EPSA: A Useful Metric Across Chemical Space
The article highlights EPSA (Experimental Polarity Surface Area) as a robust metric for assessing molecular polarity across broad chemical space. Unlike traditional PSA, EPSA is derived from supercritical fluid chromatography, offering experimental insight into a compound’s three‑dimensional polarity profile. The piece demonstrates how EPSA correlates with membrane permeability, solubility, and oral bioavailability for diverse scaffolds, from small molecules to macrocycles. It also outlines practical workflows for incorporating EPSA data into early‑stage drug‑discovery pipelines.
Light-Controlled Gene Expression Platform Reportedly Doubles Standard Fed-Batch Manufacturing Performance
Prolific Machines announced a 21 g/L monoclonal antibody titer after a 15‑day intensified fed‑batch CHO run, more than double the typical sub‑10 g/L industry benchmark. The company’s optogenetic platform uses light to dynamically regulate gene expression, giving manufacturers real‑time control over protein...
Dark Proteome Yields 1,785 New Microproteins that Could Reshape Disease Research
Scientists have identified 1,785 microproteins hidden in the human dark proteome, a roughly 10% increase to the known protein catalog. These tiny proteins, 65% under 50 amino acids, were uncovered by mining 95,520 mass‑spectrometry experiments and 3.7 billion spectra. The team...
A New Kind of CRISPR Could Treat Viral Infection and Cancer by Shredding Sick Cells' DNA
Researchers have engineered a novel CRISPR protein, Cas12a2, that acts as a molecular shredder, destroying DNA in cells that express a specific RNA trigger. In vitro, Cas12a2 cut the growth of KRAS‑mutant lung‑cancer cells by 50% and eliminated over 90%...
Waiv Enters Collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo to Deliver AI-Derived Biomarkers for ADC Program
Waiv, the Paris‑based AI precision‑testing firm formerly known as Owkin Dx, has partnered with Daiichi Sankyo to lead digital pathology biomarker discovery for an antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) program. The collaboration will apply Waiv’s end‑to‑end computational pathology platform to early‑phase trial data,...
Lucent Diagnostics Announces Collaboration with Tempus to Integrate Blood-Based Alzheimer’s Biomarker Testing Into Clinical Workflows
Lucent Diagnostics, a Quanterix brand, partnered with Tempus AI to embed its LucentAD® Complete blood‑based Alzheimer’s biomarker panel into Tempus’ clinical ordering platform. The collaboration creates a Tempus Next care‑gap program that automatically identifies patients who meet guideline criteria for...
J&J’s Ottava Robot Meets Goals in Gastric Bypass Study
Johnson & Johnson reported that its investigational Ottava robotic system met safety and efficacy endpoints in a 30‑patient gastric bypass study, achieving an average 30‑pound weight loss within 30 days and no device‑related adverse events. All procedures were completed robotically...
IV Ketamine Shows Rapid Benefits for Suicide Risk, Depression in Major Depressive Episodes
A new meta‑analysis of 26 randomized trials involving 1,166 patients shows that intravenous ketamine rapidly alleviates both suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in major depressive episodes. Single infusions cut suicidal scores by an SMD of –0.69 within 24 hours and depressive...
A Low-Cost Rotavirus Test Could Save Childrens’ Lives in Nigeria
Researchers at Obafemi Awolowo University have created a low‑cost, point‑of‑care rotavirus test that works without electricity or specialized training. The nanobead‑based kit showed 88% sensitivity in pilot hospitals, beating the standard ELISA test’s 60% sensitivity. Rotavirus accounts for nearly half...
Simulations Plus and NVIDIA Collaborate to Scale GPU-Accelerated, AI-Assisted Modeling Workflows
Simulations Plus announced a technical collaboration with NVIDIA to embed GPU‑accelerated and AI‑assisted modeling into drug‑development workflows. The partnership will re‑engineer Simulations Plus’ PBPK, PK/PD and QSP engines for NVIDIA GPUs, delivering up to a 75% reduction in simulation runtimes...
Most Oncology Brands Lose Before Launch Day — New ZoomRx Analysis of 40+ Drugs Quantifies the Awareness Gap That Predicts...
ZoomRx’s 2026 "Laggards and Leaders" analysis of 44 oncology brands shows that pre‑launch physician awareness drives commercial success. Brands entering the market with about 75% aided awareness outperform those starting at 55%, a 25‑point gap that persists through four years....
