#05 - Genetic editing: the final frontier
The one minute biotech roundup.
🦤 Good morning, intrepid readers. I come bearing biotech news…
This week: Harvard whiz-kids unveil a new RNA synthesis method, while Flagship Pioneering secures a cosmic $3.6bn to fuel AI-driven biotech ventures. Not to be outdone, Interius embarks on a groundbreaking Phase I trial for in vivo CAR-T therapy, and we put a new microbiome gene editing technique under the microscope. With all these genetic advancements, we may very well live long and prosper!
Finally, biotech investors seem to be back on deck after the funding slump of recent years – but is all as it seems?
Until next time, thank you for reading!
Dodo
If there’s anything you’d like to see in future editions of Biotech Dodo, send us a message.
Discover 🔍
🧬 Harvard scientists publish details of enzymatic RNA synthesis tech commercialised by EnPlusOne (GenEng News) – Scientists at the Wyss Institute and Harvard Medical School have developed an innovative method for synthesising single-stranded RNA using water and enzymes, without needing a template sequence. The method utilises a yeast-derived enzyme (from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, nevertheless) to assemble RNA strands one nucleotide at a time, using a blocker system for precision.
Our take: With RNA therapeutics in high demand post-COVID, this is a timely breakthrough. Commercialising this method means a cleaner, greener approach which reduces toxic byproducts and reliance on harmful solvents. This process not only mitigates environmental impact but also streamlines production, potentially lowering costs and increasing accessibility. Bravo!
💉Biotech investor behind Moderna raises $3.6bn for new ventures (The Financial Times) – Flagship Pioneering, the venture capital fund that launched Moderna, has secured $3.6bn to create a slew of new biotech companies harnessing AI for drug discovery. With $2.6bn committed to its newest fund, and an additional $1bn for sector-specific investments, newly minted Flagship plans to generate and support around 25 individual biotech companies in total.
Our take: This hefty investment is a strong signal of confidence in biotech’s future, particularly in the burgeoning field of AI-powered drug development. As the sector rebounds, it will be interesting to see if Flagship’s strategic move away from platform companies – and towards single-drug biotechs – will help continue their impressive track record.
🇦🇺 Interius Gets Go-Ahead for Phase I Trial of In Vivo CAR-T Therapy in Australia (BioSpace) – Interius BioTherapeutics has received regulatory approval to begin a potentially first-in-class human Phase I trial for its novel in vivo CAR-T therapy, which targets B cell malignancies. The trial, set to start in Australia, will evaluate the safety of a single infusion of the investigational therapy INT2104 in up to 30 patients.
Our take: Interestingly Interius, a US biotech, has chosen to conduct its early-stage trial in Australia, citing the FDA’s “overly cautious approach” as a reason for ocean-hopping. Regardless, this novel in vivo CAR-T therapy could be a game-changer: providing a single-dose, off-the-shelf treatment option for patients, and eliminating the need for lymphodepletion. Hats off to Interius for leading the charge in cancer therapy!
🐭 Eligo Bioscience achieves first-ever in vivo microbiome base editing (CRISPR Medicine News) – In their groundbreaking new study, Paris-based Eligo Bioscience has successfully unlocked genome editing of bacteria in the gut, with near 100% efficiency. Using an engineered phage-derived particle, the team were able to make single-base pair edits in encoding genes, allowing them to disrupt antibiotic-resistance genes or virulence factors with extreme precision. (Read the Nature paper)
Our take: Elio’s gut-busting editing technique looks to provide scientists with a way to interrogate the microbiome – helping them understand the role of bacterial genes in driving chronic disease and supporting the development of novel therapies which do not compromise gut health. The microbiome is ripe for exploration, and Dodo hopes this game-changing technique could help crack the microbiotic code!
And finally…
💸 Funding for biotech startups had its best quarter in two years — sort of (Endpoints News) – Well, well, well! Q2 2024 saw biotech fundraising soar to a smashing two-year peak of $6.7 billion. Fuelled largely by a surge in mega-deals, investors dished out a whopping $94 million per round, on average – a $20 million jump from Q1!
Our take: These numbers will be music to the ears of many a biotech, however, there is one caveat. Investors may have loosened up their purse strings, but they invested in fewer companies than in Q1 – clearly the trend for highly selective investments and rigorous due diligence shows no signs of abating. Still, with such robust numbers, there's plenty of reason to be chipper!
Tune in 🎧
🏔️ Josh Mandel-Brehm - CEO, CAMP4 Therapeutics (First in Human by Vial) – Amy Del Medico is joined by Josh Mandel-Brehm, CEO of CAMP4 Therapeutics, to discuss the power of antisense oligonucleotides and how CAMP4 is pioneering treatments for genetic diseases.
🔬Engineering Therapeutic Antibodies (Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar) – Maria Wilson chats to Genentech’s Yan Wu and Paul Carter about the marvels of therapeutic antibodies, and how they are developing lab-engineered medicines to tackle cancers, autoimmune diseases and infections. Plus, hear how AI is shaping the future of antibody design.
Apply ✍️
📊 Biostatistician, Medpace — Eager to make a mark in clinical research? Medpace is expanding its Biostatistics team in London and Stirling. If you have a PhD in Biostatistics, experience in SAS programming, and a knack for advanced statistical methods, this role could be for you.
📜 Trainee Patent Attorney, Carpmaels & Ransford — A little left-field for Dodo, but if you’re looking to pivot from academia while putting your STEM degree to good use, then why not try patent law?! Carpmaels & Ransford are seeking trainees with a strong background in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or immunology.
RSVP 📆
It seems that the fledglings have flown the nest this summer and are having a well-earned break, which means Summer is all quiet on the event front. However, get in touch if you know of any upcoming biotech events that should be on our radar.
Got news, jobs or events you think are worth coo-ing over? Post an event here, or email us at biotechdodo@substack.com!
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