AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo Sign $6.9 Billion Deal over Cancer Drug
AstraZeneca has signed a $6.9 billion deal with Daiichi Sankyo for a single antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), trastuzumab deruxtecan.
Research
New Drug Combination Targets Cancer Repair and Prevents Metastasis in Mice
University of Alberta researchers have discovered an experimental combination drug therapy which dramatically shrinks tumours and prevents metastasis in mice, and could act as a new cancer therapy in the future.
New Sequencing Test for Huntington’s Could Cut Short Results Waiting Time by Weeks
A collaboration between Viapath, NIHR Guy’s and St Thomas’ Biomedical Research Centre has created the world’s first nanopore-based genetic sequencing test for Huntington’s disease, now available at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals. If successful, the test could cut waiting time for complicated Huntington’s cases, and could have big ramifications for other disorders in the future.
Heating Solid Tumours Increases CAR-T Therapy Success Rate
Heating solid tumours during CAR-T cell therapy could increase change of success, researchers from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have found. Combining a heating technique called photothermal ablation with the infusion of CAR-T cells suppressed melanoma tumor growth for up to 20 days in mice.
nQ Medical Wins “Most Innovative Breakthrough” Prize at D4 Conference
Out of a whole host of engaging and enjoyable moments at Front Line Genomics’ recent Data Driven Drug Development (D4) conference, held in Boston on 20-21 March, one of the most memorable was definitely the triumph of nQ Medical in our innovation showcase, beating out three other contenders for the claim to be “most innovative” of the technologies on display.
More Than 13,000 Genetic Edits Made to Single Cell
Harvard College researchers have announced that more than 13,000 genetic alterations have been made to a single cell using CRISPR technology. This work is designed to edit genomes at a much larger scale than currently possible.
Biogen’s Lead Alzheimer’s Drug Falls Down at Phase Three Trials
Pharma giant Biogen and its Japanese partner Eisai have made the decision to halt two phase 3 trials of aducanumab, a drug created to slow Alzheimer’s by targeting brain-destroying beta-amyloid fragments. An independent monitoring committee decided that the drug was unlikely to benefit patients compared with a placebo.
Microsoft “DNA Drive” Can Encode Information onto DNA and Back Again
Microsoft has created the first ever “DNA drive”, a program which can encode digital information into DNA and vice versa. The prototype managed to store and hold only the word “hello”, taking 21 hours to complete the process due to the slow chemical reactions which writing DNA involves.
New CRISPR-Chip Finds DNA Mutations in Minutes – With No Amplification Necessary
For the first time, CRISPR-Cas9 has been combined with electronic graphene transistors to create a new handheld device which can detect specific mutations in the genome within minutes. The device can be used to quickly diagnose genetic disorders and diseases or determine the accuracy of gene-editing techniques.
Gene Insertion Allows Blind Mice to See Again
Scientists from the University of California have announced a possible alternative option to electronic eye implants for those who have lost their sight: gene therapy. Virus-delivered genes for green opsin gave blind mice sight enough to determine patterns on an iPad, they found, with the therapy possibly ready for clinical trials in three years’ time.
Researchers Identify PTSD Blood Biomarkers
Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have found blood-based genetic markets of psychological stress which could lead to better diagnostics for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bring forward new drug development leads.
Oxford Nanopore’s On-Demand Portable Flongle Sequencer Released for Sale
Oxford Nanopore has made its Flongle starter packs available to purchase, following an early-access testing programme. The Flongle machine allows for smaller, on-demand DNA sequence testing at low cost.
CAR-T Therapy Destroys Lupus in Mice
A number of mice have been cured entirely of lupus by a CAR-T treatment which wipes out the immune system’s B cells by spotting the CD19 protein marker which nearly all B cells carry.
New List Ranks “Usual Suspect” Genes Connected to Diseases
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have created a list of genetic “usual suspects” from a computational analysis of 635 datasets across around 27,000 genetic samples.
Second Patient “Cured” of HIV After Stem Cell Transplant
A second individual has experienced sustained remission from HIV after their treatment ended, scientists from the University of Central London and Imperial College have found.
