In Depth 3 Nov 2022 What’s on the horizon for gene editing-based therapies? Gene editing has come far in the past decade. However, the field is still finding its feet regarding challenges such as drug delivery, regulation and competition with first-generation gene therapies. Gene editing is a sizzling hot topic in the biotech industry, powered by advances in genetic tools such as CRISPR, TALENs and zinc-finger nucleases. Gene […] November 3, 2022 - 8 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 20 Oct 2022 Opportunities and challenges for cell and gene therapy investments Companies in the cell and gene therapy space are struggling to raise investments amid adverse market conditions. However, this could be an opportunity for the strongest companies and investors to shine. After several years of record-breaking investments, funding is hard to come by in the gene and cell therapy space. Part of this trend relates […] October 20, 2022 - 9 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 13 Oct 2022 Agreement to take advantage of stem cells from first teeth An agreement has been made to utilize the advantage of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) under development by Japan-based Kidswell Bio. Kidswell is entering into the agreement with Showa Denko Materials Co., which will also enable process development as well as clinical manufacturing of cell therapy products. Under the terms of agreement, […] October 13, 2022 - 3 minutesmins - By Liza Laws Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 13 Oct 2022 Xcell Biosciences and aCGT Vector pushing ahead with cell and gene therapies Xcell Biosciences Inc. (Xcellbio), an instrumentation company focused on cell and gene therapy applications, and aCGT Vector, a point-of-care cell and gene therapy-as-a-service (TaaS) company, are collaborating to improve manufacturing and analytic procedures to develop personalized cell and gene therapies for cancer patients. aCGT Vector will provide its point-of-care, GMP-licensed manufacturing platform to validate Xcellbio’s […] October 13, 2022 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 11 Oct 2022 The biggest private biotech investments in September 2022 The companies Acelyrin, InnovaFeed and Arsenal Biosciences bagged the biggest biotech investments in September 2022, with insect protein and cell therapies attracting big funding rounds. Autumn is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere. After a breather in August 2022, September saw the return of big fundraising activity for biotech companies. We’ve gathered the biggest […] October 11, 2022 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 3 Oct 2022 AmplifyBio acquires PACT Pharma assets AmplifyBio has acquired select assets from PACT Pharma, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing neoantigen-specific T cell receptor cell therapies. The deal will provide AmplifyBio with advanced characterization platforms, bioinformatics capabilities, and 40 drug development experts to enhance its own cell and gene therapy service offerings. AmplifyBio will also acquire the South San Francisco […] October 3, 2022 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 29 Sep 2022 Human cells can now help scientists accelerate cure for neurodegenerative diseases Cell products providing a scalable source of human cells can now help scientists study neurogenerative diseases in human context. UK-based, cell-coding company, bit.bio announced the expansion to its portfolio today (September 29) with disease model, ioGlutamatergic Neurons TDP-43 and early access to its ioMicroaglia cell product. Despite research efforts and funding, bit.bio says the development […] September 29, 2022 - 3 minutesmins - By Liza Laws Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Sep 2022 Scribe Therapeutics enters into agreement with Sanofi for use of its CRISPR technologies Scribe Therapeutics has entered into an agreement with Sanofi which will allow Sanofi use of its CRISPR genome editing technologies. Scribe Therapeutics’ custom genome editing and delivery tools called CasX-Editors (XE) based on foundations such as the CasX enzyme will enable genetic modification of natural killer (NK) cell therapies for cancer and will support Sanofi’s […] September 28, 2022 - 2 minutesmins - By Liza Laws Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 27 Sep 2022 Natural killer cells: a thriving frontier in allogeneic cell therapy Kai Pinkernell, chief medical officer at Glycostem, discusses how natural killer (NK) cell therapies could usher in off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapies. Since their first approvals in 2017, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapies have showcased the potential of immuno-oncology in providing long-lasting treatments for cancer. This impact was felt in not just the CAR-T cell therapy […] September 27, 2022 - 6 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 21 Sep 2022 FDA clears Cellenkos ALS drug for trial Cellenkos, Inc., a clinical stage biotech company, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a phase 1 safety study followed by a phase 1b randomized, double blind, placebo control trial of CK0803, neurotrophic allogeneic Treg cells, in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis […] September 21, 2022 - 3 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 20 Sep 2022 Bioreactor platform launched to support process development for cell and gene therapy A medical technology company, today announced the launch of a bioreactor platform that supports process development through to commercial manufacturing for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) sector. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT) named its Quantum Flex Cell Expansion System, after identifying the industry’s need for earlier automation to potentially limit additional and […] September 20, 2022 - 3 minutesmins - By Liza Laws Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 20 Sep 2022 GenScript and Avectas look to improve non-viral cell therapy manufacturing GenScript USA Inc. and Avectas, a cell engineering technology company, are partnering to develop an improved non-viral cell therapy manufacturing process. The two companies said they share a goal of providing their customers with new methods for developing cell therapies with an improved safety profile over viral and non-viral vector techniques. By combining Avectas’ cell […] September 20, 2022 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email