Rare Diseases

Antisense Therapeutics is bringing bringing life changing innovative medicines to patients with rare diseases

 
 
Mark Diamond, Managing Director and CEO at Antisense Therapeutics Limited joins eHealth Radio and the Health News Channel. Antisense is an Australian publicly-listed biotechnology company, developing and commercializing antisense pharmaceuticals for large unmet markets in rare diseases.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Mark Diamond discuss the following:
Tell us more about Antisense. How is the company specifically developing treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy? Describe who is affected and the number of patients that are potentially seeking treatment.
Antisense conducted a new pre-clinical study. What did that involve, what were some of the results? What’s next?
COVID-19 is a part of many people’s lives. There are a variety of new, returning or ongoing symptoms that people experience more than four weeks after getting COVID-19. Tell us more about that.
Antisense is addressing medical needs and also financial opportunities. Tell us about the size of the market and the opportunities.
What's next for Antisense in 2023 and even in 2024? Where can we find out more?

Mark Diamond has over 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Before joining Antisense Therapeutics Limited as MD and CEO in 2001, Mr. Diamond was employed in the US as Director, Project Planning/Business Development at Faulding Pharmaceuticals. Prior to this he held the positions of Senior Manager, Business Development and In-licensing within Faulding’s European operation based in the UK and International Business Development Manager with Faulding in Australia.
Website: https://www.antisense.com.au
Social Media Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/antisenselLinkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/antisense-therapeutics-ltd.
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Focusing on the Unique Medical, Economic and Healthcare Coordination Needs of People with Rare and Orphan Diseases

 
 
Donovan Quill, President and CEO of Optime Care, a nationally recognized pharmacy, distribution and patient management organization maximizing therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of orphan and rare disorders joins eHealth Radio and the Health News & Health Care Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Donovan Quill discuss the following:
Please tell our audiences about Optime Care, its goals and who it serves.

What is considered a rare or orphan disease?

What is the definition of a specialty pharmaceutical? How many drugs are currently on the market and how many in development?

How does Optime Care ensure that patients get their drugs?

What are your relationships with healthcare payers?
 
 
Optime Care, Inc. is a nationally recognized pharmacy, distribution and patient management organization offering a suite of comprehensive services tailored to maximize the therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of orphan and rare disorders. Our management team has previously partnered in the launch of more than 25 orphan products and consistently implemented the best brand program for the community. Our experience with small patient populations makes us uniquely qualified to help every stakeholder group impacted by these disorders. Optime Care has dual-accreditation from the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) for compliance with specialty pharmacy and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for specialty pharmacy services that demonstrate a commitment to providing quality care and services to consumers.
Donovan Quill entered the world of healthcare after a successful coaching career and teaching at the collegiate level. His personal mission was to help patients who suffer from an orphan disorder that has affected his entire family (Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency). Donovan became a Patient Advocate for Centric Health Resources and traveled the country raising awareness, improving detection, and providing education to patients and healthcare providers.
Donovan quickly gained recognition among the patient community for his efforts. He was heavily recruited and hand-picked by Alpha-1 Foundation founder John Walsh to become the Foundation’s Director of Detection and Community Outreach. Donovan gained an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of not-for-profit patient-driven programs while working with the Alpha-1 Foundation. His responsibilities included public policy agendas within government affairs, national targeted detection programs, research projects with “Key Opinion Leaders”, patient educational and marketing programs, fundraising efforts, and serving as a liaison to the drug manufacturers.
After leaving the not-for-profit sector, Donovan developed a new and innovative sales strategy with Talecris Biotherapeutics (now Grifols), which he piloted in a sales territory that had underperformed historically. By emphasizing education, early detection, and awareness, Donovan was able to take a poor performing territory and grow it into one of the top markets in the country in a short period of time. The strategy was so successful that Donovan was asked to work with the Brand Team to launch it throughout the rest of the country.
Donovan’s success in the sales world led to a return to Centric Health Resources (now DLSS), where he worked on their largest piece of business and developed innovative strategies to improve a growing and successful program. Over the next few years, Donovan went from directing a small team of Patient Advocates to Vice President of Patient Services to Senior Vice President of Patient Direct Programs.
Donovan’s experiences with the Alpha-1 Foundation, Centric Health Resources and DLSS have provided him the opportunity to manage all aspects of operations, develop operational plans for product launches/relaunches, improve program effectiveness, manage a large number of employees from pharmacists to nurses to patient support specialists, design infrastructure, create business development opportunities, and play a key role in companywide strategic planning.
Regardless of his position, Donovan has always kept one thing top of mind: “If you take care of the people that matter, the program will always be successful.” Donovan has spent years doing just that for patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and product manufacturers.
 