The VESALIUS-CV Trial
In the VESALIUS-CV trial, researchers evaluated the impact of adding the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab to standard lipid‑lowering therapy in patients at high cardiovascular risk who had never experienced a myocardial infarction or stroke. Over a median follow‑up of 3.2 years,...
Cyclin E1 and CCNE1 Shift in Ovarian Cancer Post-PARP
The British Journal of Cancer study shows high‑grade serous ovarian carcinoma tumors develop resistance to PARP inhibitors by up‑regulating Cyclin E1 and amplifying the CCNE1 gene. Researchers compared pre‑ and post‑treatment samples using FISH and IHC, finding a significant rise in...
Novel Psychedelic Compound 25C-NBF Shows Rapid Antidepressant Effects without Addictive Traits
Researchers reported that the synthetic psychedelic 25C‑NBF rapidly induces dendritic growth and reverses depressive behaviors in male rodents after a single dose. The compound binds tightly to the serotonin 5‑HT2A receptor while showing minimal activity at 5‑HT2B, reducing heart‑valve risk....
Scientists Create "Living Plastic" That Can Self-Destruct on Command
Scientists at Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology have engineered a "living plastic" that embeds dormant Bacillus subtilis spores. The spores stay inactive during normal use but can be triggered to awaken and produce two enzymes that sequentially break down polycaprolactone,...
Decoding Proteomic Changes in Pediatric Brain Injury
Researchers Khalifah and Guerguerian published a comprehensive proteomic analysis of severe pediatric traumatic brain injury in *Pediatric Research*. Using high‑throughput mass spectrometry, they mapped thousands of proteins in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid across acute, sub‑acute, and chronic phases. The...
STAT+: Novo Nordisk’s Less-Bad News on Its Wegovy Pill Boosts Earnings and Share Price
Novo Nordisk reported first‑quarter results that showed a modest improvement in its outlook for the obesity drug Wegovy. The company narrowed its adjusted sales decline forecast to 4%‑12% for the year, up from a prior 5%‑13% range, and aligned its...
Engineered E. Coli Strain Uses 19 Amino Acids, Defying Long‑Held Biological Rule
Researchers have built a genetically engineered E. coli strain, Ec19, that discards isoleucine and operates with just 19 amino acids. The strain remains stable for over 450 generations, challenging the long‑standing notion that life requires a 20‑amino‑acid alphabet and unlocking fresh...
Cytokinetics Announces Positive Phase 3 Results for Aficamten in Non‑Obstructive HCM
Cytokinetics disclosed that its pivotal Phase 3 ACACIA-HCM trial of aficamten met both primary endpoints—improved Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores and higher maximal exercise capacity—versus placebo. The data, presented on May 5, position the cardiac myosin inhibitor as a potential first‑in‑class therapy...
Medicare Launches $50 GLP‑1 Bridge Pilot for Weight‑Loss Drugs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a two‑year GLP‑1 Bridge pilot that will let eligible beneficiaries obtain Wegovy, Zepbound or Foundayo for a $50 monthly copay starting July 1, 2026. The program aims to lower cost barriers for...
BIOTECanada Responds to CDA-AMC Guidance for Incorporating Impacts on Informal Caregivers and Productivity Outcomes in Economic Evaluations.
BIOTECanada, together with Innovative Medicines Canada, submitted a formal response to the Canadian Drug Agency’s draft guidance on incorporating informal caregiver health‑related quality of life and productivity outcomes into economic evaluations. The association recommends expanding the societal perspective to all...
FDA Accepts Opus Genetics’ OPGx‑LCA5 Gene Therapy Into Rare Disease Evidence Program
Opus Genetics announced that its investigational LCA5 gene therapy, OPGx‑LCA5, has been accepted into the FDA’s Rare Disease Evidence Principles (RDEP) program. The acceptance aligns the company with early‑stage regulatory collaboration for a Phase 3 trial targeting Leber congenital amaurosis type 5,...
Sustaining Science: Preserving Knowledge Amid Big Data
The bioengineering community is publishing a wave of data‑intensive studies that span proteomics, photonics, plasma actuation, epigenetics, and oncology. Each article, released on May 6, 2026, demonstrates how massive datasets are unlocking new scientific insights. At the same time, the field grapples...
