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Immune Cancer Therapy Pioneers Are Nobel Prize Winners in Science

Who has the cure for cancer? In the world today, cancer remains one of the most serious health problems. Nearly 10 million people die from cancer each year. Likewise, one in every six deaths is due to some form of cancer. The economic impact in the U.S. alone has been estimated to reach as high as $1.6 trillion annually. Therefore, it’s no surprise that any major discovery enhancing cancer therapy might get the attention of the Nobel Prize committee. That is precisely what happened this year. Bold Business is doing extensive coverage of precision medicine and we are thrilled to see immunology for cancer research as a recipient of this award. This is truly a bold solution to solve one of society’s greatest health epidemics.

Recently announced, the Nobel Prize winners in science (medicine) in 2018 will be Jim Allison and Tasuku Honjo. Both researchers made tremendous advances in immunology cancer treatments. They have paved the way for an entirely new era of cancer treatments—especially in our time when the question, “Who has the cure for cancer?” is ever more continually uttered.

Nobel Prize Winners in Science Working in Parallel

Interestingly, Allison and Honjo made comparable discoveries in immunology cancer treatments independent of one another. Allison was pursuing interests while at the University of California at Berkeley in the 1990s. In studying a cell protein called CTLA-4 on immune T cells, Allison discovered this protein halted immune T cell action. In other words, when the CTLA-4 protein is active, it prevents the T cell from attacking cells. Allison’s thought was to inactivate the CTLA-4 protein with a targeted antibody. In doing so, the immune T cell would become more active against unwanted cells like cancer cells.

At the same time, Honjo was working at the Kyoto University’s Institute for Advanced Study. His work also involved researching the effects of cell proteins on immune T cells that turned off the immune reactions. However, instead of identifying the CTLA-4 protein, Honjo found another protein called PD-1. Like CTLA-4, PD-1 also tells the immune cell not to attack a cell. Thus, like Allison, Honjo postulated shutting off this protein with an antibody could have profound effects on immunology cancer treatments.

Who has the cure for cancer? —From the Lab to Real Life

Today, the FDA has approved several immune checkpoint therapies for cancer treatment. In 2011, the first anti-CTLA-4 therapy was approved thanks to Jim Allison’s work. Specifically, this drug is effective in treating melanoma in some patients. Patients included former President Jimmy Carter who was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. However, anti-PD-1 drugs have been more numerous and known to treat a wider array of cancers. These include not only lung and renal cancers but also some lymphomas. These practical applications of Allison’s and Honjo’s work are the reason they were selected as Nobel Prize winners in science.

a photo of how the CTLA-4 and PD-1 work according to the studies done by Nobel Prize winners in science this year
Allison and Honjo made comparable discoveries in immunology cancer treatments independent of one another.

Honorable Mentions for Nobel Prize Winners in Science

Others research pioneers in immunology cancer treatment were strong considerations for the Nobel Prize in science as well.

For example, three notable researchers were involved in the discovery and application of PD-L1 protein therapies. Specifically, Gordon Freeman of Dana-Farber, Arlene Sharpe of Harvard, and Lieping Chen of Yale all participated in this research. PD-L1 protein is involved in binding to PD-1. Plus, blocking PD-L1 also effectively inhibits this checkpoint on T cells. In fact, drugs that block PD-L1 protein have actually treated a higher number of cancer types than anti-CTLA-4 drugs. Thus, any of these researchers could have also been strong candidates for the award and be the Nobel Prize winners in science.

The Future of Immune Checkpoint Therapies for Cancer

Allison and Honjo have gained well-deserved recognition for their work with CTLA-4 and PD-1 proteins respectively. Nevertheless, checkpoint therapy drugs in immunology cancer treatments are just getting started. To date, drugs used to block CTLA-4, PD-1, or PD-L1 have been approved for use. However, two additional checkpoint therapies are in the works. Specifically, blocking a protein called LAG-3 (lymphocyte activating gene-3) not only activates attacker T cells but inhibits regulator T cells. This occurrence potentially may have an enhanced effect for immunology cancer treatments. Also, blocking another protein called B7-H3, which normally inhibits several immune system cells, could have dramatic effects in treating cancers.

These more recent discoveries—plus exploring the use of combination therapies—are where current checkpoint therapies are moving.

