A metabolite derived from the airway microbiome, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), could become a potential therapeutic candidate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Researchers at South China Normal University (SCNU) have shown how IAA prevents lung function decline by reducing inflammation, apoptosis and emphysema through IL-22 in the interaction between macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells.

Prognomiq Inc. nearly doubled its fundraising to date with a new $46 million financing to further develop its multiomics platform to detect cancer and other complex diseases earlier in their development. The financing led by Bruker Corp. along with new investor Catalio Capital Management brought total funds raised $101 million since the company’s founding in 2020.

Freenome Holdings Inc. has landed $290 million from Basel, Switzerland-based Roche Holding AG to advance its multiomics platform for early cancer detection. The multimillion financing deal brings San Francisco-based Freenome’s total funding to more than $1.1 billion, securing its status as a unicorn company. It comes on the heels of a series D raise in December 2021, which netted Freenome $300 million from investors including Perceptive Advisors and RA Capital Management.