April 2018- Volume 14, Issue 4
In this Issue
Q&A
Q&A: Pharnext and Pleotherapy
Q&A: Pharnext and Pleotherapy
French biopharma addresses neurodegenerative diseases, combining low doses of existing drugs to develop treatments for new indications using big data analysis
Commentary
Theranos: Lessons learned
Theranos: Lessons learned
A company that makes too many promises it cannot keep and doesn't even surround itself with scientific experts probably shouldn't be in the life-sciences business
Guest Commentary: Preclinical studies gain the edge with syngeneic models
Guest Commentary: Preclinical studies gain the edge with syngeneic models
Syngeneic mouse models are employed extensively in early-stage drug discovery and have become a workhorse for one of the fastest-growing areas of research, immuno-oncology, transforming how investigators approach novel therapies
Business & Government Policy
It’s all in the delivery
It’s all in the delivery
Checking out the news in drug delivery advancements
NIH completes in-depth genomic analysis of 33 cancer types
NIH completes in-depth genomic analysis of 33 cancer types
Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have completed a detailed genomic analysis, known as the PanCancer Atlas
V ClinBio forges clear path to FDA
V ClinBio forges clear path to FDA
Acquires equity stake in Cellix Bio and its Synergix drug delivery program; partners with Camargo
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Advancing from the acquisition
Advancing from the acquisition
RNA hybridization, multiplex assays central to Bio-Techne’s growth plans in wake of acquiring Advanced Cell Diagnostics
Clinical Trials
Curing HBV for good
Curing HBV for good
Spring Bank takes combinatorial approach to hepatitis B virus
Informa teams up with Saama on trials
Informa teams up with Saama on trials
Aim is to leverage AI to offer customers a complete understanding of the clinical trial landscape
A new weapon in the opioid struggle
A new weapon in the opioid struggle
Opiant announces development of intranasal nalmefene for treatment of opioid overdose
Reducing cancer recurrence with BPX-501
Reducing cancer recurrence with BPX-501
Bellicum reports encouraging results in pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiencies
Diagnostics
Advancing cancer immunotherapy
Advancing cancer immunotherapy
Personal Genome Diagnostics expands its tumor mutational burden patent portfolio
Telix and Radboud seal clinical collaboration agreement
Telix and Radboud seal clinical collaboration agreement
Work will focus on several clinical projects in relation to imaging diagnostics for cancer
Faster pathway through proteomics?
Faster pathway through proteomics?
A recently completed study supports the value of multiplexed mass spectrometry tests for diagnosing lung cancer and pre-term births
Xpresys Lung 2 lances lung cancer
Xpresys Lung 2 lances lung cancer
Test identifies benign lung nodules with high probability to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures
Discovery
Linking up for bacteria libraries
Linking up for bacteria libraries
Deinove granted access to Naicons’ bacterial strain library in search of new antibiotics
Stem cell promise for kidney disease
Stem cell promise for kidney disease
CD133 revealed as a potential target for encouraging kidney repair
Companies join forces in screening solution technology
Companies join forces in screening solution technology
Genedata, HighRes Bio and Titian smooth the way from beginning to end
Glutamate and its role in addiction
Glutamate and its role in addiction
Indiana University-led study finds neurotransmitter glutamate may play a role in alcohol relapse, addiction
Research & Development
Patient-on-a-Chip progresses
Patient-on-a-Chip progresses
Organ-on-a-chip tech recreates human intestinal lining; program launched to test chips in treatment selection
Sulfones at Scripps
Sulfones at Scripps
A new cross-coupling simplifies the synthesis of drug-like molecules
All about antibodies
All about antibodies
Merger marries cutting-edge research players
Cellular chariots
Cellular chariots
TSRI researchers link cellular cargo transport machinery to neurological disorders
Oral peptide availability at last?
Oral peptide availability at last?
TUM team details a method for designing peptide agents with oral availability and intestinal permeability
Preclinical
Organogold antibiotics
Organogold antibiotics
Auspherix gets Innovate UK grant to explore therapeutic for difficult infections
Obsidian advances destabilizing domains
Obsidian advances destabilizing domains
Company presents data demonstrating its CAR-T platform for safer, more effective cancer treatments
Targeting TGFβ
Targeting TGFβ
Research team identifies a hormone that prevents colon cancer from responding to immunotherapy
Argos obtains option to license PD1 checkpoint inhibitors
Argos obtains option to license PD1 checkpoint inhibitors
Data have shown synergy between PD1 checkpoint inhibition and analogue of Rocapuldencel-T in preclinical renal carcinoma model
The truth about TREM2
The truth about TREM2
Brain’s immune system may be key to new Alzheimer’s treatments
Contract Services
CAR-T manufacturing potential moves to Asia
CAR-T manufacturing potential moves to Asia
With half of CAR-T studies in China, Cesca looks to capitalize on market potential with CDMO expansion
Speeding the flow with downstream conjugation
Speeding the flow with downstream conjugation
ADC Bio introduces new method for antibody-drug conjugate manufacture
HemaCare and Charles River aim to accelerate drug discovery and development
HemaCare and Charles River aim to accelerate drug discovery and development
PBMC humanization kits for NCG mouse models are said to facilitate infectious disease and immuno-oncology research
Editor's Focus
NIH needs more, not less
NIH needs more, not less
Can we please stop talking about cutting the National Institutes of Health budget; it's just about one of the last things we need right now (or ever)
Special Reports
Special Report on Neuroscience: Beyond ‘reefer madness’
Special Report on Neuroscience: Beyond ‘reefer madness’
Companies and academic researchers work to convert Cannabis self-pharmacy to science
Feature
Show Preview: Immunology 2018--Austin-bound for immunology
Show Preview: Immunology 2018--Austin-bound for immunology
American Association of Immunologists brings annual meeting to Texas
