multiplexing efficiency itoffers. Diabetes will affect all of us in one way or another,either directly or through a friend or relative. The risinglevels of type 2 diabetes means that it is now more thanever critical to accelerate research and get newtreatments and medicines to market and into the handsof patients. Fortunately, innovative research, studies andtrials are helping us win the battle against diabetes. © Shutterstock /Montri Thipsorn28-31.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2018 12:25 Page 417 OctoberABPI/BGMA IndustryBriefing – FalsifiedMedicines Directive BGMA, LondonThis event is part of ongoing ABPI/BGMAengagement with the Falsified MedicinesDirective legislation and aims to makeattendees aware of the obligations they face toensure continuity in their marketingauthorisation post 2019. It will help to shine alight and clear up any confusion. For moreinformation, visit www.abpi.org.uk.17 – 18 OctoberOrphan Drugs and RareDiseases Conference Holiday Inn LondonThis year’s SMi’s Orphan Drugs and RareDiseases Conference will bring togetherregulatory agencies, pharmaceuticalcompanies, non-profits and orphan drugdevelopers to construct an agenda thataddresses the driving economic factors,policies and issues that will affect thedevelopment of orphan drugs globally. ForPharmaEVENTS25 – 26 OctoberAI Applications in BiopharmaSummit 2018Joseph B. Martin Conference Centre atHarvard Medical School, Boston, USAThis is the only event to convene key strategicbiopharma stakeholders and data driven disruptors todiscuss their experiences, obstacles, opportunities forpartnerships and strategies they have used toimplement AI technologies in the discovery and drugdevelopment process. For more information, visitwww.aiapplicationssummit.com/biopharma.16 – 17 January 2019Pre-Filled Syringes &Injectables DrugDevices EuropeLondonThis conference will offer a deepinsight into key areas within the fieldsuch as new technologies andovercoming their hurdles; connectivityfor devices; updates on drugdevelopment and the impact ondevice developments and newregulatory guidelines. The line-up ofexpert speakers will enable delegatesto learn from market leaders on bestpractices to overcome commonindustry hurdles. For more information,visit www.pre-filled-syringes.com/wpn.32Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net© Shutterstock / Panchenki Vladimirand trial design; site selection and management,plus much more. For more information, visitwww.terrapinn.com/conference/clinical-trials-europe.13 – 15 NovemberCell & Gene TherapyManufacturing Hilton London Kensington This is the only conference that is 100%more information, email LDurneva@smi-online.co.uk.18 – 20 OctoberRegenerative Medicine2018RomeRegenerative Medicine 2018 aims to learnand share knowledge in tissue engineering andregenerative medicine. This is a global platformto discuss and learn about scaffolds, coldblood, stem cells, tissue biomarkers,immunotherapy, tissue engineering and more.This year’s theme is ‘redefining health carethrough regenerative medicine’. For moreinformation, emailtissuescience@conferenceseries.net.29 – 30 OctoberClinical Trials EuropeCongress Centre, Basel,Switzerland Bringing together more than thirty speakersfrom pharma, biotech, CROs and technologyinnovators, the clinical trials event will aim to helptackle the challenges around clinical trials such asdata and analytics; patient recruitment; planning32-33.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2018 12:26 Page 1dedicated to focussing on development for manufacturing processesfor cell and gene therapy products. With presentations on improvingcost efficiency, innovative strategies for commercialisation as well asclosed system process, optimised manufacturing scheduling andmaintaining GMP compliance, this forum is not to be missed. For moreinformation, visit www.cellgenemanufacturing.iqpc.co.uk.20 – 21 NovemberPharmaLab 2018Crowne Plaze Düsseldorf, GermanyPharmaLab focuses on the key questions concerning quality controland quality assurance professionals in analytics, bio-analytics andmicrobiology. This year, the meeting and exhibition will put theregulatory challenges and their impact on pharmaceutical andbiopharmaceutical quality labs in the spotlight. For more information,visit www.pharmalab-congress.com.28 – 30 NovemberPharmaceutical Traceability ForumPhiladelphia, USAt the 8th Pharmaceutical Traceability Forum, industry players fromall points of the supply chain will converge to discuss pressing issuesand explore solutions to serialisation and traceability challenges. Overthree days of case studies, workshops, round tables, white-boarddiscussions, panel discussions and informal networking, the event willtackle a range of hot topics. For more information, visit www.pharmaceuticaltraceabilityforum.iqpc.com.www.pbiforum.netPharma Business International 33© Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images© Shutterstock / Mikhail Pankov31 October – 1 NovemberLab Innovations 2018NEC Birmingham, UKLab Innovations is the UK’s only trade exhibition dedicated to thelaboratory industry and attracts laboratory professionals who are looking forthe latest innovations and services. It is the nation’s largest gathering oflaboratory manufacturers and suppliers, making it an important event forpowering the business of science. Supported by some of the UK’s topscience industries, it has fast become the event to attend for the laboratoryindustry. For more information, visit www.easyfairs.com/lab-innovations-2018/lab-innovations-2018.32-33.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2018 12:26 Page 2FEATURESMultiple Sclerosis ExposéGene Therapy Logistics Novel MedicinesManufacturing Next issue:Deadline - 21st November 2018REGULARSNewsEventsM&A Round-upPharmaBUSINESS INTERNATIONALVisit us atwww.pbiforum.netwhere you’ll find thelatest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to ournewsletters so you can have thelatest news emailed to yourinbox, in betweenprinted issues?@pbiforumwww.pbiforum.netcompany/po-business-international34.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2018 12:27 Page 1Next >