Know What's Happening in BioTech
Know What's Happening in BioTech
BioTech Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Researchers at Shinshu University used ribosome engineering to create a Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG strain with a K56N mutation in ribosomal protein S12. The mutant displays markedly more surface moonlighting proteins, especially GAPDH, leading to double the adhesion to intestinal cells compared with the wild type. Extracellular vesicles from the engineered strain provoke significantly higher TNF‑α release from macrophages, indicating stronger immune activation. The work, published in Microbiology Spectrum, positions ribosomal engineering as a rapid, low‑risk method to produce “super‑probiotic” bacteria for food, supplement and animal‑health markets.
A recent single‑cell RNA sequencing study mapped the transcriptional landscape of human hair follicles across a wide age range, profiling 57,181 cells from young, middle‑aged and elderly donors. The analysis identified three distinct keratinocyte subtypes and highlighted activation of the...
In this episode, Daniel Levine interviews Valerie Daggett, founder and CEO of AltPep, about the company's strategy to detect and treat Alzheimer's disease at its earliest stage by targeting toxic α‑sheet oligomers with synthetic peptide therapeutics and companion diagnostics. Daggett...
University of Illinois researchers used the CRISPR‑COPIES pipeline and multi‑omics profiling to map chromosomal integration hotspots in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus islandicus. They identified 66 crRNAs targeting 21 intergenic regions and functionally validated eight sites with a lacS‑β‑galactosidase reporter. Overexpressing...
Check out the video below from Rashard showing how we test the integration of ginkgo’s RAC automation with the specific vagaries of a piece of fancy lab equipment— then mine showing a bunch of RACs showing up for our new...
Finnish researchers reviewed the latest size‑, charge‑, and affinity‑based methods for extracellular vesicle (EV) isolation as exosome therapeutics move toward clinical use. They highlighted emerging size‑based techniques such as deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) with thermally‑oxidized tapered structures and viscoelastic microfluidic...
Researchers have identified an endophytic fungus, *Colletotrichum siamense*, living inside the Madagascar periwinkle that can synthesize the chemotherapy drug vinblastine. The fungus produced the compound at a modest 138 µg per liter, matching the plant‑derived molecular signature. Laboratory tests confirmed that...
German researchers at TU Berlin’s KIWI‑biolab have built a self‑driving laboratory that uses robotics, AI and bioinformatics to automate the development of new biomolecules. The system runs E. coli cultures in 10‑100 mL bioreactors, validates processes up to 100 L, and relies on...
Researchers argue that traditional quality management systems, built for large‑scale protein drugs, are ill‑suited for cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing. Manual, paper‑based processes have evolved into fragile eQMS platforms that struggle with the lean, modular nature of CGT production....
In the Behind the Headlines Episode 31, veteran pharma leader Deborah Dunsire declares a "golden era" for biological sciences, driven by targeted therapies such as GLP‑1s and emerging tools like AI and quantum computing. She stresses the need for fact‑based communication...
1. New #measles numbers out from #CDC. Confirmed cases for 2025 stand at 2,144, the highest single year count since 1991. A decision was taken in 1989 to make measles vaccination a 2-dose regimen; after it was implemented, it &...
Utah State University researchers have uncovered a novel function of the bacterial immune protein CRISPR‑Cas12a3 that directly targets RNA and cleaves tRNA tails, halting viral protein production without damaging host DNA. Published in Nature, the work shows Cas12a3 can be...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as HHS secretary, has reduced the U.S. routine vaccine schedule from covering 17 illnesses to just 11, moving hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal, influenza and COVID‑19 into a “shared clinical decision‑making” category. The change bypasses...
Yeah I agree -- I think @elonmusk has shown in the last 10 years that you can take more risk than people thought in the world of atoms. (that's in part why the vibe is it like it is in...
Researchers have unveiled a novel class of translation‑inhibiting interdictors that selectively suppress MYC protein production, offering a viable strategy to target MYC‑driven malignancies. These small‑molecule agents disrupt the initiation of mRNA translation, leading to rapid depletion of MYC levels in...
