Elusive deep-sea squid caught on camera for the first time: Watch
An elusive deep-sea squid species was caught on camera for the first time ever in a major breakthrough.
National Geographic, on June 10, revealed the "history-making sighting" of a massive, three-foot long deep-sea squid, which has never before been seen alive, saying the first-ever video footage of the Gonatus antarcticus was captured "on Christmas Day by the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel, the R/V Falkor (too)." Schmidt Ocean Institute, a nonprofit organization, is focused on ocean research, discovery, and knowledge.
The "surprise moment" was "caught on camera via the research vessel's remotely operated vehicle (ROV), SuBastian," in the Southern Ocean, National Geographic said in a press release.
Manuel Novillo, a postdoctoral researcher at Argentina's Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, who was aboard the ship, told NatGeo the expedition wasn't even meant to be in the area that day. But adverse weather conditions and treacherous sea ice forced them to choose a new site at the outer edge of the Powell Basin, instead of inside the "unexplored abyssal plain," which has a depth of approximately 9,800 feet.
On Christmas morning, as Novillo watched a live video feed of the expedition's remote vehicle, SuBastian, traveling 7,000 feet through the ocean's depth towards the seabed, he spotted a shadow which caught his attention. Novilla asked the pilot to get closer and 'voila, it appeared,' he told NatGeo.
'What are the odds?' Novillo said about the experience. 'We were not supposed to be there and not at that precise moment.
Prior to the sighting, the Gonatus antarcticus was only known from carcasses in fishing nets or when the squids' beaks were found in the stomach of fished marine animals, NatGeo said.
Watch: Young colossal squid captured on video in its natural habitat for the first time
Alex Hayward, senior lecturer at the University of Exeter in England, told National Geographic that deep-sea squids have good eyesight and usually avoid the lights of a research vessel, making it impossible to spot them.
'We want to see them, but they probably don't want to see us most of the time,' she told the publication.
The Gonatus antarcticus squid, which has a red and bluish appearance and is characterized by a large single central hook on each tentacle club, is found only in the frigid waters around Antarctica, according to NatGeo. It was spotted at a depth of approximately 2152 meters in the Southern Ocean's Weddell Sea. Researchers, however, have not been able to confirm the squid's sex or age from the footage.
Novillo told the publication that the squid released a small cloud of greenish ink as it was spotted, perhaps startled by the vehicle. The squid also had scratches on its arms and fresh-looking sucker marks on its mantle, hinting at some kind of recent predation attempt that it may have managed to escape.
During the expedition, the research team also mapped several previously unexplored sites throughout the Southern Ocean and collected various samples of sediment, water, and biota for research purposes, NatGeo said. Part of the expedition was to examine the impact of climate and environmental change in and around the Weddell Sea, "an area prioritized for marine protection and one of the few near-pristine ecosystems on the planet."
Earlier, in March, crew members on board a research vessel operated by Schmidt Ocean Institute in the South Atlantic Ocean recorded a video of the world's largest squid species. The nearly one-foot-long juvenile colossal squid was spotted floating at a depth of approximately 1968 feet below the waters around the South Sandwich Islands, a volcanic archipelago located between the tip of South America and Antarctica.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deep-sea squid species caught on camera for the first time: Watch
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Business Wire
a day ago
- Business Wire
Genentech's Lunsumio and Polivy Combination Significantly Prolongs Remission for People With Relapsed or Refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), presented today results from the Phase III SUNMO [ NCT05171647 ] study showing Lunsumio ® (mosunetuzumab-axgb) administered subcutaneously in combination with Polivy ® (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq) demonstrated a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in its primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) compared to Rituxan ® (rituximab), gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx), in people with relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who are not eligible for transplant. Primary analysis data were featured at the 18 th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma as a late-breaking oral presentation. Results from the SUNMO study will be submitted to global health authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The National Comprehensive Cancer Network ® (NCCN ®) has recently added Lunsumio and Polivy to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines ®) as a category 2A recommendation for the treatment of people with second-line (2L) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are not intended to proceed to transplant. † 'Lunsumio and Polivy represent the first combination of a bispecific antibody and antibody-drug conjugate, which could avoid chemotherapy and potentially provide an alternative option for some patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL,' said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. 