What are CAR T Cell Therapies and How Do They Help People with Blood Cancers?

There are 1.5 million Americans living with, or in remission from, a form of blood cancer. Many of these cancers fall into the category of B-cell mediated lymphomas, a type of the disease that starts in B-cells (a type of white blood cell) and often develops in adults older than 60, though can also be diagnosed earlier in life.

B-cell lymphomas can include both fast-growing (aggressive) and slow-growing (indolent) forms, and for those who relapse after initial treatment, or do not respond to initial therapies (refractory), prognosis is poor and there is a profound need for additional effective treatment options.

This September, during Blood Cancer Awareness month, we are thrilled to offer the opportunity to hear from expert Dr. Matthew Lunning, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Astrid Q., who was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 28, and after initially undergoing chemotherapy, experienced a return of her cancer and was then treated with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in a clinical trial. Together they can discuss the reality that people face when dealing with relapsed or refractory (R/R) lymphoma and why CAR T cell therapy was the best option for her.

Most importantly, they can provide a deep dive into CAR T cell therapy, an innovative, personalized treatment for certain blood cancers that uses a person’s own immune cells to fight the disease. CAR T cell therapy has been shown to produce results in people living with certain B-cell lymphomas – when other treatments have failed.

Matthew Lunning D.O., FACP, is an Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Lunning also is Associate Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Director of the Clinical Research Center (CRC), and Medical Director of Cellular Therapies.  He has served on several National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s guidelines committees including the Immunotherapy Toxicity & T-cell lymphoma panels. Dr. Lunning has been active in clinic research, research mentoring, education, and patient care.

About Astrid Q.:

Astrid Q. was diagnosed with lymphoma when she was 28 years old, while in college studying to become a physician’s assistant (PA). Despite initial rounds of chemotherapy, her cancer returned so she enrolled in a clinical trial to receive a CAR T cell therapy. At the time of her clinical trial participation Astrid was studying for the PA exam while receiving and recovering from CAR T cell therapy treatment. Since her one-time* treatment with CAR T, her yearly scans have been clear. Astrid enjoys meditation, spending time with her husband and baby boy, and her job as a PA.

* Treatment process can take approximately 2-3 months and includes leukapheresis, manufacturing, administration, and adverse event monitoring

This interview is sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb.

#cancer #bloodcancermedicine #excitingadvances #hope #empowerment #patients

The post Exciting Advances in Blood Cancer Medicine Offer Hope and Empowerment to Patients appeared first on Good News!.

Apple’s contract manufacturing partner Foxconn has started to assemble the current generation of iPhone units — the iPhone 11 lineup — in its plant near Chennai, India, a source familiar with the matter told TechCrunch.

A small batch of locally manufactured iPhone 11 units has already shipped to retail stores, but the production yield is currently limited, the person said, requesting anonymity as matters are private. Apple, in general, has ambitions to scale up its local production efforts in India, the person said.

The local production of current iPhone 11 models illustrates Apple’s further commitment to India, the world’s second largest smartphone market, as it explores ways to cut its reliance on China, which produces the vast majority of iPhone models today.

Apple’s contract manufacturing partner, Taiwan-based Wistron, first began assembling older iPhone models in 2017. But until now, Apple has not been able to have an assembly partner produce the current generation iPhone model in India.

Wistron, which has locally assembled older iPhone SE, iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 models in the past in its Bangalore plant, currently assembles iPhone XR units in India. Apple discontinued the local production of iPhone SE and iPhone 6s last year, the person said.

Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, tweeted on Friday that Apple had begun assembling iPhone 11 models in India. Apple did not comment on this story.

Assembling handsets in India enables smartphone vendors — including Apple — to avoid roughly 20% import duty that the Indian government levies on imported electronics products.

Xiaomi, Vivo, Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus and a range of other smartphone companies have inked deals with contract manufacturers across India in recent years to produce much of their locally sold smartphone units in the country itself.

Xiaomi, which has been the top smartphone vendor in India since late 2018, said earlier this month that nearly every smartphone it sells in India is produced in the country.

Apple has been exploring ways to ramp up its production in India for years, but the company has struggled to find contract manufacturers that adhere to its safety and quality standards, people familiar with the matter have told TechCrunch.

News outlet The Information reported in March that some of Apple’s other contract manufacturers have attempted to enter — or expand in — India, but have run into regulatory and local law issues. Pegatron, another assembly partner of Apple, plans to set up a local subsidiary in India and begin operations in the country, according to Bloomberg.

Foxconn, which counts India as one of its biggest markets, plans to invest $1 billion in its operations in the country, Reuters reported earlier this month. In June this year, New Delhi announced a $6.6 billion plan to attract top smartphone manufacturers.

Apple plans to launch its online store in India in a few months and open its first brick-and-mortar retail store next year, chief executive Tim Cook announced earlier this year. The online store’s launch in India remains on track despite the pandemic, a person familiar with the matter said.

The iPhone maker currently commands roughly 1% of the smartphone market in India, but is among firms that dominate the premium handset segment (phones priced at $400 or above). Apple has also been the least impacted smartphone maker in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

(By TechCrunch, 2020)

The post Good News from India Manufacturing Submitted By Arun Jain V S WALA appeared first on Good News!.

The Hershey Company announced that the world’s most technologically advanced chocolate making facility – a $300 million investment in Hershey, PA, that positions the company for its next 100 years of global growth – is officially “open for business.”

