Medical News Forecast for May 16-22

05/12/2022
Lynne Peterson, Contributing Writer, Senior Writer for Trends-in-Medicine

Lynne Peterson is the Senior Writer for Trends-in-Medicine.

Here is the medical news to watch for May 16-22, 2022.

Cardiology:

  • The hybrid EuroPCR meeting will take place in Paris and virtually May 17-20. This interventional cardiology meeting will have live cases, a simulation lab, and much more. The late-breaking clinical trials will include:
    • Prosthesis-patient mismatch following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
    • Predictors of mortality after successful TAVR (the GALILEO trial).
    • Several investigator-driven presentations on the performance of Boston Scientific’s ACURATE neo2, an aortic valve system for aortic stenosis.
    • A study comparing balloon vs. self-expanding valves in valve-in-valve TAVR.
    • The worldwide first results with JenaValve’s Trilogy to treat aortic regurgitation.
    • A subanalysis of the SCOPE-2 trial on pacemaker implantations and left bundle branch block.
  • The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) meeting will take place in person only in Atlanta May 19-22. There will be sessions on congenital, coronary, peripheral, and structural heart disease as well as cath lab management, renal denervation, and left atrial appendage closure, and more – even a talk on cryptocurrency in cardiology. Among the data to watch:
    • A report on the volume of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treatment during Covid-19.
    • The relationship of household income and outcomes after hospitalization for STEMI.
  • The hybrid European Society of Cardiology’s Heart Failure meeting will take place May 21-24 in Madrid and virtually. There will be case-based sessions, debates, late-breaking science, SGLT2 inhibitors, myocarditis, technology, and more. Among the data to watch: Additional phase II details from the SEISMIC trial of Windtree Therapeutics’ istaroxime, a luso-inotropic agent for cardiogenic shock in patients with severe acute heart failure.

Cell therapy: The hybrid American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) meeting will take place May 16-19 in Washington, D.C., and virtually. Among the data to watch:

  • Additional phase I data from the OPTIC trial of Adverum Biotechnologies’ ADVM-022, an intravitreal gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  • Updated phase I results from the GINAKIT2 trial of Athenex/Kuur Therapeutics’ KUR-501, a CAR-NKT therapy for neuroblastoma.
  • Phase I/II data on AVROBIO’s AVR-RD-04, a gene therapy to treat cystinosis.
  • Phase I data on Cabaletta Bio’s DSG3-CAART, a treatment for mucosal pemphigus vulgaris.
  • Phase I results for the pheEDIT trial of Homology Medicines’ HMI-103, a gene editing therapy for phenylketonuria (PKU).
  • Interim phase I/II data for Mustang Bio’s MB-107, an ex vivo lentiviral gene therapy, in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) – "bubble boy disease" – in newly diagnosed infants.
  • Interim data from the phase I/II IMAGINE-1 trial of Passage Bio’s PBGM-01, a gene therapy for GM1 gangliosidosis.
  • Phase I/II data on Regenxbio’s RGX-121, an AAV9 gene therapy to treat MPS-II (Hunter syndrome).

Gastroenterology: The hybrid Digestive Disease Week (DDW) will take place May 21-24 in San Diego and virtually. Whether you are interested in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, or gastrointestinal surgery, this is your meeting. Among the data to watch:

  • The results of the phase IIb FW-UP trial of First Wave BioPharma’s niclosamide, an oral anti-helminthic, in ulcerative proctitis (UP) and ulcerative proctosigmoiditis (UPS).
  • The results of the phase II IDEAL trial of Protagonist Therapeutics’ PN-943, an oral, gut-restricted alpha-4 beta-7-integrin antagonist, in ulcerative colitis.
  • The results of the phase II PRISM-EXT trial and the phase II PRISM-3 trial of Finch Therapeutics’ CP-101, an oral microbiome drug, in Clostridium difficile infection.

Nephrology: The hybrid European Renal Association (ERA) Congress will take place in Paris and virtually May 19-22. While masks are required at the venue, Covid-19 vaccination follows the French government rules, which currently do not require vaccination to attend events. Whether you go in person or virtually, there will be plenty to learn about kidney transplantation, genetic advances, acute kidney injury, bone mineral disorders, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, chronic kidney disease, innovative technologies, lupus nephritis, and much more. Watch for data on two drugs for IgA nephropathy:

  • Additional phase I/II data for an anti-APRIL IgG4 antibody, Chinook Therapeutics’ BION-1301.
  • Phase IIa results from the JANUS trial of Vera Therapeutics’ atacicept, an anti-BLyS/APRIL antibody.

Psychiatry: The American Psychiatric Association (APA) meeting will take place in person May 21-25 in New Orleans, with a separate virtual session June 7-10. The theme this year is "Social Determinants of Mental Health." In addition, there will be sessions on medical conditions that mimic psychiatric disorders, proximal warning behavior for targeted violence, current and future treatments for treatment-resistant depression, the efficacy and pitfalls of real-world long-term ketamine/esketamine therapy, and a medical marijuana debate.

Regulatory:

  • On May 16, the FDA and ASCO will virtually host their annual workshop, Hematology and Oncology Fellows Day.
  • On May 16-17, the FDA, in collaboration with the University of Maryland Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (M-CERSI), will host a virtual public workshop on evaluating pharmacokinetic data during pregnancy in order to ensure appropriate dosing.
  • On May 16-17, the FDA and the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences will jointly host a virtual workshop on properly designing clinical trials for rare diseases.
  • On May 17-18, the FDA and the American College of Rheumatology are jointly hosting a virtual summit on care, policy, research issues, biomarkers, and more related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
  • On May 18-19, the Science Advisory Board to the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research will meet virtually to provide advice and recommendations on FDA research projects.

Thoracic: The American Thoracic Society (ATS) meeting is continuing through May 18 in San Francisco. Among the data to watch:

  • Phase Ib/IIa data on aTyr Pharma’s efzofitimod (ATYR-1923), an NRP2 modulator, to treat pulmonary sarcoidosis.
  • Additional data from the phase IIb SOOTHE trial of BELLUS Health’s BLU-5937, a P2X3 receptor antagonist, for chronic cough.
  • Preclinical and phase I data on an autotaxin inhibitor, Blade Therapeutics’ cudetaxestat, for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
  • Interim phase I data on Inhibrx’s INBRX-101, a recombinant human AAT-Fc fusion protein, in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
  • Results of the phase II INTEGRIS-IPF trial of Pliant Therapeutics’ PLN-74809, an avβ6/avβ1 inhibitor, in IPF.
  • A post-hoc analysis of the phase III LIBERTY ASTHMA VOYAGE trial of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi’s Dupixent (dupilumab) in children with moderate-to-severe asthma with and without atopic comorbidities.

Urology: The hybrid American Urological Association (AUA) meeting will wind up on May 16 in New Orleans and virtually.