“Big genomics” specialist Replay Holdings LLC has unveiled the first of four satellite genomic medicine companies it is forming to apply its high capacity herpes simplex viral (HSV) vector to next generation gene therapies. Eudora Therapeutics will specialize in inherited retinal eye diseases. It arrives on the scene with programs targeted at retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease and Usher syndrome type 1B.
The simultaneous mapping of DNA mutations and epigenetic changes as colorectal cancer evolves has for the first time tracked their relative contributions and shown epigenetic control of gene transcription is far more important than somatic mutations in enabling tumors to adapt and develop a survival advantage over other cells. In an analysis of 1,373 samples from 30 colorectal cancer samples, epigenetic changes were highly common in cells that had become cancerous and occurred around known cancer driver mutations. These epigenetic alterations were heritable, were passed on at each cell division, and in addition to a direct contribution to the evolution of tumors also influenced how cancer cells accumulated DNA mutations. The modifications to gene regulation conferred survival advantages that meant cancer cells grew faster than normal counterparts. While it is not news that epigenetic changes are involved in tumor development, previously it was not clear what the relative contribution was, and that their effect could be independent of DNA mutations.
Vicore Pharma Holding AB and its partner Alex Therapeutics AB reported positive results from the U.S. pilot phase of a study assessing the effects of digitally delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating anxiety in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The four-week study in 10 patients found the digital therapeutic, called Almee, functioned properly, was safe and the user experience was favorable.
Newco Vacv Biotherapeutics Ltd. has raised $3 million in a seed round to complete preclinical development of next-generation oncolytic viruses that are engineered to overcome previous shortcomings of this modality.
The U.K. is launching a £230 million (US$260 million) project to build a database linking the health records and genetic information of 5 million people, which will be open for discovery research and as a source of clinical trial recruits for academics and companies.
Enhanc3D Genomics Ltd. has raised £10 million (US$11.3 million) in a series A round to advance development of its Genlink3D technology for directly linking gene regulators in non-coding DNA to their target protein coding genes.
The U.K. is launching a £230 million (US$260 million) project to build a database linking the health records and genetic information of 5 million people, which will be open for discovery research and as a source of clinical trial recruits for academics and companies.
The U.K. is launching a coordinated national program of research into the unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox that has spread across Europe and North America – regions where the disease is not endemic – over the past six months. Taking a lead from the SARS-CoV-2 playbook, there will be work to sequence the viral genome and to study how it is evolving, linking this to changes in the transmission and pathology of the virus.
Deepull Diagnostics SL has raised €13 million (US$12.71 million) in a series B round to advance development of a PCR-based rapid diagnostic for the early diagnosis of sepsis and acute infections.
The U.K. is launching a coordinated national program of research into the unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox that has spread across Europe and North America – regions where the disease is not endemic – over the past six months. Taking a lead from the SARS-CoV-2 playbook, there will be work to sequence the viral genome and to study how it is evolving, linking this to changes in the transmission and pathology of the virus.