The new facility features proprietary, state-of-the-art technology never before used in the manufacture of confectionery. The new technology was developed specifically for the plant, including highly automated, large-scale Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate operations. The plant’s advanced Information Technology systems include automated, real-time diagnostics systems to help keep operations running smoothly 24 hours a day.

The expanded West Hershey facility is one of the company’s largest capital investments and represents one of the largest construction projects in Pennsylvania in two decades. The formal opening highlights Hershey’s strategy to grow its business globally while remaining true to its heritage and values, grounded in more than a century of chocolate making and confectionery innovation in Hershey, PA.

“Today, we are celebrating our proud Pennsylvania heritage, the growing popularity of Hershey products in global markets, our continuing investments in productive technology and our great workers who make it possible to enjoy these iconic products,” said John P. Bilbrey, President and CEO, The Hershey Company.

“Hershey employees built this dynamic business during the first century of chocolate making in Hershey starting in 1905. Today, we honor each of those individuals and our history and applaud those who designed, built and operate our Factory of the Future. They continue to produce the finest chocolate confectionery right here in Hershey, PA, where it all began. Together, we are securing the next century of growth for this iconic company.”

As a major employer in the state, the West Hershey plant is expected to contribute more than $1 billion to the economy of Pennsylvania over the next five years through supplier contracts, payroll and related spending.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett commented, “I am working as Governor to ensure there is a job for every Pennsylvanian that wants one and an educated Pennsylvanian for every one of those jobs. I am proud the Commonwealth was able to partner with Hershey as they grow, evolve, create jobs, train great employees and continue their commitment to Pennsylvania’s prosperity.”

Investing in Pennsylvania to Grow Globally

The new 340,000 sq. ft. expansion at West Hershey is located less than two miles from the company’s original chocolate factory opened in 1905 by Milton Hershey. Key features include:

• the latest manufacturing technology and proprietary candy manufacturing equipment that speeds production, delivers consistent high quality and provides the opportunity to produce new products in the future.
• high-speed, high-tech new production lines with the capacity to support Hershey’s growing business now and well into the future. This includes the most technologically advanced, automated chocolate syrup production lines in the world.
• new Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate lines that can produce more than 70 million Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates per day.

The expansion is Pennsylvania’s single largest manufacturing investment since the construction of the original West Hershey plant in 1991. The new development infused $70 million into the Pennsylvania economy and created more than 300 construction jobs.

The plant’s workforce includes about 700 employees who transitioned from the original Hershey plant on East Chocolate Ave. – the company’s oldest facility, which ran continuously from 1905 until its retirement in April 2012.

Hershey’s manufacturing presence and investments bring significant economic benefit to the local and regional economies:

• Hershey’s $300 million investment is the largest direct investment by a food manufacturer in Pennsylvania in the last 20 years. Hershey’s Project Next Century included about $25 million in materials and supplies sourced in Pennsylvania.
• With 4,800 employees in Pennsylvania, 8,800 in the United States and 14,000 worldwide, The Hershey Company is the third-largest manufacturer in the state.
• Hershey trained approximately 700 employees to prepare them to work in the plant’s high-tech manufacturing environment.
• The West Hershey plant includes stainless steel corn syrup and fresh milk silos with the capacity to hold millions of pounds of fresh ingredients. All of the silos were manufactured in Lancaster County, PA.

Building on Hershey’s Innovation Heritage

More than a century ago, Milton S. Hershey revolutionized the chocolate industry by making chocolate an affordable treat and building a company focused on delighting consumers. The new West Hershey plant continues Milton Hershey’s passion for using innovation, technology and inspiration to make great candy accessible, affordable and delicious.

Work on the latest expansion began with groundbreaking in September 2010 and was completed on schedule earlier this year. The construction used 17,000 yards of concrete, equivalent to a 65-mile long sidewalk. Contractors installed 600 tons of reinforcing steel, 10 miles of utility piping and 1,900 gallons of paint.

“The West Hershey facility is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our tremendous plant employees,” said Terry O’Day, Senior Vice President, Global Operations. “I am proud of how our people have adapted quickly and recognized the opportunities provided by the latest technology. They contribute directly to improved quality, speed and efficiency. They truly represent the manufacturing employees of the future, operating one of the most technologically advanced candy factories in the world.”

The plant represents major investments in logistics, computer technology and employee facilities. State-of-the-art, computer-controlled manufacturing processes include software and machinery developed and adapted by Hershey’s production line operators and managers. The new plant continues Hershey’s tradition as one of the few chocolate manufacturers to use fresh, liquid milk to ensure consistent high quality. There is also a fresh almond roasting plant onsite.

The plant also continues The Hershey Company’s commitment to sustainability and the environment. The building expansion was a “Zero Waste to Landfill” (ZWL) construction project and the plant will continue to operate as a ZWL plant.

The expansion at West Hershey is the largest component of Project Next Century – a program to modernize and upgrade Hershey’s global supply chain and ensure a competitive cost structure. Other recent investments in Hershey, PA, include $50 to $75 million in upgrades to distribution and administrative facilities.

West Hershey is one of the company’s eight manufacturing sites in the United States. Locations include: Hazleton, PA; Stuarts Draft, VA; and Memphis, TN.

The post Hershey Unveils $300M State-of-the-Art Chocolate Plant, $1B Econ. Impact appeared first on Good News!.