An Arsenal of Evolving New Cancer Treatments

The question, “Who has the cure for cancer?” veritably comes up in our search for the best cancer treatments. Nonetheless, with the advances in immune checkpoint therapies for cancers, today’s options for cancer treatment have advanced greatly.

Currently, immunology cancer treatments include monoclonal antibodies that promote immune attacks on cancer cells to cancer vaccines. These treatments plus immune checkpoint therapies are prolonging cancer survival rates significantly. However, additional cancer treatment options are on the way.

For example, next-generation sequencing allows frequent DNA determinations of cancer cells to better target treatments. Similarly, biomarker personalized therapies align precision medicine techniques with rapidly changing cancer cell types. In all probability, Allison and Honjo will not be the last Nobel Prize winners in science for revolutionary cancer discoveries.

Recognition Well Deserved for these Nobel Prize Winners in Science

So, what’s next for these Nobel Prize winners in science? For Jim Allison, he is currently the chairman of the Immunology Department at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. For Tasuku Honjo, he remains at Kyoto University as an eminent professor and researcher. Both Nobel Prize winners in science will split the $1 million award for their contributions to medicine.

Without question, these Nobel Prize winners in science have completely changed the direction in which cancer research and treatment is going. Thus, as a result, they are certainly deserving of this prestigious award.

Bold Leader Spotlight: Jessica Alba, Founder of The Honest Company Inc.

Jessica Alba talks about The Honest Company Inc. with disarming candor. Her eyes light up, and she gets animated as she shares her successes and struggles from when she was just starting the venture. From finding a business partner to lobbying in Congress for improved policies with the use of toxic chemicals —she has built the company to be a distinguished upcoming competitor against household and personal care titans, such as Procter and Gamble and Kimberly Clark. The Honest Company Founder demonstrates key qualities such as humility, risk-taking, challenging the status quo, driving for results, overcoming adversity, championing diversity and inclusion, and empowering others—these traits define her bold leadership style. Through her work with The Honest Company and her philanthropic endeavors, she is changing society for the better by focusing on how to help others live a healthier lifestyle.

The Honest Company actually started as a search for products that are safe for families to use. Since its founding in 2012, the company has blossomed to be a resilient one. Notably, the company even closed 2016 with $300 million in total sales. Refusing to sink from the sea of business struggles it has sailed, it relentlessly pushes on. In fact, it currently employs 400 people.

Evidently, the resilience of The Honest Company and its accomplishments—even amidst fighting lawsuits and facing acquisition challenges—in the last six years all point to Jessica Alba’s brand of bold leadership. As a matter of fact, she is now shifting the company from a pure play e-commerce company into an omnichannel brand.

cartoon caricature of Jessica Alba, founder of The Honest Company, posing as the bold leader spotlight of the week
Jessica Alba, founder of The Honest Company, demonstrates traits like overcoming adversity and empowering others. How has her leadership made a bold impact?

Jessica Alba as an Actress

With a string of box-office hits and a successful television program under her belt, Jessica Alba was a Hollywood high-flyer. She began her television and movie appearances at the age of 13. However, her big break arrived when she starred in the television series “Dark Angel” (2000-2002)—a role for which she received a Golden Globe Nomination. Some of her well-known movies include “Idle Hands” (1999), “Honey” (2003), “Sin City,” “Fantastic Four,” and “Into the Blue” (2005). Jessica Alba met her husband, Cash Warren, in 2004—while filming “Fantastic Four.” They were married in 2008. Currently, they have two daughters and a son—Honor (born in 2008), Haven (born in 2011), and Hayes (born in 2017).

Beyond Jessica Alba’s Filmography

As a child, Jessica Alba was beset by a multitude of ailments—pneumonia, collapsed lungs and asthma. Sickness somewhat marked her childhood. Thus, Jessica Alba was intentional in ensuring that the products her family would use are safe and nontoxic. Unable to find products that she could trust, Jessica Alba went ahead and founded The Honest Company Inc. soon after. “I wanted safe, effective products that perform,” Jessica Alba shared. “After all, you shouldn’t have to choose between what works and what’s good for you.”

Jessica has also been involved in various charities and causes. Some of these organizations include Habitat for Humanity, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Project HOME, RADD, Revlon Run/Walk for Women, SOS Children’s Villages, and Soles4Souls. In the political arena, Jessica has been a staunch supporter of former President Barack Obama back in the United States Presidential Election of 2008.