 
Website: optimecare.com
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/optime-care

Leader in Xylitol-Based Products Supports COVID-19 Research

 
 
Nathan Jones, the CEO of Xlear, global leader in creating natural, convenient, xylitol-based sinus and oral care products that support a healthy lifestyle joins eHealth Radio and the Allergy Information and Health News Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Nathan Jones discuss the following:
We heard that your company, Xlear, has been conducting research with The Institute for Antiviral Research at Utah State University about COVID-19. Can you tell us more about the research?
You have started with this research at the beginning of the pandemic. What progress have you made since then?
Although you are an entrepreneur, you come from a medical family and your father is a medical doctor. We learned that he has recently published a book about COVID-19. It’s main premise is that we should wash our noses. Can you elaborate on that?
What trends have you seen in how people approach their health during pandemic?
What do you hope to see happen as we move into Fall?
Nathan was born in Kansas City and he spent his formative years in Idaho, in a small town where his father was the town doctor. Later, in a pursuit to provide needed support for the entire family of 14 kids, Nathan’s parents have made the decision to move to Michigan, Mexico City, where he spent most of his childhood. When he was 16 years old, the family made another move, this time to Utah which is also where Nathan graduated from high school. He attended college for a year, spent a year in active duty, and also went on a two year mission with his church. He moved back home in 1994 and started attending Utah Valley University. Later, he made a transition to Seattle where he attended school to become a commercial diver - he used skills form this education when he worked as a diver in oilfields in Louisiana between 1995 and 2000. Another transition occurred when he moved back to Utah and founded Xlear in 2000 where he has been ever since.
About the BOOK: In Asthma and Allergy Solution that Works for COVID-19: The Powerful Natural Prescription for Respiratory Health During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Dr. Lon Jones, D.O., a Texas-based family medicine physician who pioneered the nasal uses of the healthy sugar xylitol, explains that simple methods of self-protection that go beyond face masks, including washing your nose as regularly as you do your hands, could result in significantly reduced risk of infection. Based on the latest studies and his own clinical experience, Dr. Jones teaches us how supporting our nasal defenses can eliminate coronavirus when its viral load is lightest and the virus is still located in the upper respiratory tissues before it has spread to the lungs.
 
 
Website: https://xlear.com
Social Media Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xlear  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xylitol.experts

Targeting the Immune System to Treat Rare Disease

 
 
Paula Ragan, the CEO of X4 Pharmaceuticals, a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company and a leader in the discovery and development of novel therapies with a focus on rare disease joins eHealth Radio and the Health News and Pharmaceutical Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Paula Ragan discuss the following:
Can you tell us about your background? Where you're from, how you came to be interested in rare disease?
What is the science behind CXCR4 and what role does it play in the functioning of the immune system?
What is mavorixafor, what is its origin and how does it work? What clinical studies are your currently in?
What is WHIM syndrome? How is someone generally diagnosed with the condition and how does your treatment help?
You are also looking at mavorixafor as a treatment for certain cancers. What happens to the immune systems in these cancers and what is mavorixafor expected to do?
Can you tell me about your current partnerships and collaborations?

Dr. Ragan has been X4’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the X4 Board of Directors since July 2014. She has more than 18 years of experience building companies in the biotechnology industry.
Prior to founding X4, Dr. Ragan consulted as Chief Business Officer at Lysosomal Therapeutics Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company, where she led the company’s business development activities.
Prior to that, Dr. Ragan held leadership roles in corporate development and operations at Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi company, where she led strategic partnering efforts for Genzyme’s Rare Disease business and headed the supply chain planning for Genzyme’s flagship commercial products.
Other professional roles include business roles at Hydra Biosciences, Oscient Corporation and Celera Corporation. Dr. Ragan received her B.S. from Tufts University and her Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed post-doctoral studies at Harvard Medical School.
 
