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Alcivax #25 – September 18, 2020: Alcimed’s bi-monthly digest of coronavirus news. This week, Alcimed examines the changes during this COVID-19 crisis in the vaccine industry, both good and bad, and speculate which changes might be permanent.

Technical aids are a major issue for maintaining the autonomy of elderly and handicapped people. The development of structures for the circularization of technical aids seems to provide elements of a response to the needs of users, but the development of these innovative systems is currently limited by the framework for the reimbursement of technical aids.

Microbiome-cancer studies aim at developing drugs to mitigate chemotherapy side effects or identifying microbial biomarkers for early diagnosis or disease progression monitoring. The most promising area is probably the development of drug combinations with immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitors. What are the new therapeutic initiatives in microbiome and cancer? Who are the newcomers in this field?

The unique period we have been living through since the beginning of 2020 would almost make us forget that the main cause of mortality, all countries combined, remains by far cardiovascular diseases. Although appearing to be ancient, therapies in this field, particularly in the field of cardiac stimulation using pacemakers, continue to evolve and to improve patient care and quality of life.

Screening for breast cancer is a major public health issue. Early detection drastically reduces its consequences. Therefore, it is crucial to have more reliable, faster and less intrusive screening techniques in order to better diagnose women and men. and reduce the impact of breast cancer on their health. Tomosynthesis, angiomammography, 3D mammography or artificial intelligence, what are these breast cancer screening technologies?

What is optogenetics and what are the medical applications being developed? Optogenetics works by introducing into the cells a gene coding for a photosensitive protein, which is then activated by light stimulation. Far from being limited to the brain and more generally to the nervous system, the range of possible medical applications of optogenetic methods is thrilling. Alcimed this technique in order to understand its potential in the development of new gene therapies in many therapeutic areas.

Consumers are increasingly integrating their health and environmental concerns into their habits; cosmetics are not spared. Indeed, the craze for “clean beauty”, particularly among millennials, is growing and is fueling a need for transparency in relation to beauty products. Manufacturers and retailers are responding actively… or passively. Alcimed looks back on some of the flagship initiatives led by start-ups, associations or historical players, which aim to enlighten consumers in their choice.

Alcivax #24 – September 4, 2020: Alcimed’s bi-monthly digest of coronavirus news. This week, Alcimed examines the intersections of travel policies and COVID testing to help explain the complexities of getting back on the road.

Plant-based meats are food products that emulate the aesthetic, texture, and flavor of real meat. Compared to animal meat, plant-based meat claims to be better for the environment, more ethical, and healthier. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, supply disruptions of fresh meat and a renewed spotlight on zoonotic diseases have increased sales of plant-based meat by 200% in the USA. In Asia, Omnipork reported a similar increase in sales. While meat substitutes are not new, modern plant-based meats are driven by innovations that make them tastier, more nutritious, and more economical than before. In this article, we present 3 areas of innovation driving the plant-base meat sector.

Alcimed looks back on its support for LRAs in setting up coordination support systems (DAC in French), a new public policy tool that seeks to provide clarity and efficiency in terms of patient pathway. The new care models, focused on home care and the inclusive approach, have also reinforced the need for coordination support structures to assist primary care professionals in the construction and implementation of a smooth pathway for people.