'We are also encouraged by the favorable safety profile and potential for outpatient use of this regimen, which may suit diverse patient and healthcare system needs.' At a median follow-up of 23.2 months, the Lunsumio and Polivy combination demonstrated a 59% reduction in risk of disease progression or death compared to R-GemOx (hazard ratio [HR] 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28–0.61; p<0.0001). Median PFS was three times longer with Lunsumio and Polivy at 11.5 months (95% CI: 5.6-17.6), compared to 3.8 months for R-GemOx (95% CI: 2.9-4.1) and 12-month PFS was more than doubled at 48.5% (95% CI: 39.6-57.4) vs.17.8% (95% CI: 5.4-30.3), respectively. This PFS benefit was consistent across subgroups, including in high-risk patients with primary refractory disease (HR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.29–0.72). At the interim analysis, overall survival (OS) data were not yet mature. OS numerically favored the Lunsumio and Polivy combination with a median of 18.7 months (95% CI: 14.1–not evaluable [NE]) compared to 13.6 months for R-GemOx (95% CI: 9.9–NE; HR 0.80; 95% CI: 0.54 - 1.20). 'There remains a clear need for effective and well-tolerated treatments for people with this difficult-to-treat disease,' said Jason Westin, professor of lymphoma and director of lymphoma clinical research, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. 'If approved, this off-the-shelf treatment combination of mosunetuzumab-axgb and polatuzumab vedotin-piiq could be administered over a fixed period of time, without mandatory hospitalization or traditional chemotherapy, which could provide a meaningful option for patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL.' In the Lunsumio and Polivy arm, 30% more patients achieved an objective response (70.3%, 95% CI: 61.9-77.8) compared to R-GemOx (40.0%; 95% CI: 28.5-52.4), and the complete response rate was doubled at 51.4% (95% CI: 42.8-60.0) versus 24.3% (95% CI: 14.8-36.0). Nearly 75% of patients with a complete response were still in remission after one year (72.6%; 95% CI: 61.4-83.8) compared to 44.1% for R-GemOx (95% CI: 13.2-74.9). The safety profile of the Lunsumio and Polivy combination was consistent with the known profiles of the individual study medicines, potentially allowing use across outpatient and community settings. The incidence of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) events in the Lunsumio plus Polivy arm was low, occurring in one in four patients, with less than 5% of patients experiencing Grade 2 or 3 CRS events. No immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome events were reported. Rates of Grade 3–4 (58.5% vs. 57.8%) and Grade 5 (5.2% vs. 6.3%) adverse events (AEs) were similar between the combination and R-GemOx, with fewer AEs leading to treatment discontinuation in the Lunsumio and Polivy arm (2.2% vs. 4.7%). High-dose chemotherapy followed by stem-cell transplant has traditionally been the standard 2L treatment for people with R/R LBCL. While 2L therapies have advanced, DLBCL can progress rapidly and many people are not candidates for, cannot tolerate, or do not have access to latest therapies. There is an urgent need for treatments that are rapidly available upon a diagnosis of relapse, that can manage the disease and improve long-term outcomes. Genentech's lymphoma portfolio is one of the broadest in the industry, providing a unique and much-needed opportunity to combine regimens with different and complementary mechanisms of action. We are exploring our CD20xCD3 bispecifics, Lunsumio and Columvi ® (glofitamab-gxbm), alongside Polivy to move one step closer towards our goal of improving the lives of as many patients with lymphomas as possible. This includes the Phase III STARGLO study [ NCT04408638 ] evaluating the efficacy and safety of Columvi in combination with GemOx versus R-GemOx alone in patients with R/R DLBCL who have received at least one prior line of therapy and who are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplant, or who have received two or more prior lines of therapy. Lunsumio is already approved for people with R/R follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of therapy in more than 60 countries worldwide. Polivy in combination with R-CHP is approved for people with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in more than 100 countries worldwide and in combination with bendamustine and Rituxan for R/R DLBCL in more than 90 countries worldwide. †NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way About the SUNMO study The SUNMO [ NCT05171647 ] study is an international, multi-center, randomized Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of subcutaneously administered Lunsmio ® (mosunetuzumab-axgb) in combination with intravenous Polivy ® (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq) compared to Rituxan ® (rituximab), gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx), in people with relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant. Outcome measures include progression-free survival and objective response rate (dual primary endpoints), overall survival, duration of objective response, complete response rate, duration of complete response, safety and tolerability, and patient-reported outcomes. About Lunsumio ® (mosunetuzumab-axgb) Lunsumio is a first-in-class CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody designed to target CD20 on the surface of B cells and CD3 on the surface of T cells. This dual-targeting activates and redirects a patient's existing T cells to engage and eliminate target B cells by releasing cytotoxic proteins into the B cells. A robust clinical development program for Lunsumio is ongoing, investigating the molecule as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines, for the treatment of people with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and other indications. About Polivy ® (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq) Polivy is a first-in-class anti-CD79b antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). The CD79b protein is expressed in the majority of B cells, an immune cell impacted in some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), making it a promising target for the development of new therapies. Polivy binds to cancer cells such as those expressing CD79b and destroys these B cells through the delivery of an anti-cancer agent, which is thought to minimize the effects on normal cells. Polivy is being developed by Genentech using Pfizer ADC technology and is currently being investigated