May 2020- Volume 16, Issue 5
In this Issue
Business & Government Policy
Patent Docs: Are things looking up for subject matter eligibility in the life sciences?
Patent Docs: Are things looking up for subject matter eligibility in the life sciences?
According to Kevin Noonan, writing about a recent court ruling, the answer is a resounding..."Maybe"
An Asian collaboration
An Asian collaboration
Regeneron and Zai Lab create regional strategic collaboration for REGN1979
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Stemming the threat of ARDS
Stemming the threat of ARDS
Citius signs exclusive option with Novellus to license novel stem cell therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome
CCRM and panCELLa partner on new master cell banks
CCRM and panCELLa partner on new master cell banks
Collaborators aim to accelerate development of novel cell therapies and aid both academia and industry
Diagnostics
‘Hearing’ disease
‘Hearing’ disease
Lab-on-a-chip monitors extracellular matrix
A rapid testing option for COVID-19
A rapid testing option for COVID-19
VTT and MeVac work together to develop virus detection
Aiming to outsmart cancer
Aiming to outsmart cancer
Caris launches MI FOLFOXai, an AI-powered predictor of metastatic colorectal cancer
Bringing speed to coronavirus testing
Bringing speed to coronavirus testing
BillionToOne says new COVID-19 protocol could unlock a million tests per day
Capsulomics teams up with Johns Hopkins University
Capsulomics teams up with Johns Hopkins University
$3.7M NIH-funded research will advance pre-cancer and cancer-detection technology licensed in 2019
Editor's Focus
Editor’s focus: The future of the face-to-face
Editor’s focus: The future of the face-to-face
The ongoing pandemic is doing ongoing harm not just to public health but to plans for healthcare and life-sciences conferences, but perhaps the changes can bring improvements and new ways of thinking about large professional meetings
Feature
Focus Feature on Gene Editing: Catching up on CRISPR
Focus Feature on Gene Editing: Catching up on CRISPR
A roundup of recent CRISPR gene editing R&D news, plus a Q&A and two commentaries from experts in the field
Spotlight on Stem Cells
Spotlight on Stem Cells
A look at some recent stem cell-related R&D news and an update on the most notable stem cell research meeting of the year
Commentary
Out of order: What’s next?
Out of order: What’s next?
We often have not learned harsh lessons from the past; will we this time as we endure and eventually come out the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Expert Insight: Moving toward 3D bioprinted cardiovascular tissue
Expert Insight: Moving toward 3D bioprinted cardiovascular tissue
Cardiac tissue engineering techniques, such as those that use 3D bioprinting, could be used to create functional constructs capable of re-establishing the structure and function of damaged myocardium following myocardial infarction
Preclinical
In search of further data
In search of further data
GBS Global Biopharma, NRC extend agreement for additional testing of cannabinoid formulations in Parkinson's disease
Positive pain relief
Positive pain relief
New compound may help reduce chronic opioid use and facilitate dose tapering
Stem cells to the rescue in hemophilia
Stem cells to the rescue in hemophilia
Induced pluripotent stem cells show success in treating hemophilia A in mice
Clearing the checkpoints
Clearing the checkpoints
Scholar Rock preclinical study shows SRK-181 can reverse immune cell exclusion
Research & Development
Heart smart
Heart smart
Papers address cardiac safety testing protocols
An immunosuppressive interest
An immunosuppressive interest
Newly published data support the potential of LNA-modified ASOs to block important immunosuppressive pathway
Plugging the leaks
Plugging the leaks
UCSD team develops mini-gut organoids to answer questions about leaky gut and test a possible treatment
Bridging the divide
Bridging the divide
New study identifies trigger that turns dormant cancer stem cells into active ones
Clinical Trials
ASCENT rises above and beyond
ASCENT rises above and beyond
Immunomedics to halt study due to ‘compelling efficacy’ of novel therapy for TNBC
Social distancing meets clinical trials
Social distancing meets clinical trials
PPD subsidiary and Science 37 to provide virtual trial access to patients globally
The FDA, trials and the coronavirus
The FDA, trials and the coronavirus
COVID-19 causes agency to issue guidance for conducting clinical trials
Quashing brain cancer
Quashing brain cancer
Personalized cancer immunotherapy creates antigens from patient’s own cancer cells
Contract Services
Meeting demand for neoantigens
Meeting demand for neoantigens
GenScript launches neoantigen-specific peptide synthesis service for biotech and pharma
New capabilities for Cambrex
New capabilities for Cambrex
Cambrex completes biopharmaceutical expansion at its Durham facility
Viroclinics and DDL join forces
Viroclinics and DDL join forces
Two leading virology testing laboratories integrate to form new group serving global biopharmaceutical industry
Discovery
Building compounds less expensively
Building compounds less expensively
Rice team publishes simple aziridination method for synthesizing pharmaceutical building blocks
Biomarkers and bowel disease
Biomarkers and bowel disease
Gilead and Second Genome partner to identify response biomarkers for IBD drug candidates
Dynamic duo
Dynamic duo
Sosei Heptares chooses Discngine software to aid in GPCR-based chemogenomics
GWAS may create roadblock in MDD discovery
GWAS may create roadblock in MDD discovery
Popular minimal phenotyping method could inhibit identification of pathways specific to depression
