- March 4, 2019
As the FDA warns against ‘young blood,’ an ambitious Silicon Valley startup tests a cocktail for Alzheimer’s
The executives at Alkahest have heard plenty of vampire jokes. They are, after all, turning to blood from young donors in search of an elixir for diseases associated with aging. And yes, they’re in Silicon Valley. But this five-year-old biotech company led by Genentech alums is doing serious science.
- March 4, 2019
RNA EDITING – New Editing Technology Enables Body to Repair its Own RNA
An in-house novel RNA-editing technology called Axiomer® may be the treatment answer for people with rare genetic conditions. Axiomer utilizes a person’s own RNA repair mechanism. It can be used to attract this mechanism to a specific mutation in the RNA, where it alters a single nucleotide to repair the mutation and restore the broken or missing protein.
- February 28, 2019
Abpro, NJCTTQ To Develop Bispecific Antibodies in Immuno-oncology
Antibody company Abpro Corp. (Woburn, Mass.) has partnered with Nanjing Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (NJCTTQ) to use Abpro’s DiversImmune antibody discovery platform to develop multiple bispecific antibodies, including T cell engagers, to treat cancer.
- February 28, 2019
Biotech Bispecifics player Abpro teams up with China’s NJCTTQ in biobucks deal worth up to $4B
Abpro is partnering with China-based NJCTTQ to develop new bispecific antibodies using its antibody discovery platform. Under the agreement, Abpro could collect up to $4 billion, which includes $60 million in “near-term R&D funding,” as well as milestone payments and royalties.
- February 25, 2019
Orchard Achieves Good Survival with Cell Therapy for Rare Immune Deficiency
The patients had a genetic disease called adenosine deaminase–deficient severe combined immune deficiency (ADA-SCID) — also known as bubble boy syndrome. Caused by a mutation on a vital gene, the disease weakens the immune system to the point where patients are very vulnerable to day-to-day infections.
- February 21, 2019
Brainstorm Health: Stem Cells in Space, CVS Stock Plunge, Merck Setback
Israel-based Pluristem Therapeutics is hoping to do via a collaboration with NASA. The biotech, which focuses on developing stem cell therapy products, is partnering with the space agency’s Ames Research center to see whether or not its experimental PLX cell therapies could help treat and prevent various medical conditions that may arise during space missions, according to a press release.
- February 20, 2019
Stem cell therapies for space missions? Pluristem joins forces with NASA to combat space-related ailments
When in space, your inner machinery can go awry — ask astronaut Scott Kelly. The assault of protracted radiation and microgravity can culminate in progressive bone and muscle loss and vex the immune system. Placenta-based stem cells may be the answer to limiting that damage, and Israel’s Pluristem is working with NASA to develop such an antidote.