for the treatment of several types of NHL. About large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) Large B-cell lymphomas (LBCL), composed predominantly of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), are the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that affect B-cell lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells. DLBCL is the most common form of aggressive NHL and makes up about 80% of LBCLs. While it can arise in lymph nodes, it can also occur in organs outside of the lymphatic system. Approximately 160,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with DLBCL each year, with comparable incidence rates across regions. Medical practices, including pathological classification, diagnosis, staging, initial treatment and relapse management, are similarly approached worldwide. While it is generally responsive to treatment in the frontline, as many as 40% of people will relapse or have refractory disease, at which time salvage therapy options are limited and survival is short. Improving treatments earlier in the course of the disease and providing much needed alternative options could help to improve long-term outcomes. Lunsumio U.S. Indication Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with follicular lymphoma whose cancer has come back or did not respond to previous treatment, and who have already received two or more treatments for their cancer. It is not known if Lunsumio is safe and effective in children. The conditional approval of Lunsumio is based on response rate. There are ongoing studies to establish how well the drug works. What is the most important information I should know about Lunsumio? Lunsumio may cause Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a serious side effect that is common during treatment with Lunsumio and can also be severe or life-threatening. Get medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of CRS at any time, including: fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher chills low blood pressure fast or irregular heartbeat tiredness or weakness difficulty breathing headache confusion feeling anxious dizziness or light-headedness nausea vomiting Due to the risk of CRS, you will receive Lunsumio on a 'step-up dosing schedule.' The step-up dosing schedule is when you receive smaller 'step-up' doses of Lunsumio on Day 1 and Day 8 of your first cycle of treatment You will receive a higher dose of Lunsumio on Day 15 of your first cycle of treatment If your dose of Lunsumio is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the step-up dosing schedule Before each dose in Cycle 1 and Cycle 2, you will receive medicines to help reduce your risk of CRS Your healthcare provider will check you for CRS during treatment with Lunsumio and may treat you in a hospital if you develop signs and symptoms of CRS. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment with Lunsumio, if you have severe side effects. What are the possible side effects of Lunsumio? Lunsumio may cause serious side effects, including: neurologic problems. Lunsumio can cause serious and life-threatening neurological problems. Your healthcare provider will check you for neurologic problems during treatment with Lunsumio. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems during or after treatment with Lunsumio, including: headache numbness and tingling of the arms, legs, hands, or feet dizziness confusion and disorientation difficulty paying attention or understanding things forgetting things or forgetting who or where you are trouble speaking, reading, or writing sleepiness or trouble sleeping tremors loss of consciousness seizures muscle problems or muscle weakness loss of balance or trouble walking tiredness serious infections. Lunsumio can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will check you for signs and symptoms of infection before and during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of infection during treatment with Lunsumio, including: fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher cough chest pain tiredness shortness of breath painful rash sore throat pain during urination feeling weak or generally unwell hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Lunsumio can cause overactivity of the immune system, a condition called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. HLH can be life-threatening and has led to death in people treated with Lunsumio. Your health care provider will check you for HLH especially if your CRS lasts longer than expected. Signs and symptoms of HLH include: fever enlarged spleen easy bruising low blood cell counts liver problems low blood cell counts. Low blood cell counts are common during treatment with Lunsumio and can also be serious or severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment with Lunsumio. Lunsumio can cause the following low blood cell counts: low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cells can increase your risk for infection low red blood cell counts (anemia). Low red blood cells can cause tiredness and shortness of breath low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Low platelet counts can cause bruising or bleeding problems growth in your tumor or worsening of tumor related problems (tumor flare). Lunsumio can cause serious or severe worsening of your tumor. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare during your treatment with Lunsumio: chest pain cough trouble breathing tender or swollen lymph nodes pain or swelling at the site of the tumor Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or permanently stop treatment with Lunsumio if you develop severe side effects. The most common side effects of Lunsumio include: tiredness, rash, fever, and headache. The most common severe abnormal blood test results with Lunsumio include: decreased phosphate, increased glucose, and increased uric acid levels. Before receiving Lunsumio, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have ever had an infusion reaction after receiving Lunsumio have an infection, or have had an infection in the past which lasted a long time or keeps coming back have or have had Epstein-Barr Virus are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lunsumio may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Lunsumio Females who are able to become pregnant: your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Lunsumio you should use an effective method of birth control (contraception) during your treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of Lunsumio are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Lunsumio passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of Lunsumio Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. What should I avoid while receiving Lunsumio? Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities if you develop dizziness, confusion, tremors, sleepiness, or any other symptoms that impair consciousness until your signs and symptoms go away. These may be signs and symptoms of CRS or neurologic problems. These are not all the possible side effects of Lunsumio. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Lunsumio. You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555. Please see Important Safety Information, including Serious Side Effects, as well as the Lunsumio full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide or visit Polivy U.S. Indication Polivy is a prescription medicine used with other medicines (a rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone) as a first treatment for adults who have moderate to high risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS) or high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL). Polivy is a prescription medicine used with other medicines, bendamustine and a rituximab product, to treat DLBCL in adults who have progressed after at least 2 prior therapies. Important Safety Information Possible serious side effects Everyone reacts differently to Polivy therapy, so it's important to know what the side effects are. Some people who have been treated with Polivy have experienced serious to fatal side effects. Your doctor may stop or adjust your treatment if any serious side effects occur. Be sure to contact your healthcare team if there are any signs of these side effects. Nerve problems in your arms and legs: This may happen as early as after your first dose and may worsen with every dose. Your doctor will monitor for signs and symptoms, such as changes in your sense of touch, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, nerve pain, burning sensation, any muscle weakness, or changes to your walking pattern Infusion-related reactions: You may experience fever, chills, rash, breathing problems, low blood pressure, or hives within 24 hours of your infusion Low blood cell counts: Treatment with Polivy can cause severe low blood cell counts. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with Polivy Infections: If you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, cough, or pain during urination, contact your healthcare team. Your doctor may also give you medication before giving you Polivy, which may prevent some infections Rare and serious brain infections: Your doctor will monitor closely for signs and symptoms of these types of infections. Contact your doctor if you experience confusion, dizziness or loss of balance, trouble talking or walking, or vision changes Tumor lysis syndrome: Caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. Signs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of energy Potential harm to liver: Some signs include tiredness, weight loss, pain in the abdomen, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes. You may be at higher risk if you already had liver problems or you are taking other medication Side effects seen most often The most common side effects during treatment were Nerve problems in arms and legs Nausea Tiredness or lack of energy Diarrhea Constipation Hair loss Redness and sores of the lining of the mouth, lips, throat, and digestive tract Polivy may lower your red or white blood cell counts and increase uric acid levels. Polivy may not be for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you are Pregnant or think you are pregnant: Data have shown that Polivy may harm your unborn baby Planning to become pregnant: Women should avoid getting pregnant while taking Polivy. Women should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after their last Polivy treatment. Men taking Polivy should use effective contraception during treatment and for 5 months after their last Polivy treatment Breastfeeding: Women should not breastfeed while taking Polivy and for 2 months after the last dose These may not be all the side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Polivy treatment. You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555. Please see the full Prescribing Information and visit for additional Important Safety Information. About Columvi® (glofitamab-gxbm) Columvi is a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody designed to target CD3 on the surface of T cells and CD20 on the surface of B cells. Columvi was designed with a novel 2:1 structural format. This T-cell engaging bispecific antibody is engineered to have one region that binds to CD3, a protein on T cells, a type of immune cell, and two regions that bind to CD20, a protein on B cells, which can be healthy or malignant. This dual-targeting brings the T cell in close proximity to the B cell, activating the release of cancer cell-killing proteins from the T cell. Columvi is part of Genentech's broad and industry-leading CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody clinical development program that also includes Lunsumio® (mosunetuzumab-axgb), which aims to provide tailored treatment options that suit the diverse needs, preferences, and experiences of people with blood cancers and healthcare systems. Genentech is investigating Columvi as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma. Columvi U.S. Indication Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) is a prescription medicine to treat adults with certain types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) that has come back (relapsed) or that did not respond to previous treatment (refractory), and who have received 2 or more prior treatments for their cancer. It is not known if Columvi is safe and effective in children. The conditional approval of Columvi is based on response rate and durability of response. There are ongoing studies to establish how well the drug works. What is the most important information I should know about Columvi? Columvi can cause Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a serious side effect that is common during treatment with Columvi, and can also be serious and lead to death. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of CRS, including: fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher chills or shaking fast or irregular heartbeat dizziness or light-headedness trouble breathing shortness of breath Due to the risk of CRS, you will receive Columvi on a 'step-up dosing schedule'. A single dose of a medicine called obinutuzumab will be given to you on the first day of your first treatment cycle (Day 1 of Cycle 1). You will start the Columvi step-up dosing schedule a week after the obinutuzumab dose. The step-up dosing schedule is when you receive smaller 'step-up' doses of Columvi on Day 8 and Day 15 of Cycle 1. This is to help reduce your risk of CRS. You should be hospitalized during your infusion and for 24 hours after receiving the first step-up dose on Day 8. You should be hospitalized during your infusion and for 24 hours after receiving the second step-up dose on Day 15 if you experienced CRS during the first step-up dose. You will receive your first full dose of Columvi a week after the second step-up dose (this will be Day 1 of Cycle 2). If your dose of Columvi is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the 'step-up dosing schedule'. If you had more than mild CRS with your previous dose of Columvi, you should be hospitalized during and for 24 hours after receiving your next dose of Columvi. Before each dose of Columvi, you will receive medicines to help reduce your risk of CRS and infusion-related reactions. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for CRS during treatment with Columvi and may treat you in a hospital if you develop signs and symptoms of CRS. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment with Columvi if you have severe side effects. Carry the Columvi Patient Wallet Card with you at all times and show it to all of your healthcare providers. The Columvi Patient Wallet Card lists the signs and symptoms of CRS you should get emergency medical help for right away. What are the possible side effects of Columvi? Columvi may cause serious side effects, including: Cytokine Release Syndrome. Neurologic problems. Columvi can cause serious neurologic problems that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for neurologic problems during treatment with Columvi. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems, including: headache confusion and disorientation difficulty paying attention or understanding things trouble speaking sleepiness memory problems numbness, tingling, or weakness of the hands or feet dizziness shaking (tremors) Serious Infections. Columvi can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of infection and treat you as needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs of an infection, including: fever, chills, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. Growth in your tumor or worsening of tumor related problems (tumor flare). Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare: tender or swollen lymph nodes pain or swelling at the site of the tumor chest pain cough trouble breathing The most common side effects of Columvi include: CRS, muscle and bone pain, rash, and tiredness. The most common severe abnormal lab test results with Columvi include: decreased white blood cells, decreased phosphate (an electrolyte), increased uric acid levels, and decreased fibrinogen (a protein that helps with blood clotting). Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop treatment with Columvi if you develop certain side effects. Before receiving Columvi, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have an infection have kidney problems are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Columvi may harm your unborn baby Females who are able to become pregnant: Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Columvi. You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose of Columvi. Talk to your healthcare provider about what birth control method is right for you during this time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Columvi. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Columvi may pass into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose of Columvi. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. What should I avoid while receiving Columvi? Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities if you develop dizziness, confusion, shaking (tremors), sleepiness, or any other symptoms that impair consciousness until your signs and symptoms go away. These may be signs and symptoms of neurologic problems. These are not all the possible side effects of Columvi. Talk to your health care provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Columvi. You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555. Please see Important Safety Information, including Serious Side Effects, as well as the Columvi full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide or visit About Genentech in hematology For more than 20 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in hematology. Today, we're investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to people with diseases of the blood. For more information visit About Genentech Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Genentech Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit
National Geographic
3 days ago
- National Geographic
These dolphins have orca ‘friends.' They may have an ulterior motive.