 
Website: www.x4pharma.com
Social Media Links: Twitter: twitter.com/X4Pharma  Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/x4-pharmaceuticals

The most critical natural supplements to fight against the coronavirus and other viruses

 
 
Dr. Asli Tanugur Samanci the CEO and Founder of BEE & YOU, an innovative provider of natural BEE products again joins eHealth Radio and the Nutrition & Health News Channel.
Dr. Samanci is a food scientist committed to creating natural and healthy products for the educated consumer & a pioneer to combine science and nature for safer, more effective natural bee products.
 
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Dr. Asli Tanugur Samanci discuss the following:
I read your most recent press release about the Coronavirus diet. I found it very educational and informative in terms of prevention measures naturally? Can you explain to us what are the most critical natural supplements against this virus and other viruses?
Do you think a vaccine can be developed against this disease?
The Flu killed more than 14,000 people and 250,000 have already been hospitalized during the 2019-2020 flu season, according to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 26 million Americans have fallen ill with flu-like symptoms last year. Will these natural remedies be enough to prevent the flu, colds and coronavirus in a household?
As a food scientist, what do you suggest people should prepare themselves for the coronavirus as it enters the USA?

Dr. Asli Tanugur Samanci is the CEO and Founder of BEE & YOU, an innovative provider of natural BEE products.
A food scientist committed to creating natural and healthy products for the educated consumer, Dr. Samanci is a pioneer to combine science and nature for safer, more effective natural bee products. She created a business modal to contract the beekeepers to prevent bees from becoming extinct. This also allowed her to create and patent the Propolis in its healthiest, most natural and safe form. Her ultimate goal is to make Propolis a consistent product harvested from all the beehives available in the world and introduce the natural healing power of Anatolian Propolis to the world.

 
 
 

 
 
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BEE & YOU products (Royal Jelly, Propolis, Pure Raw Honey) are antiviral, antibacterial and they are natural energy boosters. They are effective in fighting allergy symptoms naturally and they support the immune system. They are 100% natural; Gluten Free; Non-GMO; Pesticide Free; Free from additives & colorants & preservatives. Bee and you products have innovative taste options for kids and adults. And they are on sale at 3000 CVS stores nationally and at Amazon.
 
 
 
Website: www.bee-and-you.com
Social Media Links: Facebook: facebook.com/BeeAndYouNatural  Instagram: @beeandyounatural  Twitter: @beeandyou

Becoming a Zebra: Diagnosis and Life with a Rare Disease

 
Dr. Nikki Martinez, Psychologist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor again joins eHealth Radio and the Health News, Rare Diseases & Psychology Channels to discuss becoming a zebra; diagnosis and life with a rare disease.
 
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Dr. Nikki Martinez discuss the following:
You were working as a Health Psychologist before you became a strong advocate in the rare disease movement. What drew you to this area?
What are some of the assumptions that are made in medicine that keep people with rare diseases from getting an accurate diagnosis early on?
How many rare diseases are there that we know of at this point?
What can people do to feel like they have support and a community?
How can individual therapy help this person to deal with waiting to get diagnosed, getting diagnosed, and the ultimate changes that need to be made to their lives? Health Psychology is one of your specialities, how can someone reach you for help?
 
Dr. Nikki Martinez received her Masters and her Doctorate from Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and completed her pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellowship at Gateway Foundation in Lake Villa, Illinois.
She is the Head of Clinical Development for www.DrNikkiMartinez.com, where she can be reached if you are interested in individual or couples work with her. She is an Adjunct Professor for 2 graduate programs, a Blogger for the Huffington Post, Everydaypowerblog, Older Dating, Success Stories, Sivana Spirit, Proud Stories, and a Contributor for the Chicago Tribune. She just published her first 8th book through Amazon.com.
 
Website: www.DrNikkiMartinez.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-martinez-35b36231 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrNikkiMartinez Twitter: @DrNikkiMartinez