The Bold Leadership of Jessica Alba

  • Taking Action to Change Things

Jessica realized that she needed to take matters into her own hands while she was pregnant with her first daughter, Honor. Using a detergent recommended by her mother, she washed her unborn baby’s clothes. The product, supposedly non-toxic, caused an allergy reaction. This episode triggered her to look for products in the market that are nontoxic and organic. Regrettably, Jessica found out that there were very few options available in the market to answer this need. In addition, she found the products unreasonably priced. Dismayed under these conditions, she decided to pursue the idea behind The Honest Company.

a photo quote of Jessica Alba as the bold leader spotlight of the week talking about her goal with The Honest Company

Jessica was aware that she couldn’t do it alone. Having no background in business, she sought the help of three others. These three would eventually be her business partners in setting up the company —Brian Lee, Sean Kane, and Christopher Gavigan. Then in 2017, with the company’s strategy shifting to brand building, Jessica tapped the expertise of former Clorox executive Nick Vlahos as its new CEO.

(Additionally, the company is currently going back to its core products. They’re reevaluating their production approaches. Plus, they’re reconnecting with the company’s core values and mission of empowering people to live happy healthy lives.)

  • Empowering Women to Lead

Women comprise 65 percent of the workforce of The Honest Company. However, just like in other companies, the number of women in the executive level is scarce. Jessica admits that she felt alone. Wanting more diversity in the boardroom, she currently makes sure that the company is now working on building career paths for women to reach the C-suite level. A mentorship program specifically created for women is also underway.

Moreover, the company has launched an employee resource group called, “Women Excelling in Leadership and Living.” (The group aims to offer professional development and to provide a support network for women within the company.)

  • Upholding unwavering commitment despite hurdles

With her fame, it’s easy to assume that Jessica’s idea could have easily gained support. However, fame, according to Jessica, did not work for her. People rarely took her seriously. Naysayers even persuaded her to give up on her idea. It took her three years to find business partners. Yet amidst all these rejections, Jessica persisted. She added, “I am an actress, actresses are used to rejection.” Undeterred, she fixed her gaze on her goal of providing safe and effective consumer products that were beautifully designed, affordable, and available.

Bold Leader Jessica Alba Honest Company Founder Discussing Success

Bold Leader Jessica Alba and The Honest Company—Poised to Sail Onwards

Often times, Bold Leaders conquer rough seas and the strongest come out on top. The Honest Company may have faltered in the past. However, with $200 Million in new investments, sales up 34 percent last year, an industry CEO with many years of experience, and several new announcements—the company is positioning itself for a bright future. In fact, the company is already making plans to expand in Europe.

Moving forward, and with Jessica Alba’s stewardship, the company is now poised to sail on higher seas and to progress in its omnichannel 21st-century brand strategy.

Jessica Alba Is Helping Better Society With The Honest Company Cartoon

cartoon caricature of Jessica Alba, founder of The Honest Company, posing as the bold leader spotlight of the week
Jessica Alba, founder of The Honest Company, demonstrates traits like overcoming adversity and empowering others. How has her leadership made a bold impact?

The Honest Company: Bold Moves for Healthy Living

Organic, non-toxic, non-GMO, free-range, hormone-free, sustainable, vegetarian. Chances are, these buzzwords have found their way onto the labels of products in your pantry and bathroom. They point to a market segment dedicated to sensible, wholesome and healthy options. It is a market segment The Honest Company Inc. has staked out for their own.

From baby formula to Honest Company Shampoo, the business has made it their credo to keep their various products eco-friendly and free of the chemicals and toxins normally found in such items. Thankfully, if their success tells us anything, it’s that a health-conscious consumer appreciates a health-conscious brand.

Jessica Alba explaining how company performance is tied to product development and honest company shampoo
Jessica Alba on Product Development

Jessica Alba – Bold Beginnings for a Bold Mission

The Honest Company was the brainchild of actress Jessica Alba. Its aim was to create baby products, like honest company diapers, that did not contain chemicals that might unnecessarily endanger children, even though these chemicals were Food and Drug Administration-approved. Almost immediately, consumers responded to that bold idea. Soon, the company grew into Unicorn valuation status.

