Pneumococcal vaccination-A literature review and practice guideline update.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) remains a significant cause of both mild infections such as otitis media, sinusitis, and bronchitis and more severe manifestations such as bacteremia, pneumonia, and invasive pneumococcal disease. Several key serotypes have been targeted in vaccine development due to their association with increased infectivity. Pneumococcal vaccines are available in two formulations, the unconjugated purified polysaccharide (PPSV) and the conjugated formulation (PCV), which leads to a more robust and prolonged immune response.

Adaptation of clinical pharmacy services to meet patient care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has challenged health systems to find innovative ways of delivering patient care while protecting staff from infection with the virus. As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to evolve establishing "hot spots" in various areas of the country, clinicians have learned more about caring for these patients. This has required the Department of Pharmacy at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to constantly update the approach it has taken during this time, and the guidance which is provided for the pharmaceutical care of these patients.

Technological developments for small-scale downstream processing of cell therapies.

Despite considerable regulatory and clinical hurdles, the development and use of cell-based therapies are gaining momentum. As more of these therapies move toward commercial approval and larger-scale distribution, associated manufacturing and processing technologies are being advanced. Modern technologies directed at downstream processing seek to distribute such therapies from the manufacturing site to the patient more efficiently and reliably.

The implementation of novel collaborative structures for the identification and resolution of barriers to pluripotent stem cell translation.

Increased global connectivity has catalyzed technological development in almost all industries, in part through the facilitation of novel collaborative structures. Notably, open innovation and crowd-sourcing-of expertise and/or funding-has tremendous potential to increase the efficiency with which biomedical ecosystems interact to deliver safe, efficacious and affordable therapies to patients. Consequently, such practices offer tremendous potential in advancing development of cellular therapies.

Commercialization of regenerative medicine: learning from spin-outs.

Abstract The meeting "Commercialization of Your Regenerative Medicine Research: Lessons from Spin Out Successes" was hosted by the Oxbridge Biotech Roundtable (OBR) (Oxford, UK) at the University of Oxford in February, 2013, and attracted a multi-stakeholder audience spanning academia and industry. The event featured case studies from Gregg Sando, CEO, Cell Medica (London, UK), John Sinden, CSO, Reneuron (Guilford, UK), and Paul Kemp, CEO and CSO, Intercytex (Manchester, UK). OBR is a student-led initiative with over 7000 members across eight different UK and US locations with a mission to foster a conversation about the healthcare and life sciences industry.