Top Biotech Deals in April 2026
April 2026 marked a flurry of blockbuster biotech mergers, highlighted by Sun Pharma’s $11.75 billion acquisition of Organon, giving it a foothold in women’s health across 140 countries. Eli Lilly emerged as the most active buyer, spending roughly $11.5 billion on four...
Nobel Laureate Jules Hoffmann Heads Comprehensive Review Celebrating 40 Years of Toll-Like Receptor Research
A new review in *Immunity & Inflammation*, led by Nobel laureate Jules Hoffmann and collaborators, chronicles 40 years of Toll‑like receptor (TLR) research. It traces the field from the discovery of the Drosophila Toll gene to the mapping of the...
Self‑Destructing Plastic Degrades Completely in Two Weeks
Plastic pollution doesn’t seem to be getting better. But what if we could engineer plastics to get rid of themselves? A team of scientists in China recently demonstrated this somewhat comically idealistic solution, reporting their findings in a recent paper published in...
Blood Test Now Gauges Tumor Microenvironment Non‑invasively
We've known how important the tumor microenvironment is for cancer progression and treatment, but we never had a non-invasive blood test to assess it. Today, as reported @nature, one has been discovered https://t.co/rDaF5YUwTq
Early DNA Methylation Links to Infant Respiratory Infections
Scientists published an epigenome‑wide association study in Pediatric Research linking DNA methylation at the TRIM6 and TTC23 gene promoters in newborns to respiratory infection risk during the first year of life. The prospective analysis of peripheral blood samples showed that...
Chicago Trip Reveals GLP-1 Adoption Still in Infancy
being in Chicago for a few days has made me realize how insanely early we are in the GLP-1 adoption cycle
Gene Therapy Field Focused on FDA Shifts in Rome
Even at a meeting in Rome, FDA shifts are top of mind for gene therapy field https://t.co/J9WXJqzqTY via @statnews
BriaCell Therapeutics Reports US FDA IND Clearance to Initiate P-I/II Trial of Bria-BRES+ in Breast Cancer
BriaCell Therapeutics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted IND clearance to launch a combined Phase I/II study of its Bria‑BRES+ therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Preclinical results presented at AACR indicate Bria‑BRES+ stimulates both...
GLP‑1 Use Surges, Unlocking $100B Anti‑obesity Market
i think roughly 40% of Americans are significantly overweight so still plenty of upside for GLPs. $LLY
Harvard-Backed Trials Still Face Skeptical Disagreement
Have a team at Harvard Medical School, and drug pipeline in human trials, and scientific papers dating back to 2008 challenging that assumption No - I don’t agree 🤣
Single 25 Mg Psilocybin Dose Triggers Lasting Brain Entropy and Boosts Well‑Being
Researchers at UCSF and Imperial College London gave 28 psychedelic‑naïve volunteers a 25 mg psilocybin dose, finding increased brain entropy and structural changes that correlated with higher psychological insight and well‑being a month later. The findings fuel the debate over whether...
Switzerland’s Biotech Sector Defies Tough Markets with Record Revenue
Switzerland’s biotech sector posted a record CHF 7.5 billion ($8.3 billion) in revenue for 2025, up from CHF 7.2 billion the year before, driven by more market‑ready products and strong CDMO demand. Capital inflows rose 2.1% to CHF 2.6 billion ($2.9 billion), with privately financed firms leading the...
FDA Approves Selpercatinib for Medullary Thyroid Cancer with a RET Mutation
The FDA granted traditional approval on September 27, 2024, for Eli Lilly’s selpercatinib (Retevmo) to treat adult and pediatric patients two years and older with advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) harboring a RET mutation. The decision follows accelerated approvals...
MiR-205a Suppresses CDH11, Halting Chondrocyte Growth
Researchers have identified that microRNA miR‑205a suppresses the expression of cadherin‑11 (CDH11) in chondrocytes, disrupting the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway essential for cartilage formation. Experimental overexpression of miR‑205a reduced CDH11 levels and halted chondrocyte differentiation, while inhibition of miR‑205a restored CDH11...
SCIENTURE Announces Third Patent Grant for ARBLI™ (Losartan Potassium) Oral Suspension, Strengthening Long-Term Market Exclusivity Through 2041
Scienture Holdings announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted a third patent (U.S. Patent No. 12,605,365) for its ARBLI™ losartan potassium oral suspension. The new patent, issued April 21, 2026, extends exclusive protection through October 7, 2041, reinforcing the company’s IP moat. ARBLI™...
