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Biotechnology

All articles tagged with #biotechnology

Caribou Biosciences closes after failing to fund pivotal CAR-T trial

Caribou Biosciences is shutting down operations and laying off staff after failing to secure funding for a Phase 3 trial of its allogeneic CAR-T therapy, vispa-cel. The company, which spun out of Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna’s lab, had $113.8 million in cash but could not raise the capital needed to advance its pipeline. While its therapy showed efficacy comparable to approved autologous treatments, the company is seeking strategic alternatives like a sale or merger as investor interest shifts toward in vivo gene editing approaches.

via STAT|

#biotech-funding #biotechnology #car-t-therapy

biotechnology2 days ago•11 min saved

Cell-Free Systems Accelerate Protein Engineering and Biosensor Development

Scientists are increasingly bypassing living cells to synthesize proteins and create biosensors using cell-free transcription and translation systems. By extracting cellular machinery from organisms like E. coli or plants, researchers can accelerate the design-build-test cycle from weeks to hours, enabling the production of toxic compounds and the rapid iteration of sensors for contaminants like lead and copper. While these systems offer high customizability and avoid the risks of releasing genetically modified organisms, they face significant challenges regarding cost, energy depletion, and scalability compared to traditional cell-based methods.

via Nature|

#biomanufacturing #biosensors #biotechnology

biotechnology4 days ago•50 min saved

Fierce Biotech Unveils 2026 Fierce 15: A Focus on Fertility, Oncology, and AI

Fierce Biotech has released its 2026 Fierce 15 list, highlighting 15 private biotech companies selected for their innovative approaches to unmet medical needs. The list includes Alveus Therapeutics, Beacon Therapeutics, EpiBiologics, Expedition Medicines, Freya Biosciences, Infinimmune, Neomorph, Nuclidium, Pelage Pharmaceuticals, ReproNovo, and SonoThera. These companies span therapeutic areas including obesity, eye disease, oncology, immunology, reproductive health, and radiopharmaceuticals. The selection reflects a broader industry trend of capital returning to early-stage biotech, with several companies securing significant funding rounds and partnerships with major pharmaceutical firms.

via Fierce Biotech|

#ai-drug-discovery #biotech-startups #biotechnology

biotechnology7 days ago

Novartis Acquires Chinese Autoimmune Therapy for $7.8B Amid Patent Cliff Pressures

Novartis has agreed to pay up to $7.8 billion for Abogen Biosciences' mRNA-based T-cell engager, ABO2203, targeting autoimmune diseases. The deal includes a $575 million upfront payment and grants Novartis global rights to the asset plus an option to license other RNA-platform assets. This move follows recent setbacks in Novartis's CAR-T programs and reflects a broader trend of Western pharma companies partnering with Chinese biotechs to secure future pipeline growth.

via Fierce Biotech|

#abogen-biosciences #autoimmune-disease #biotechnology

biotechnology7 days ago•1 min saved

Foghorn Therapeutics cuts 40% of staff after Eli Lilly partnership fails

Foghorn Therapeutics is terminating its collaboration with Eli Lilly and cutting 40% of its workforce after the lead candidate, FHD-909, failed to show sufficient efficacy in Phase 1 trials. The company will pivot to its proprietary pipeline, including EP300 and CBP degraders, while retaining $167.6 million in cash to fund operations through late 2029.

via Fierce Biotech|

#biotech-layoffs #biotechnology #clinical-trials

science7 days ago•7 min saved

Beyond CRISPR: New Tools Enable Large-Scale Gene Replacement

New gene-editing technologies are emerging to overcome the limitations of CRISPR-Cas9, specifically its inability to efficiently insert large DNA segments. Techniques like PASTE, evoCAST, and recombineering allow researchers to replace entire faulty genes or engineer complex cellular circuits, addressing diseases with multiple genetic variants. While these methods offer broader therapeutic potential, they face significant challenges in delivery efficiency and complexity. The global CRISPR market is projected to grow at 16% annually, driven by these advancements and expanding clinical trials.

via Nature|

#biotechnology #crispr #gene-therapy

biotechnology9 days ago•1 min saved

Beam Therapeutics Sues Chinese Rivals Over Alleged Theft of Base Editing Secrets

Beam Therapeutics has filed a lawsuit against YolTech Therapeutics and Serapha Bio, alleging that a former scientist stole trade secrets to develop a competing therapy for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. The suit claims the former employee accessed confidential records off-hours while employed by Beam. Serapha Bio has denied the allegations, while YolTech has not responded.

