What are the Changes in 2023 for Access to Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) in France?

ATMPs are the most expensive innovative treatments, thus they require special regulation. Past regulatory measures in France, such as limiting the growth of drug expenditures, the creation of a fund to finance pharmaceutical innovation, the use of performance-based contracts and greater emphasis on medico-economic evaluations in pricing have been contributing to having both universal access to innovative therapies and fair remuneration for innovation. The importance of transparency, public participation in healthcare evaluation, and the challenges of setting drug prices based on their value are not negligible either.

Effecting change in the aftermath of school shootings.

School shootings energize pro-gun advocates but better organized and more enduring gun control efforts could affect legislative change after such tragedies.

The Reform of the Newborn Screening Policy: Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

One in every 10,000 children is born with SMA and half of them will not even live two years. It is a hereditary genetic disorder, where the muscles die. If it is discovered just after birth, newborns can get the newest medicines to maintain their health.

Mac-1 Receptor Clustering Initiates Production of Pro-Inflammatory, Antibacterial Extracellular Vesicles From Neutrophils.

Depending on the prevailing environmental conditions, neutrophilic granulocytes release extracellular vesicles (EV) which have either anti-inflammatory effects on other neutrophils or pro-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. In the present study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the biogenesis of functionally heterogenic EVs. We show that selective stimulation of Mac-1 integrin (complement receptor 3) by specific ligands initiates the generation of EVs which are able to impair bacterial growth and to induce the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 (aEV).

Different Calcium and Src Family Kinase Signaling in Mac-1 Dependent Phagocytosis and Extracellular Vesicle Generation.

Encountering opsonized particles by neutrophils results in phagocytosis of the particle and generation of extracellular vesicles with antibacterial property (aEV). The aim of the present study is to compare the involvement of different receptors and receptor-proximal signaling pathways in these two parallel processes. Investigating human neutrophils from peripheral blood, we show that complement receptors are decisive for both processes whereas immunoglobulin binding Fc receptors (FcR) only participate moderately in phagocytosis and pattern recognition receptors induce mild EV production but only minimal phagocytosis.