Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for generating dorsal foregut endoderm (DFE) cells by contacting pluripotent stem cells with a retinoic acid signaling pathway agonist and a bone morphogenetic (BMP) pathway inhibitor without exposing the stem cells to a transforming growth factor beta (TGF?) pathway agonist. In certain embodiments, the DFE cells are contacted with a retinoic acid signaling pathway agonist and a FGFR pathway inhibitor to generate pancreatic endoderm (PE) cells (e.g., with dorsal identity). In other embodiments, the PE cells are contacted with an ALK5 inhibitor and a Notch inhibitor to generate endocrine cells (e.g., insulin expressing endocrine cells). In certain embodiments, compositions, systems, kits, and methods are provided for generating anterior domain endoderm (ADE) cells.

Abstract: Needle shield removers, drug delivery devices, and associated methods are provided that include a tubular body formed from a sheet with a closure having from a plurality of teeth extending laterally outwardly from one longitudinal edge of the sheet and a plurality of grooves extending laterally inwardly into the sheet of material from a second longitudinal edge of the sheet. The plurality of teeth are frictionally received within the plurality of grooves to thereby hold the body in a tubular configuration. The needle shield removers can further include a first plurality of barbs arrayed around a circumference of the body adjacent to a first end thereof and a second plurality of barbs arrayed around a circumference of the body adjacent to a second end thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for generating dorsal foregut endoderm (DFE) cells by contacting pluripotent stem cells with a retinoic acid signaling pathway agonist and a bone morphogenetic (BMP) pathway inhibitor without exposing the stem cells to a transforming growth factor beta (TGF?) pathway agonist. In certain embodiments, the DFE cells are contacted with a retinoic acid signaling pathway agonist and a FGFR pathway inhibitor to generate pancreatic endoderm (PE) cells (e.g., with dorsal identity). In other embodiments, the PE cells are contacted with an ALK5 inhibitor and a Notch inhibitor to generate endocrine cells (e.g., insulin expressing endocrine cells). In certain embodiments, compositions, systems, kits, and methods are provided for generating anterior domain endoderm (ADE) cells.

Abstract: A drug delivery device may include a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an opening and a drug storage container including a delivery member having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state. The device may also include plunger moveable toward the distal end of the drug storage container to expel a drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member, the plunger including a body portion having an inner wall defining an axial chamber and an outer wall cooperating with the inner wall to define a body thickness. The device may further include a plunger biasing member disposed at least partially within the axial chamber, the plunger biasing member configured to urge the plunger toward the distal end of the drug storage container.

Abstract: Needle shield removers, drug delivery devices, and associated methods are provided that include a tubular body formed from a sheet with a closure having from a plurality of teeth extending laterally outwardly from one longitudinal edge of the sheet and a plurality of grooves extending laterally inwardly into the sheet of material from a second longitudinal edge of the sheet. The plurality of teeth are frictionally received within the plurality of grooves to thereby hold the body in a tubular configuration. The needle shield removers can further include a first plurality of barbs arrayed around a circumference of the body adjacent to a first end thereof and a second plurality of barbs arrayed around a circumference of the body adjacent to a second end thereof.

Abstract: A drug delivery device may include a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an opening and a drug storage container including a delivery member having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state. The device may also include plunger moveable toward the distal end of the drug storage container to expel a drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member, the plunger including a body portion having an inner wall defining an axial chamber and an outer wall cooperating with the inner wall to define a body thickness. The device may further include a plunger biasing member disposed at least partially within the axial chamber, the plunger biasing member configured to urge the plunger toward the distal end of the drug storage container.

Abstract: A conveyor arrangement with a first mobile conveyor, which includes a first conveying track adapted to convey an object, and a drive module adapted to change its position within an area of operation. The first conveying track is fixed to the drive module so that changing the position of the drive module leads to a similar change of the first conveying track. By operation of the drive module, a first mobile conveyor is transferred between a handover state, and a separated state in relation to a second conveying track of a second conveyor. During the handover state, the first conveying track is in alignment with the second conveying track; and during the separated state the first conveying track is not in alignment with the second conveying track so that the object cannot be transferred between the first conveyor and the second conveying track.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plunger of a drug delivery device includes forming a plunger body. The method includes loading the plunger body into a cavity of a first molding tool of a molding system. The cavity is at least partially defined by a first molding portion and a second molding portion. The method includes coupling a second molding tool to the first molding tool to form a plurality of channels defined by grooves in the first and second molding tools, and injecting molten plastic into the plurality of channels to form an overmolded plunger body. The overmolded plunger body includes a head coupled to the first end of the plunger body and a foot coupled to the second end of the plunger body. The foot is at least partially coupled to the inner wall and the head is coupled to the outer wall of the plunger body.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plunger of a drug delivery device includes forming a plunger body. The method includes loading the plunger body into a cavity of a first molding tool of a molding system. The cavity is at least partially defined by a first molding portion and a second molding portion. The method includes coupling a second molding tool to the first molding tool to form a plurality of channels defined by grooves in the first and second molding tools, and injecting molten plastic into the plurality of channels to form an overmolded plunger body. The overmolded plunger body includes a head coupled to the first end of the plunger body and a foot coupled to the second end of the plunger body. The foot is at least partially coupled to the inner wall and the head is coupled to the outer wall of the plunger body.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for generating human podocyte cells by contacting human nephron progenitor cells with an FGFR pathway inhibitor, a BMP pathway inhibitor, and a WNT pathway inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the nephron progenitor cells are further contacted with at least one factor selected from: BMP4, BMP7, lysophosphatidic acid, and gamma-secretase inhibitor XX. In certain embodiments, the contacting the nephron progenitor cells is performed under serum-free conditions.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for generating human podocyte cells by contacting human nephron progenitor cells with an FGFR pathway inhibitor, a BMP pathway inhibitor, and a WNT pathway inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the nephron progenitor cells are further contacted with at least one factor selected from: BMP4, BMP7, lysophosphatidic acid, and gamma-secretase inhibitor XX. In certain embodiments, the contacting the nephron progenitor cells is performed under serum-free conditions.