via Fierce Biotech|

#beam-therapeutics #biotechnology #gene-editing

health9 days ago•214 min saved

The race to treat aging as a disease faces a gap between hype and human evidence

Scientists are increasingly viewing aging as a treatable biological process rather than an inevitable stage of life, aiming to extend 'health span' by intervening before age-related diseases emerge. While animal studies show promise, human clinical trials remain in early stages due to the complexity of measuring outcomes over decades. Investment in longevity biotech has surged, yet experts warn that the science is outpacing regulatory frameworks and proven efficacy, with basic lifestyle factors remaining the only validated method for healthy aging.

via CNN|

#aging-research #biotechnology #clinical-trials

biotechnology9 days ago

Beam Therapeutics sues former scientist over alleged IP theft for Chinese startup

Cambridge-based gene-editing firm Beam Therapeutics has filed a lawsuit alleging that former scientist Zi Jun 'Emma' Wang stole proprietary data to co-found a Shanghai-based company, YolTech Therapeutics. The suit claims Wang accessed electronic lab notebooks during off-hours to build the foundation for a new venture, Serapha Bio, which recently secured funding from venture capital firms RA Capital and RTW. This legal action highlights rising tensions between American biotech firms and Chinese counterparts, as Beam seeks to protect its intellectual property from alleged misappropriation.

via statnews.com|

#biotechnology #china-us-tensions #corporate-litigation

biotechnology10 days ago•0 min saved

uniQure Stock Plunges 41% as Huntington’s Gene Therapy Misses Key 48-Month Endpoint

uniQure shares dropped 41% after its Huntington’s disease gene therapy, AMT-130, failed to reach statistical significance on its primary endpoint at 48 months. While the composite Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (cUHDRS) showed only a 44% slowing of progression, the secondary Total Functional Capacity (TFC) endpoint remained strong at 61%. Analysts and executives argue that methodological flaws in the control group and the stability of functional outcomes support the drug’s path to accelerated FDA approval, despite the initial market sell-off.

via Fierce Biotech|

#amt-130 #biotechnology #fda-approval

science-and-policy10 days ago•11 min saved

Regulatory Gridlock Delays Mosquito Eradication in the US Despite Proven Tech

The US faces a resurgence of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria, yet effective eradication technologies remain stalled by outdated regulatory frameworks. While genetic engineering and Wolbachia bacteria have proven successful in reducing mosquito populations and disease transmission globally, US approval processes have lagged by over a decade. The FDA and EPA have struggled to categorize these biopesticides, leading to prolonged delays in commercial deployment despite urgent public health needs.

via Works in Progress Magazine|

#biotechnology #dengue #epa

science-and-technology10 days ago•8 min saved

Origin Genomics Pushes Gene-Edited Embryo Research Amid Legal and Ethical Backlash

Cathy Tie, CEO of New York-based Origin Genomics, is testing AI-assisted gene editors on human embryos to prevent inherited diseases like familial adenomatous polyposis. While the company aims to prove safety to eventually lift U.S. legal bans on embryo editing, critics warn of 'designer babies' and unregulated overseas clinics. Tie argues that pursuing this technology is ethical given the suffering of affected families, despite current prohibitions and safety concerns.

via NPR|

#bioethics #biotechnology #gene-editing

biotechnology14 days ago•0 min saved

Endpoints News Unveils 2026 Top 11 Biotech Startups Amid Industry Shifts

Endpoints News has released its 2026 Endpoints 11 list, highlighting 11 private biotech startups selected from over 150 nominations. The awards, announced at a Boston gala, recognize companies making significant bets in gene therapy, oncology, and AI, reflecting a biotech sector that is recovering financially but facing new structural uncertainties.

via Endpoints News|

#ai-in-biotech #biotech-startups #biotechnology

science17 days ago•4 min saved

Fire amoeba shatters heat limits, surviving at 63C

Researchers have identified Incendiamoeba cascadensis, a protein-armoured 'fire amoeba' from Lassen Volcanic National Park, that grows at 57C and duplicates at 63C—the highest temperature yet for a complex life form. It can endure brief 70C exposure by reshaping and forming a protective outer layer, then recover when cooled. The organism carries extra genes tied to protein maintenance and DNA repair, hinting at eukaryotic adaptations and opening possibilities for biotech applications, while reminding that climate change could threaten geothermal ecosystems.

via Financial Times|

#biotechnology #extremophiles #heat-tolerance

biotechnology18 days ago•6 min saved

Single Gene-Editing Infusion Cuts Bad Cholesterol for a Year, Early Trial Shows

A small Phase 1 trial found that a single infusion of CTX310, a CRISPR-Cas9 therapy targeting ANGPTL3 in the liver, reduced LDL cholesterol by 52.5% and triglycerides by 47.8% at 12 months across doses, with no serious safety events; durability suggests potential year-long lipid control, though larger studies and 15-year safety follow-up are planned.

via SciTechDaily|

#angptl3 #biotechnology #crispr-cas9