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April 2020 Volume 16, Issue 4

Volume 16, Issue 4 | April 2020

In this Issue

Preclinical

A new method for modified NK cells

GEMoaB publishes preclinical proof-of-concept data on UniCAR-modified off-the-shelf natural killer cells

A ‘shock and kill’ approach

Combo therapy could produce long-term HIV remission even without ART

Working toward a broad-spectrum therapy

Ocugen’s gene therapy candidate shows potential in five different models of retinitis pigmentosa

Research & Development

A consortium against COVID

The newly established COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium unites government, public health and research organizations to conduct sequencing studies of the virus and its transmission

Boning up on HSCs

Mount Sinai researchers use stem cells to improve bone marrow transplantation

Astrocytes, Alzheimer’s and autism

Location of cells in the brain could determine neurological disorders

Digging into diabetes

Researchers are gaining new insights into the mechanisms behind diabetes

Feature

Focus Feature: COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2

Coverage of efforts to develop vaccines against the virus, research on potential therapeutics for COVID-19 and work being conducted on diagnostics to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection

Clinical Trials

MS highs and lows in the clinic

Companies see progress and setbacks as they advance therapeutic candidates against multiple sclerosis

One step at a time

Results of CDNF trial take Herantis a step closer to possible cure for Parkinson’s disease

AI on the attack

Biofourmis’ remote monitoring platform may provide new insights to fight COVID-19

Datacubed offers tech free for virtual COVID-19 studies

Advanced mHealth technology firm offers study teams identification solutions in real-time

Under the umbrella

Cytel touts basket and umbrella trial design

Discovery

Putting all your experiments in one basket

Purdue team develops collapsible basket array to speed compound screening

A new company takes aim at MS

Pheno Therapeutics is targeted toward treatments for multiple sclerosis

Molecular fishing

Technique finds and measures individual molecules in blood

Entering a discovery-stage collaboration

BI and Trutino Biosciences to explore cancer immunology with novel cytokine platform

Answering questions about APA

Researchers shine light on how regulatory mechanism impacts pancreatic cancer

Editor's Focus

New class of drug conjugate

Avacta combines two of its proprietary tools to create TMACs against cancer

Editor’s Focus: In this industry, we must stand strong against COVID-19

There have been challenges and missteps in the handing of the COVID-19 pandemic and now is the time for all parties (academic, private, governmental and otherwise) to step up and show commitment and compassion

Contract Services

Working toward a COVID vaccine

Organizations combine strengths to address outbreak pathogens, including novel coronavirus

Spaulding awarded contract with FDA

Multiple clinical trials will address a variety of therapeutic areas

Business & Government Policy

Three-way deal focuses on new ways to beat cancer

Phio Pharmaceuticals and Helmholtz Zentrum München to collaborate with Medigene

On the cutting edge

A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news

A new holding for Catalent

MaSTherCell acquisition to complement and strengthen company’s gene therapy offerings

Eppendorf acquires centrifuge business from Koki

Company says deal makes it a global full-line provider of high-performance premium centrifuges

Patent Docs: The question of expert testimony in patent cases

Patent Docs' Kevin Noonan talks about the potential peril of using a layperson to provide expert testimony

Diagnostics

Adipose-ing a solution

Visceral fat can predict liver fibrosis and fibrosis progression in people with HIV

Can microbes diagnose cancer?

Researchers seek to improve on liquid biopsy trend and less-invasive oncology diagnostics

Mindful of the babies

InfanDx to develop diagnostics for newborns at risk for cerebral palsy, other brain injuries

Special Reports

Special Report on Neuroscience: On good behavior

To translate to humans, neurobehavioral models must first translate to animals

Commentary

Metrics gone wild: Biomarkers that don’t mark

Counting publications is appealing in its simplicity and we all do that. The capacity for words and numbers no longer depends on paper and ink; a consequence of this system (for biomarkers and other research) may well relate to irreproducible scientific papers going viral, often from the most prestigious journals

April 2020