$GLUE +45% MRT-8102 delivers eye-catching 4-week biomarker win with clean early safety and the convenience of an oral approach. MRT-8102 degrades NEK7, a scaffolding protein essential for NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, shutting down upstream activation of IL-1β/IL-18 and downstream IL-6/hsCRP, which...
Eli Lilly’s oral GLP‑1 candidate orforglipron received a national‑priority voucher, accelerating its FDA review and threatening Novo Nordisk’s recent oral Wegovy launch. Disc Medicine’s repurposed schizophrenia drug bitopertin is on the brink of approval for the rare disease erythropoietic protoporphyria,...
GSK and Ionis reported that their antisense oligonucleotide bepirovirsen achieved a functional cure in the Phase III B‑Well 1 and B‑Well 2 chronic hepatitis B trials. The drug met its primary efficacy endpoint and all ranked secondary endpoints, showing statistically significant cure rates without...
Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported Phase III HERIZON‑GEA‑01 data showing its bispecific HER2 antibody Ziihera dramatically improves outcomes in first‑line HER2‑positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. In a trial of more than 900 patients, Ziihera combined with chemotherapy cut the risk of progression or death by...
Pfizer has signed a multi‑year agreement with Cartography Biosciences to discover novel tumor‑selective antigens. The deal provides up to $65 million in upfront and near‑term milestones, with potential total payments exceeding $800 million if all options are exercised. Cartography will employ its...
1/🚨Here is another great article - by FT excellent global Pharma correspondent @aanuadeoye, which wonderfully describes the rapid decline of the European 🇪🇺 and British 🇬🇧 Biotech and Pharma ecosystem and the growing gap between them and the American 🇺🇸...
A Flinders University team demonstrated that drones equipped with infrared thermal cameras can accurately measure surface temperature and respiration rates of bottlenose dolphins. Analyzing more than 40,000 thermal images, researchers found optimal accuracy at 10‑15 m altitude directly overhead. The method...
Exosomes, nanoscale extracellular vesicles, are increasingly recognized as key mediators of aging and age‑related diseases through their cargo of proteins, lipids, and RNAs. Recent research shows that stem‑cell‑derived exosomes can reproduce the therapeutic signals of cell transplantation, prompting early clinical...
A recent PET imaging study of older adults finds that amyloid‑β and tau protein deposits drive the progression of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) rather than the reverse. Baseline analyses showed bidirectional links, but longitudinal data revealed that higher amyloid levels...
Novo Nordisk introduced its first oral GLP‑1 obesity treatment, Wegovy pill, priced at $149 per month for lower doses. Eli Lilly is eyeing a March approval for its oral weight‑loss candidate orforglipron, positioning it as a catalyst to more than double...
Pharma giant Bayer has signed a three‑year strategic collaboration with AI‑driven protein‑engineering firm Cradle to embed its generative platform into Bayer’s antibody R&D. The integration aims to accelerate lead generation, improve potency, safety and manufacturability, and reduce the number of...
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it will now recommend only 11 of the 17 childhood vaccines it previously endorsed, moving six vaccines to a high‑risk or provider‑consultation model. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) condemned the shift...
Biotech investors anticipate a rebound in 2026, driven by a wave of M&A activity and larger private financing rounds observed in late 2025. High‑profile deals such as Pfizer’s $10 billion acquisition of Metsera and AbbVie’s $10.1 billion purchase of ImmunoGen signal renewed...
So first thing will be to recap the progress of both projects and make a gameplan. I have a draft prototype of the 24well reader but needs chassis work to fit the plate just right, hinge, magnetic assembly, etc. Sucrose needs...
The risk of high lipoprotein A [Lp(a)] in nearly 28,000 healthy women followed for 30 years. Fortunately, after waiting for decades, we will have drugs vs Lp(a) soon to reduce this risk https://t.co/SfXTtpaV0i https://t.co/PdykVP6nKB
The pharmaceutical sector is rapidly transitioning high‑value biologics from clinic‑based IV infusions to at‑home subcutaneous (SC) self‑administration. Datwyler’s upcoming event will dissect market forces behind this shift, emphasizing challenges such as drug viscosity, volume limits, and component compatibility. Speakers will...