Novelty Nobility Expands AGC Biologics Deal to Take Product Candidate Through GMP Manufacturing
Korea‑based Novelty Nobility has expanded its contract with CDMO AGC Biologics to move its bispecific antibody NN4101 through process development and GMP manufacturing at AGC’s Chiba, Japan facility. Cell‑line development was completed in Copenhagen and will be transferred to Chiba...
Macrocycles: Big Is the New Beautiful
Macrocycles are gaining traction as a hybrid drug modality that combines the high specificity of biologics with the oral accessibility of small molecules. Advances in synthetic chemistry, AI‑driven design, and DNA‑encoded libraries now enable rapid exploration of billions of candidates,...
FDA Panel Backs AstraZeneca’s Truqap for PTEN-Deficient Prostate Cancer
The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 7‑1 to endorse AstraZeneca’s Truqap (capivasertib) with abiraterone and ADT for PTEN‑deficient metastatic hormone‑sensitive prostate cancer, citing a 19% reduction in radiographic progression or death. The recommendation could pave the way for the...
Backed by USD 4.3M Public Funding, Spermotile Seeks Asia Partners for AI Fertility Innovation
Spermotile, a medtech startup developing an AI‑driven sperm‑selection platform, has secured roughly $4.3 million in public funding from the EU and Norway. The company is showcasing its technology at Echelon Singapore 2026 to court investors, manufacturing partners, and CROs across Southeast...
Alebund Pharmaceuticals Completes Patient Enrollment in P-III (RESPOND-2) Trial of AP301 for Hyperphosphatemia
Alebund Pharmaceuticals announced that patient enrollment is complete for its global Phase III RESPOND‑2 trial of AP301, a novel therapy for hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients. The study enrolled 282 participants—138 in the United States and 144 in China—exceeding the planned 264....
DDW 2026: Key Readouts From the Conference
Digestive Disease Week 2026 in Chicago showcased several pivotal GI‑focused readouts. AbbVie reported real‑world Skyrizi data showing steroid use fell from 34% to 7% after 52 weeks and 77% of Crohn’s patients reported improved quality of life. Johnson & Johnson’s...
4basebio Announces Lease of an Innovation Hub and Manufacturing Facility in Cambridge, UK
4basebio PLC announced a lease for a 26,500 sq ft innovation hub and manufacturing facility in Cambridge, UK, slated to open in late summer 2026. The site will feature 7,500 sq ft of specialized laboratory space with 15 labs, advanced biosafety equipment, and a...
Calla Lily Clinical Care Doses First Patients in Clinical Trial for Intravaginal Drug Delivery Platform for Threatened Miscarriage
Calla Lily Clinical Care has begun dosing the first participants in the FREEDOM clinical trial, testing its 400 mg intravaginal progesterone product Callavid. The NIHR‑funded study targets women with luteal phase insufficiency, a condition linked to threatened miscarriage and infertility. Callavid’s...
CellCentric Raises $220M to Get Multiple Myeloma Pill to Market
CellCentric, a 22‑year‑old transatlantic biotech, closed a $220 million Series D round to accelerate development of its oral multiple myeloma drug. The capital will fund the completion of Phase III trials, scale manufacturing, and prepare regulatory filings. The therapy is designed for patients...
Pfizer, Lilly, More Report Q1, FDA Names Acting CBER Director and an ALS Awakening
Pfizer posted first‑quarter earnings that topped consensus estimates, yet analysts deemed the beat insufficient given higher expectations for the New York‑based giant. Eli Lilly delivered a striking 56% revenue surge, though the company noted that price reductions on several products capped its...
Bayer to Buy Perfuse Therapeutics for $300M Upfront
Bayer announced a $300 million upfront payment to acquire ophthalmology biotech Perfuse Therapeutics, securing its mid‑stage program aimed at the leading causes of blindness. The transaction represents Bayer’s first pharmaceutical merger‑and‑acquisition in several years, signaling a renewed focus on specialty eye...
Capturing True Single-Cell Resolution with Your Spatial Data
Spatial biology has transformed life‑science research, yet imaging and sequencing platforms still grapple with cell‑boundary segmentation and grid‑based spot limitations. Linda Orzolek of OMAPiX explains how Takara Bio’s Trekker technology delivers true single‑cell spatial resolution by isolating nuclei and pairing...