Scientists have documented what might be the first case of friendly interactions between killer whales and smaller cetaceans. Here's what they think is going on. Pacific white-sided dolphins swim off the coast of British Columbia. Dolphins and porpoises in this region have been spotted swimming alongside a population of killer whales known as northern resident orcas. Scientists have theories about why. Photograph By Paul Nicklen, Nat Geo Image collection A pod of Dall's porpoises sped toward an adult orca, swimming under and around her for a few minutes before getting 'bored' and moving on to her companions—a mother orca with a young calf. As soon as the porpoises appeared, the calf seems to have gotten excited, speeding up and trying to catch the porpoises. The mother eventually got frustrated, but 'the calf looked like it was having a great time,' says Brittany Visona-Kelly, a whale biologist with Ocean Wise, a nonprofit conservation organization in Vancouver, Canada. Eventually the mother's annoyance boiled over into tail slaps on the surface of the water, but the porpoises didn't pay much attention, hanging around for a few more minutes of play before taking off. Experts suspect that dolphins and porpoises off the coast of British Columbia swim alongside northern resident orcas in hopes they'll be protected from less friendly orcas that share their habitat. Video by Brittany C Visona-Kelly This playful moment, captured by drone, is just one of many such interactions between northern resident orcas, also known as killer whales; Dall's porpoises; and Pacific white-sided dolphins off the coast of British Columbia. These interactions may be the first known case of other cetacean species interacting positively with killer whales, apex predators of the ocean. Researchers believe the smaller species might be using the friendlier orcas as a shield against predatory orcas along the coast of British Columbia. 'The dolphins and porpoises seem to be attracted to northern residents,' Visona-Kelly says. Northern resident killer whales are found from the northern part of Vancouver Island and up the British Columbia Coast into southeastern Alaska, overlapping with the ranges of Dall's porpoises and Pacific white-sided dolphins. Northern resident orcas don't have exclusive control over their range though—southern resident killer whales overlap parts of their southern range, while Bigg's killer whales and other transient groups patrol up and down the coast. '[All three types of killer whales] are almost thought of as different species,' says Visona-Kelly. From scuba diving to set-jetting In a study published recently in Ecology and Evolution, Visona-Kelly and her colleague Lance Barrett-Lennard analyzed 42 interactions between northern residents, Dall's porpoises, and Pacific white-sided dolphins that they captured by drone between 2018 and 2021 in Johnstone Strait, between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland. These videos revealed dimly understood interactions that had previously only been observed by boat or shore. Dolphins swim with orcas off the coast of British Columbia. As apex predators, orcas don't typically befriend smaller animals—which makes these interactions that researchers have documented particularly intriguing. Video by Brittany C. Visona-Kelly In these encounters, the dolphins and porpoises actively approached the northern residents. The videos showed the smaller cetaceans swimming with the orcas in formation—sometimes all three species at the same time. Porpoises and dolphins would also play with orca calves, usually for a few minutes but occasionally for more than an hour. Visona-Kelly and her colleague aren't sure why the porpoises and dolphins did this, but they have a few theories. One possibility is they use the northern residents, which feed on chinook salmon, as a shield against Bigg's killer whales that prey on other marine mammals, including porpoises and dolphins. Even though their ranges overlap, Bigg's typically avoid northern residents, which usually travel in larger groups. While visually similar, Visona-Kelly says that dolphins and porpoises may differentiate from the two by picking up on the northern residents' chatter—Bigg's rely typically on stealth and are quieter. It's also possible that these smaller species might just be trying to get a closer look at a less threatening predator so they know what they are up against if attacked by Bigg's orcas, Visona-Kelly says. 'Like every animal, they live in a landscape of fear,' says Sarah Teman, a PhD candidate in marine mammal science at the University of Washington who was not involved in Visona-Kelly's study. 