With $50 million in hand from Flagship Pioneering, Abiologics Inc. is pairing generative artificial intelligence with high-throughput chemical protein synthesis to attack oncology and immunology indications with Synteins, synthetic proteins that represent a new class of programmable medicines. Avak Kahvejian, co-founder and CEO of Abiologics and general partner at Flagship, told BioWorld that Abiologics stands “at the precipice of a completely new modality.”
Age-related inflammation, also known as inflammaging, refers to low-grade chronic damage caused by increased inflammation linked to immunosenescence with impact at molecular, cellular and tissue levels. Aging amplifies the inflammatory response and increases neutrophil, monocyte and leukocyte trafficking in models of inflammation.
The 2024 meeting of the International AIDS Society (IAS), which is being held in Munich this week, began with the announcement of another curative bone marrow transplant. The new case brings the total number of patients cured of HIV via a bone marrow transplant up to 7 since “Berlin patient” Timothy Ray Brown became the first such person in 2007.
Artiva Biotherapeutics Inc. raised $167 million through an upsized IPO, with funds aimed at the development of its lead AlloNK program for systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune indications. Just a few days ago, the San Diego based company had aimed to sell 8.4 million shares between $14 and $16 each, but it raised the number of shares offered to 13.92 million and lowered the price to $12 each. The upsize brings Artiva’s shares outstanding following the IPO to about 22.8 million, giving the company a market cap of $273.6 million based on the IPO price.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by bone and cartilage destruction, where immune cells such as macrophages, among others, play a crucial role in RA pathogenesis.
Researchers from Xuzhou Medical University and affiliated organizations have presented data from a study that assessed the protective effect of the natural flavonoid compound karanjin against sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.
Researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston and affiliated organizations have reported the discovery and preclinical characterization of a novel TLR7/8 agonist adjuvant for vaccination, PVP-037.
Researchers in Japan have discovered that a phage-derived enzyme called endolysin, which targets highly resistant biofilm-forming bacteria, could help restore the gut microbiota to mitigate acute graft-vs.-host disease. Acute graft-vs.-host disease (aGVHD) is a common complication for patients who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of the microbiome in aGVHD, with dysbiosis contributing to its pathogenesis.
Immuneage Bio has announced its launch, with $2 million in funding and a focus on rejuvenating the immune system by targeting hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) residing in the bone marrow.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has received clearance from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to conduct clinical trials in China with SYS-6016, the company’s mRNA respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.