From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Madison-based Elephas Biosciences Corporation is touting a new research paper that demonstrates the effectiveness of its precision oncology platform.
The paper, published over the weekend in the Journal of Translational Medicine, focused on its Elephas Live Platform product. The tool can profile tumors to predict how they’ll respond to immunotherapy, based on a small biopsy.
Study authors found the platform is capable of detecting an immune cell response to a treatment called immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy, which uses the body’s own immune system to target cancer. They say the platform’s specific approach “addresses challenges” associated with other detection methods while using less tissue.
They also note the platform is compatible with established laboratory tests and imaging techniques, adding ongoing trials “will enable clinicians to assess platform performance in predicting response to immunotherapy.”
Elephas founder and CEO Maneesh Arora says the paper’s publication is “an important moment” for the company as it expands internationally.
“This paper validates our approach of using live tumor tissue for immunotherapy response prediction and highlights the strength of our science and its potential to transform cancer care,” Arora said in a statement.
The company late last year announced it had raised $40 million in a funding round that included the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and Venture Investors Health Fund in Madison.
See the release below.
— No Wisconsin counties reached the measles herd immunity vaccination rate of 95% for kindergarteners in recent years, new figures reveal.
The county-level data, collected and analyzed by the Washington Post, show Wisconsin trails most of the Midwest on this measure with relatively low kindergarten measles vaccination rates.
Each of its neighboring states has at least several counties exceeding the herd immunity rate, and Illinois has more than two dozen. At the same time, no other bordering state has as many counties with vaccination rates below 70% as Wisconsin does, based on the assessment of data from 2023 and 2024.
The report comes after Wisconsin last year had an outbreak of the measles centered in Oconto County, which actually had one of the highest kindergarten measles vaccination rates in the state with 80.8%.
Still, that outbreak resulted in 36 cases, all of which were among unvaccinated people. There were two hospitalizations and no deaths, according to figures from the state Department of Health Services.
See more in Top Stories below.
Top Stories
– Where vaccination rates declined the most, by county
– Medical groups’ challenge to Kennedy-backed vaccine policies can proceed, US judge rules
– Can children still get vaccines no longer recommended by the CDC?
– Trump tells GOP it’s time to ‘own’ health care while urging ‘flexibility’ on abortion restrictions
– Nimbus, Lilly sign deal to develop new oral obesity drug
– Appeals panel upholds block of NIH research overhead payment cuts
Press Releases
– BayCare Clinic: Appoints Dr. Riley Meyer as chief medical officer