'So, it makes a lot of sense that dolphins and porpoises want to alleviate that for a bit by catching a ride with some bigger animals that aren't going to cause them some damage.' When traveling, both porpoises and dolphins are also known to ride the bows of boats, and they could be doing the same with northern resident orcas to surf off their current, Visona-Kelly adds. Finally, she notes, the smaller species may just be mooching food off orcas in some cases, though the videos didn't directly observe that. Drone footage of a pack of dolphins swimming alongside several northern resident orcas (killer whales). Northern resident orcas are thought to be friendlier than their southern resident counterparts—which might be why the smaller cetaceans cozy up to them. Video by Brittany C Visona-Kelly It's difficult to say whether the orcas are deriving any mutual benefit from these episodes, Visona-Kelly says. Northern residents don't usually share a diet with the smaller cetaceans, who eat smaller fish than chinook salmon. Visona-Kelly says it seems like the adults, at least, usually just tolerate the dolphins and porpoises, occasionally getting annoyed and lashing out at them. Teman compares it to playing with a relative's kids at a party. At first, it's fun. But 'eventually, you're like, 'I need some space.'' On the other hand, Teman and her colleagues published a study on interactions between southern residents and porpoises—both Dall's and harbor—and it doesn't go nearly as well for the smaller cetaceans. In these cases, it's nearly always the orcas that initiate the encounter. They flipped porpoises out of the water or rammed them. While the orcas never ate them, they still sometimes killed porpoises in the process. They would sometimes also play a 'game' in which two or three orcas would swim in unison, cradling a porpoise above the water between them. The fun was one-sided, however—stress from these whole interactions likely 'did the porpoises in,' Teman says. Amy Van Cise, a marine biologist at the University of Washington who was not involved in either study, is surprised how much the southern and northern residents differ in their behavior to porpoises. 'Those two populations are right next door to each other and they have the exact same ecology,' she says. As far as she knows, Visona-Kelly's study may be the first case of an animal seeking out killer whales for positive interactions. In many other cases, interaction with orcas tends not to end to well for marine creatures. 'It was nicer to see these northern resident killer whales have a little bit of a gentler interaction with these porpoise,' Teman says.
National Geographic
3 days ago
- National Geographic
The Golden Records tell the story of Earth. Will alien worlds ever find them?
In 1977, NASA launched two 12-inch gold-plated copper disks filled with the sounds of children's laughter, heartbeats, and bird calls. Is their time in space running out? The Golden Record carried by Voyager 1 and 2. Photographs of Jupiter by Voyager 1 on March 24, 1979 and Uranus by Voyager 2 on January 24, 1986. Photo Illustration by Jesse Barber, National Geographic; Image Sources from Nat Geo Image Collection, NASA/JPL In 1977, NASA launched Voyagers 1 and 2 from Cape Canaveral, Florida into space to embark on a grand tour of the far reaches of our solar system. Mounted on board each probe was a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk—a cosmic 'message in a bottle' engraved with sights, sounds, and depictions of life on Earth, collectively known as the Golden Records—on the slim chance some far-off alien civilization might discover them. And in Disney and Pixar's animated film Elio, in theaters June 20, that's exactly what happens when main character Elio encounters aliens who believe he is Earth's leader. 'It's meant to be a sort of a letter of introduction to any culture who might find the probe,' says Bethany Ehlmann, a planetary scientist at the California Institute of Technology and a 2013 National Geographic Emerging Explorer, of the real-life Golden Records. Though these gilded greetings were partly intended for an alien audience, they mostly served as a message to humans and our tiny blue marble planet. 'It's a love letter to Earth and all that we have come through to get to the point where we could send these probes to understand our solar system.' But where are the Golden Records now—and how much longer are they intended to last in space? We spoke to the experts, including Ehlmann, to find out. When tasked with figuring out what to include in the intergalactic mixtape aboard the Voyager probes, renowned astronomer Carl Sagan assembled a team of scientists, artists, and engineers. For a true depiction of life on Earth aboard humankind's most distant physical emissary, the team included a variety of sounds associated with daily life and nature, like bird calls, humpback whale songs, children's laughter, footsteps, heartbeats, brain wave