Discovery of a new potential approach for treating peripheral neuropathy: mitochondria transfer from satellite glial cells to neurons @Nature https://t.co/EZxAkbi6kk https://t.co/I4td8aScPP
Atrial fibrillation and cognitive decline. Blood thinners don't help. Possible explanations not mentioned here include less brain clearance of metabolic waste products with this heart rhythm, recently documented https://t.co/IWzR05JaBN https://t.co/5UA4vcW3GO
BioSpace’s 2026 NextGen list spotlights 15 early‑stage life‑science startups that secured seed or Series A financing despite a 2025 capital crunch. The cohort includes rare‑disease pioneers and innovators tackling cardiovascular, oncology, and genetic therapies. Notable deals feature Light Horse’s $62 million Series A...
Genome-scale perturb-seq in primary human CD4+ T cells maps context-specific regulators of T cell programs and human immune traits https://t.co/tMc4efSMxe https://t.co/XUdax0qxn1
1/ Bioinformatics is NOT just statistics. The p-value is small, but is it biologically meaningful? Let’s talk. 🧵 https://t.co/iRgiOXPR8v
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals announced proof‑of‑concept data showing its siRNA platform can be delivered directly to adipose tissue, producing notable weight loss in preclinical obesity models. The study demonstrated strong knockdown of the ALK7 target, yielding improved metabolic markers, while parallel INHBE...
Timmerman Traverse for Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has hit its $1M goal. One month to go before Kilimanjaro. https://t.co/xb01xFyZoG
1/ Different sequencing depths don't just change detection. They create specific, predictable artifacts that propagate into your DE calls and any downstream modeling. https://t.co/u0U7E5yq6J
The Trump administration has taken direct control of Biosecure, a leading biotech firm specializing in pathogen detection and vaccine platforms. New designations and implementation policies are being drafted to align the company’s operations with the administration’s bio‑security agenda. Stakeholders anticipate...
The Secret to Recreating Any Bioinformatics Figure (It’s easier than You Think). The other day, I was on Bioinformatics subReddit and saw someone ask how to generate the figure below https://t.co/5oOU8As3T3
A recent network meta‑analysis evaluated the comparative efficacy and safety of surgical interventions for treatment‑refractory obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD), focusing on ablative procedures such as gamma ventral capsulotomy and lesion‑based capsulotomy versus deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting regions like the ventral...
Researchers led by Lemke et al. report that loss‑of‑function (null) variants in the GRIN2A gene markedly increase the risk of early‑onset schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. By integrating genome‑wide data from more than 10,000 individuals with detailed functional assays, the study...
The FDA has posted at least six PDUFA action dates for January 2026, marking a busy decision window for pending drug applications. Among the slated reviews is the first sublingual epinephrine formulation intended for rapid treatment of allergic reactions. These...
Amgen announced a $840 million acquisition of UK‑based Dark Blue Therapeutics, adding an investigational small‑molecule that degrades MLLT1/3 proteins implicated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The deal expands Amgen’s targeted‑protein‑degradation platform and strengthens its oncology pipeline with a novel mechanism to overcome...
The Saturating-Removal (SR) model links stochastic damage accumulation to human mortality, showing that variations in damage production or removal rates are tightly constrained across individuals. Analyses of NHANES cohorts, centenarian siblings, and progeria cases support the model’s prediction that maximal...
Pharma firms widely adopted AI, IoT and digitalization in 2025, and those tools will dominate 2026. Real‑time process monitoring and predictive analytics have become competitive necessities, according to Ecolab Bioprocessing’s Laine Mello. The surge in complex biologics, cell and gene...
The neuro‑degenerative field has gained momentum with recent disease‑modifying approvals, and uniQure’s September data showed its gene therapy could slow Huntington’s progression by 75%. However, the FDA signaled that the Phase I/II results may not satisfy the evidentiary standards for...
Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the University of Florida and the University of Iowa have engineered grasses, including a C4 model and major grain crops, to produce a visible purple anthocyanin pigment when exposed to specific chemicals....
Researchers led by Prof. Ron Shahar have identified a rare auxetic material, osteodentin, inside Atlantic wolffish teeth that contracts laterally when compressed along its length. Using phase‑contrast X‑ray tomography and digital volume correlation, they measured negative Poisson’s ratios between –1...
