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November 2020 Volume 16, Issue 10

Volume 16, Issue 10 | November 2020

In this Issue

Business & Government Policy

Returning to the fold

Illumina acquires cancer-focused GRAIL for $8 billion

On the cutting edge

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

No more EUAs for COVID-19 tests

FDA makes a change in its policy of reviewing and granting tests related to the pandemic

A seed fund to drive biopharma innovation

Pistoia Alliance looks to finance four projects annually from idea to proof of concept

Contract Services

Europital expands into a full-service CRO

New capabilities include project management, clinical monitoring and pharmacovigilance

An acquisition opportunity for CMOs?

Indian dose sites an untapped M&A opportunity for foreign contract manufacturers

Diagnostics

A promising biomarker for diagnosing liver disease

Owlstone study pinpoints limonene for early diagnosis of NASH and NAFLD

Keeping an eye on neurodegeneration

Potential biomarker for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other diseases can be found in the eye

Bionano Genomics acquires Lineagen

Deal boosts capacity in digital cytogenetics and adds genetic diagnostics for neurodevelopmental disorders

Clinical Trials

Special delivery

Natural compound attacks Alzheimer’s disease early

Medable offers fully remote options

Informed consent and re-consent made possible for trials without being physically present

Commentary: Adapting to a decentralized model during COVID-19 and beyond

Even after the coronavirus is tamed, changes being made now to clinical trial design and execution could benefit the clinical research industry moving forward

Targeting beta amyloid oligomers

Four compounds show promise against Alzheimer’s

Preclinical

New means for managing myotonic dystrophy

RNA-targeting gene therapy reverses molecular and functional features of DM1 in mice

Preclinical pancreatic cancer partnership

Relationship targets use of pipeline drug and AI platform

BioNTech and Pfizer report BNT162b2 data

BNT162b2 immunization of rhesus macaques results in strong antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2

Hope for frontotemporal dementia patients

Passage Bio plans Phase 1/2 trial of gene therapy in humans based on preclinical results

Research & Development

Building a database around RNA and proteins

eCLIP technology helps uncover how RNA binding proteins regulate gene expression

An antisense-ible arrangement

Evotec and Secarna partner on antisense-based therapeutics

Pressure to deliver

Researchers pave a way toward painless transdermal drug delivery

Developing a cell therapy control switch

Nutrient-based safety switches can be applied to CAR-T, stem cell and TCR therapies

Discovery

Game-changer

Druggable pocket in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein could stop virus

Finding new drugs with fungi

NIH grant will help researchers learn ways to counter drug resistance via gene editing

Getting the lowdown on GLO2

Researchers publish new data on the enzyme glyoxalase II and its role in cellular metabolism

Arctoris and Syntekabio form research partnership

First step is to assess potential therapeutics for COVID-19

A better targeting system

Genetic study of protein levels in diseases could help pinpoint optimal therapeutic targets

Feature

Focus Feature on Cancer Research News: Cellular insights into cancer

Understanding behavior, responses and evolution of cells aids in oncology efforts

Spotlight on Cell Biology: Cell biology takes the stage

ASCB|EMBO annual meeting goes virtual this year with cellular research. Two of the most significant changes aside from the online format are that the meeting will feature seven scientific tracks plus an education and professional development track, in addition to member-organized Special Interest Subgroups being held on three days of the meeting.

November 2020