scans, and a kiss. There are also 90 minutes of music contained on the disk, including Western classical compositions from Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and Stravinsky, Senegalese percussion music, Australian Aboriginal songs, and Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode.' (The close of cosmos, and golden voices in the stars.) The carefully thought-out record, designed to endure space travel for billions of years, also consists of spoken greetings in 55 modern and ancient languages, as well as 115 analog-encoded photographs of Earth and its inhabitants. Engraved on the cover of these records is a map to help find one's way to Earth relative to nearby known, flashing, dense cores of stars called pulsars. There are etched diagrams of a hydrogen atom—the most common element in the universe—and instructions for playing each record. Each disk is enclosed in a protective, gold-plated aluminum jacket, together with a cartridge and a needle to play it. "The spacecraft will be encountered and the record played only if there are advanced space-faring civilizations in interstellar space," Sagan, leader of the Voyager Golden Record project, wrote. "But the launching of this 'bottle' into the cosmic 'ocean' says something very hopeful about life on this planet." (Dear Voyagers: How your billion-year journey carries true love.) A far-out cosmic road trip Over the years, the Voyager probes flew by the solar system's most distant four planets at a rate of 35,000 miles per hour, sending back detailed views of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and their moons. Voyager 2 flying by Uranus and Neptune is the only time humanity has seen these worlds up close. After completing their primary missions to collectively fly by all four outer planets in 1989, the twin probes kept chugging along through the vast outer reaches of the solar system. Voyager 1 and 2 exited the solar system and entered interstellar space in 2012 and 2018, respectively. At more than 15 billion miles from Earth, Voyager 1 has become the most distant human-made object in space. Voyager 2, in second place, is now about 13 billion miles away. The interstellar environment they're in contains a stew of cosmic gas, dust, and rays. The twin Voyager probes are equipped with radiation-resistant parts, but the onslaught of charged particles in their current neck of the woods still pose a threat to their aging electronics. Both Voyager spacecrafts are still collecting and sending back data, updating humans on their intergalactic adventures, albeit slowly—it takes nearly 20 hours for these signals to reach Earth, given the immense distance they need to travel. We're now reaching the end of the Voyager missions, as the twin probes' plutonium power supplies are running out of juice. The Voyager team is attempting to extend their lifetime for as long as they can by shutting down non-essential instruments like heaters to conserve power. 'More than 47 years into the mission, there's very little power left,' says Suzanne "Suzy" Dodd, the current project manager for the Voyager missions. 'The goal of the mission is to get it to 50 years.' Even after the probe's science mission ends, though, the Golden Records will keep quietly drifting further and further into the cosmic abyss, likely for millions and even billions of years.'Long after we've lost communications with the spacecraft, it'll still be traveling with this record—a time capsule,' Dodd says. She remarks that it's exciting 'to think about a little piece of us, a little piece of what Earth and humanity is all about, traveling around the center of our galaxy to be found by whatever being might be out there.' But, as Dodd points out, there are enormous physical and chronological distances involved. It's going to take around 40,000 years for the probes to drift into the vicinity of any other star system, when Voyager 1 will pass within 1.6 light-years of the star Gliese 445. Around the same time, Voyager 2 will be within 1.7 light-years of the star Ross 248. The legacy of the Golden Records The Golden Records have left a huge cosmic impact. According to Ehlmann, most spacecrafts that followed the Voyager mission included some sort of message from our Earthly abode. 'People sometimes think of science as a cold and calculating endeavor, but really it's the expression of curiosity and awe,' she says. 'It's an ability to leave your mark in the universe.' And almost fifty years after they first took flight, our pair of plucky robot emissaries to the stars continues embarking on the deepest journey ever into space. 'Who knows? The Voyager probes, a million years from now, may end up in some alien museum,' Ehlmann says. 'It's exciting to imagine.' Disney and Pixar's "Elio" is in theaters June 20, 2025. Get tickets now.
