October 2020- Volume 16, Issue 9
In this Issue
Preclinical
Video: Riding the Wave
Video: Riding the Wave
Wave Life Sciences releases preclinical data for ADAR editing and C9orf72 program
Down-regulating PTB
Down-regulating PTB
One-time Parkinson’s treatment generates new neurons
Second-gen COVID vaccine in development
Second-gen COVID vaccine in development
OSE Immunotherapeutics leverages cancer vaccine to develop CoVepiT
MSCs demonstrate efficacy in preclinical lung disease study
MSCs demonstrate efficacy in preclinical lung disease study
Cynata Therapeutics cites positive data in rodent model of IPF
Discovery
RNA to repair a heart
RNA to repair a heart
Scripps team identifies molecule that can bind to RNA to increase VEGF-A production
Translational science comes to the fore
Translational science comes to the fore
Protease inhibitors might help to manage COVID-19
Lodo Therapeutics acquires Conifer Point
Lodo Therapeutics acquires Conifer Point
Lodo expands AI/ML capabilities and gains exclusive rights to suite of cheminformatics technologies
Jnana and Roche investigate SLCs
Jnana and Roche investigate SLCs
Innovative approach for modulating cellular metabolism could treat a variety of diseases
Understanding lupus one cell at a time
Understanding lupus one cell at a time
JAX team finds distinctive interferon gene expression signature across wide variety of blood cells
Diagnostics
A 10-minute test for COVID
A 10-minute test for COVID
Todos announces positive data for new point-of-care saliva-based test
Advancing a SARS-CoV-2 antigen test
Advancing a SARS-CoV-2 antigen test
Avacta and LSTM collaborate to clinically validate saliva-based rapid coronavirus test
Wellcome Sanger updates DECIPHER
Wellcome Sanger updates DECIPHER
Institute also working on genetic prediction of blood diseases and ramping up COVID-19 research
Discovering pancreatic cancer earlier
Discovering pancreatic cancer earlier
Collaborative studies at University of Missouri show promise
Business & Government Policy
J&J seeks immune momentum with Momenta
J&J seeks immune momentum with Momenta
Pharma giant acquires Momenta for $6.5B, setting sights on autoantibody-driven disease market
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Q&A: Tackling developmental disorders through the ERK pathway
Q&A: Tackling developmental disorders through the ERK pathway
DDN spoke with Dr. Michael Snape, chief scientific officer of AMO Pharma, to discuss drugs that target the ERK signaling cascade, and how these drugs might be able to treat a range of developmental disorders
Commentary
Out of order: Sausage-making
Out of order: Sausage-making
Science is knowing you never have a complete answer and challenging any answer that arises. To the general public, however, this uncertainty rankles at a minimum and terrifies in its extreme.
Guest Commentary: RNA-seq in preclinical research and drug discovery--digging deep for insights
Guest Commentary: RNA-seq in preclinical research and drug discovery--digging deep for insights
RNA-seq offers a comprehensive method for studying differential gene expression and changing levels of noncoding RNAs at both the single-cell and bulk sequencing levels, thus offering a powerful arsenal of investigative tools for understanding the molecular basis of disease and for the discovery and testing of new treatment options
Editor’s Focus: Nearing year’s end and looking forward
Editor’s Focus: Nearing year’s end and looking forward
DDN is evolving in all its forms, from print to online, and we look forward to unveiling it all soon
Special Reports
Special Report on Metabolic Disease: Intercepting diabetes
Special Report on Metabolic Disease: Intercepting diabetes
Researchers are increasingly targeting autoimmunity rather than hyperglycemia as they search for better ways to treat type 1 diabetes
Clinical Trials
Adjunctive achievement
Adjunctive achievement
OCD drug candidate posts good Phase 2/3 study results
One and done for HIV?
One and done for HIV?
AGT begins Phase 1 clinical trial on potential cure for HIV/AIDS
OPTIMAL trial points to new option for acromegaly treatment
OPTIMAL trial points to new option for acromegaly treatment
Phase 3 data of oral octreotide meets all primary and secondary endpoints
Research & Development
Better health with humanin?
Better health with humanin?
USC-led study says humanin could lower risk for Alzheimer’s
Utrecht and Bruker team up on mass spec methods
Utrecht and Bruker team up on mass spec methods
Crosslinking mass spectrometry can now use PhoX Crosslinker and TIMS/PASEF methods
Going after glioblastoma
Going after glioblastoma
Purdue team looks to harness natural killer cells to fight cancer
Contract Services
A bottleneck to hold up ATMP progress?
A bottleneck to hold up ATMP progress?
GlobalData says few CMOs are equipped to manufacture cell and gene therapies
Maravai expands again to meet mRNA therapy and vaccine demand
Maravai expands again to meet mRNA therapy and vaccine demand
Company expands TriLink BioTechnologies CleanCap capacity and adds new plasmid DNA manufacturing