Abstract: A drug delivery device may include a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an opening and a drug storage container including a delivery member having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state. The device may also include plunger moveable toward the distal end of the drug storage container to expel a drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member, the plunger including a body portion having an inner wall defining an axial chamber and an outer wall cooperating with the inner wall to define a body thickness. The device may further include a plunger biasing member disposed at least partially within the axial chamber, the plunger biasing member configured to urge the plunger toward the distal end of the drug storage container.

Abstract: A drug delivery device may include a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an opening and a drug storage container including a delivery member having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state. The device may also include plunger moveable toward the distal end of the drug storage container to expel a drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member, the plunger including a body portion having an inner wall defining an axial chamber and an outer wall cooperating with the inner wall to define a body thickness. The device may further include a plunger biasing member disposed at least partially within the axial chamber, the plunger biasing member configured to urge the plunger toward the distal end of the drug storage container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to combination therapies for treating viral infections, particularly infections by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, also known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plunger of a drug delivery device includes forming a plunger body. The method includes loading the plunger body into a cavity of a first molding tool of a molding system. The cavity is at least partially defined by a first molding portion and a second molding portion. The method includes coupling a second molding tool to the first molding tool to form a plurality of channels defined by grooves in the first and second molding tools, and injecting molten plastic into the plurality of channels to form an overmolded plunger body. The overmolded plunger body includes a head coupled to the first end of the plunger body and a foot coupled to the second end of the plunger body. The foot is at least partially coupled to the inner wall and the head is coupled to the outer wall of the plunger body.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for generating dorsal foregut endoderm (DFE) cells by contacting pluripotent stem cells with a retinoic acid signaling pathway agonist and a bone morphogenetic (BMP) pathway inhibitor without exposing the stem cells to a transforming growth factor beta (TGF?) pathway agonist. In certain embodiments, the DFE cells are contacted with a retinoic acid signaling pathway agonist and a FGFR pathway inhibitor to generate pancreatic endoderm (PE) cells (e.g., with dorsal identity). In other embodiments, the PE cells are contacted with an ALK5 inhibitor and a Notch inhibitor to generate endocrine cells (e.g., insulin expressing endocrine cells). In certain embodiments, compositions, systems, kits, and methods are provided for generating anterior domain endoderm (ADE) cells.

Abstract: Needle shield removers, drug delivery devices, and associated methods are provided that include a tubular body formed from a sheet with a closure having from a plurality of teeth extending laterally outwardly from one longitudinal edge of the sheet and a plurality of grooves extending laterally inwardly into the sheet of material from a second longitudinal edge of the sheet. The plurality of teeth are frictionally received within the plurality of grooves to thereby hold the body in a tubular configuration. The needle shield removers can further include a first plurality of barbs arrayed around a circumference of the body adjacent to a first end thereof and a second plurality of barbs arrayed around a circumference of the body adjacent to a second end thereof.

Abstract: A drug delivery device may include a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an opening and a drug storage container including a delivery member having an insertion end configured to extend at least partially through the opening during a delivery state. The device may also include plunger moveable toward the distal end of the drug storage container to expel a drug from the drug storage container through the delivery member, the plunger including a body portion having an inner wall defining an axial chamber and an outer wall cooperating with the inner wall to define a body thickness. The device may further include a plunger biasing member disposed at least partially within the axial chamber, the plunger biasing member configured to urge the plunger toward the distal end of the drug storage container.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for generating human podocyte cells by contacting human nephron progenitor cells with an FGFR pathway inhibitor, a BMP pathway inhibitor, and a WNT pathway inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the nephron progenitor cells are further contacted with at least one factor selected from: BMP4, BMP7, lysophosphatidic acid, and gamma-secretase inhibitor XX. In certain embodiments, the contacting the nephron progenitor cells is performed under serum-free conditions.

Abstract: The invention is based, in part, on the discovery that a polypeptide, referred to herein as Betacam, is selectively expressed on the surface of pancreatic islet cells. Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to compositions comprising Betacam or that can be used to detect Betacam. In another aspect, the invention provides methods of detecting (e.g., non-invasively) pancreatic beta cells from a mammalian cell source. Another aspect of the invention is directed to cellular purification of pancreatic beta cells from a heterogeneous cell source of multiple kinds. In another aspect, the invention provides methods of identifying agents that modulate activity of Betacam. In yet another aspect, the invention provides for improved treatment and diagnosis of diabetes.