Since then, their product line has come to include bar soap, diaper rash cream, baby wash, honest company shampoo, and whole-food based prenatal capsules. This coincides with the company’s mission of giving babies the best start in life.

The Honest Company states that their formulas are “100 percent nutritionally complete, USDA-certified, sourced from organic dairy farms, from cows without growth hormones, and sustainable farming practices.”


Personal Experiences can Create Bold Ideas for New Products

The Honest Company’s quest for a suitable infant formula came from a very personal experience of one of its co-founders, Chief Product Officer Christopher Gavigan. In 2007, Gavigan was a new father looking for the safest formula that best resembled breast milk. The frustration of not finding options for his newborn pushed him to develop one.

In the intervening years, the Honest Company’s offerings expanded. Need some organic, all-purpose balm? They’ve got it. Designer wipes? They’ve got it. Baby laundry detergent? They’ve got it. They even have 83 skincare and makeup items under their Honest Beauty line, each free of potentially harmful chemicals.

Nick Vlahos with Jessica Alba and two others joining the Healthy Food Revolution distributing honest company diapers
The Honest Company Inc. CEO, Nick Vlahos, with its Founder, Jessica Alba, take a moment with two other ladies to pose with the diapers they’re donating in their bold move to make an impact in the business.

Navigating Through Rocky Seas with Honesty

The Honest Company’s penetration into the healthy-products market is deep including their popular Honest Company shampoo and Honest Company Diapers. Unfortunately, the sailing hasn’t always been smooth. Their valuation was estimated at $1.7 billion in 2015. However, by 2017, it fell below a billion. Actually, issues with some of their products can shoulder the blame for that drop.

First, there were customer complaints surrounding their sunblock. After that, there was a snafu with the ingredients in their laundry detergent. Later still, mold was found in some baby wipes. Thus, this prompted a recall. Finally, there were lawsuits. Some were settled, some were dismissed. Surprisingly, these setbacks were met with candor, as well as an honest effort to right the ship. There was even a change in leadership.

Jessica Alba's photo quote about The Honest Companies Customers
Values of Honest Company Through the Lens of Founder Jessica Alba

One More Step for The Honest Company in the Food Revolution

The Honest Company made a bold move of focusing on the relatively untapped market of chemical-free products and also Honest Company diapers. Thus far, it has paid off. Recently, they have been working on cementing their brand, creating more awareness about their products and the company’s core values and mission. And they’ve narrowed the aim of their long-term goals.

The Honest Company’s newly appointed CEO Nick Vlahos says, “Honest will focus its business on its baby and beauty categories going forward, hoping the strategy and investment will fuel our evolution into an iconic global brand.”

Nick Vlahos photo quote amidst joining the healthy food revolution and honest company shampoo
Nick Vlahos explaining Honest Company future Direction

The Revolution for Healthier Options Continues

Awareness is the key driver in consumer preference for more healthy products. Gone are the days of taking a product’s ingredients on faith. Companies are now compelled to be more transparent with their products. More and more provide information on how they source and process their ingredients. Consumers are looking for products that are naturally grown, organic, and wholesome. Nielsen’s 2015 Global Health Wellness Survey reports that consumers are even willing to pay more for healthier options.

There is an increasing number of companies who have stepped up to answer these needs.

For instance, PepsiCo has been expanding their product line by adding healthier food choices for their consumers. They have reduced sugar content on some of their drinks, and have created a drinkable version of oats.

The beverage giant also reached a deal to purchase Bare Foods Co., the maker of the line of fruit- and vegetable snacks called “Bare Snacks.” Meanwhile, Mondelez International acquired Enjoy Life Foods to cater to the growing market segment. And both PepsiCo and Mondelez are investing heavily in research and development of nutrition geared towards creating more wholesome food and organic products.

These significant moves in the industry are proof that the “health-conscious and eco-friendly” revolution is gaining momentum.

Without question, you can credit the Honest Company for disrupting the industry with their contribution and they continue to pave the way of providing healthy products to consumers. Most companies experience rough periods in their history. It is the boldest ones that take these down periods and turn them into explosive periods of growth. We will continue to watch Honest Company and how Jessica Alba and Nick Vlahos guide the company and utilize their recent $200M investment.

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