Sulfolobus Islandicus: Expanding the Genetic Toolkit for Drug Delivery and Biotechnology Applications
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 the lipid‑modifying enzyme GrsB at one locus altered ether lipid cyclopentane content. The work broadens the genetic toolbox for this non‑conventional host, paving the way for robust synthetic‑biology and drug‑delivery platforms.
Lab Automation Accelerates: RACs Deploy in Boston
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...
Advances in Extracellular Vesicle Separation and Isolation
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...
Fungus with Hidden Talent Leads to Rethink on Making Classic Cancer Drug
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...
Automated Lab of the Future May Herald Lower-Cost Therapies
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...
CCGT Sector Needs Purpose-Built Quality Management Systems
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....
Behind the Headlines Episode 31: Optimism, Opportunity, Optimization of COGs & Organizational Streamlining
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...
Measles Cases Surge to Highest Since 1991
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 &...
CRISPR Discovery Could Lead to Single Diagnostic Test for COVID, Flu, RSV
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...
RFK Decimates Vaccine Schedule
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...
Elon Musk Proves Society Now Embraces Higher Tech Risk
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...
A New Approach to Drugging MYC: The Application of Translation-Inhibiting Interdictors To MYC-Driven Malignancies
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...
Oral MRT‑8102 Shows Rapid Biomarker Drop, Upside Remains
$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...
5 FDA Decisions to Watch in the First Quarter of 2026
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, Ionis Achieve Functional Cure in Hepatitis B Studies, Clearing Path for FDA Run
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’s Ziihera Shows ‘Practice-Changing’ Efficacy in Stomach Cancer
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 Searches for Novel Tumor-Selective Antigens With $865M+ Cartography Pact
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...
Europe Pharma R&D Lags, Companies Flee to U.S.
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 🇺🇸...
Drone Monitoring Helps Dolphins
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 in Aging and Age-Related Conditions
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...
Evidence for Tau and Amyloid Pathology to Drive White Matter Damage in the Brain
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 Launches Oral Obesity Pill, Lilly Targets Lofty Revenue, FDA and M&A in Focus
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...
Bayer and Cradle Enter Collaboration to Enhance AI-Enabled Antibody Discovery and Optimization
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...
BIO Warns of Risks From Change to CDC’s Vaccine Recommendations
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 Bet on a 2026 Rebound as Deal Activity Accelerates
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...
Project Updates: Prototype Chassis Needed, Sucrose Transformation Progress
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...
High Lp(a) Raises Long‑Term Risk; Therapies Coming
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 New Subcutaneous (SC) Landscape: Adapting Drug Delivery for Biologics Administration at Home
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...
Mitochondria Transfer From Glia Offers Neuropathy Therapy
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 Drives Cognitive Decline, Not Prevented by Blood Thinners
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 NextGen Class of 2026 Attracts Big Bucks From Tight Wallets
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...
Perturb-Seq Maps T Cell Regulators and Immune Traits
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
Small P-Values Aren't Always Biologically Meaningful in Bioinformatics
1/ Bioinformatics is NOT just statistics. The p-value is small, but is it biologically meaningful? Let’s talk. 🧵 https://t.co/iRgiOXPR8v
Arrowhead siRNA Data in Obesity Mark POC for Adipose Delivery
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 Reaches $1M Milestone, Kilimanjaro Countdown
Timmerman Traverse for Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has hit its $1M goal. One month to go before Kilimanjaro. https://t.co/xb01xFyZoG
Sequencing Depth Introduces Predictable Artifacts Affecting DE Analysis
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
Biosecure Is in the Trump Administration’s Hands
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...
Recreate Any Bioinformatics Figure Easily with One Trick
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
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Different Surgical Strategies for Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Evidence From Network Meta-Analysis
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...
Correction: GRIN2A Null Variants Confer a High Risk for Early-Onset Schizophrenia and Other Mental Disorders and Potentially Enable Precision Therapy
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...
At Least Six PDUFA Dates on FDA’s January Calendar
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 Acquires UK Biotech Dark Blue Therapeutics
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 Model of Damage Accumulation and Effects of Lifestyle on Aging
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...
Industry Outlook 2026: Trends Transitioning From 2025 Into 2026
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...
Deep Dive: Huntington’s at a Crossroads
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...
New Tools Turn Grain Crops Into Living Biosensors
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....
Dentin Inside Wolffish Teeth Is a Rare Material: When Compressed Along Its Length—It Also Shrinks in Width
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...
Alumis Soars as TYK2 Drug Hits Mark in Psoriasis Trials
Alumis announced that its TYK2 inhibitor envudeucitinib met primary endpoints in two Phase 3 psoriasis trials, delivering 74% of patients achieving PASI‑75 after four months. The data suggest efficacy comparable to leading oral candidates and injectable biologics, prompting the stock to...
'Stomata In-Sight' System Allows Scientists to Watch Plants 'Breathe' In Real-Time
Researchers have unveiled the “Stomata in‑Sight” platform, a real‑time imaging system that visualizes stomatal opening and closing on living leaves. By combining high‑speed microscopy with machine‑learning algorithms, the tool records pore dynamics at sub‑second intervals. Early trials demonstrate precise measurements...
Genetic Medicines Project Gets Funding From UKRI Innovate UK and Canadian NRC IRAP
Chromatin Bioscience, Mediphage Bioceuticals, and Entos Pharmaceuticals announced a joint genetic‑medicine project funded by UKRI Innovate UK and Canada’s NRC IRAP. The partnership merges Chromatin Bioscience’s chromatinLENS synthetic‑promoter platform, Mediphage’s msDNA linear DNA technology, and Entos’s Fusogenix PLV fusion‑based delivery system....