Touching Base

Latest Episodes:

Dried Blood COVID Dx, Cryo-Shocked Tumor Cell Delivery Vehicles, Verve Halts Trial, Iambic Starts Trial, and Diagonal Therapeutics Launches Apr 05, 2024

Show notes

Episode 16 (April 5, 2024): This week, the GEN editors discussed deep proteome profiling of home-sampled dried blood spots to assess the effects of SARS-CoV-2 in mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic, rapid liquid nitrogen treatment for converting tumor cells into carriers for gene editing tools that target cancer in vivo, Verve Therapeutics’ pausing of a clinical trial due to a serious adverse event, Iambic Therapeutics’ advancement of its first AI-designed candidate into the clinic, and the launch of Diagonal Therapeutics to find agonist antibodies for heteromeric receptor complexes.

Featuring Uduak Thomas (Senior Editor, GEN), Alex Philippidis (Senior Business Editor, GEN), Jonathan Grinstein, PhD, (Senior Editor, GEN), and moderated by Corinna Singleman, PhD, (Managing Editor, GEN and IPM)

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

The State of Omics 2024 Registration

GEN Summit

COVID-19 Infections Detected in Dried Blood Spots via At-Home Proteomic Profiling

By GEN, April 2, 2024.

CRISPR-Cas9 Targets Lung Cancer Using Cryo-Shocked Tumor Cells

By GEN, March 31, 2024.

Iambic Rhythm: AI Drug Developer Enters the Clinic, Targeting HER2 Cancers

By Alex Philipidis, GEN, April 3, 2024.

Archimedes' Box: Diagonal Therapeutics Raises $128 Million to Discover Agonist Antibodies

By Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, GEN Edge, April 3, 2024.

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AI in Drug Discovery and Precision Medicine: Nvidia GTC and Precision Med TRI-CON Mar 29, 2024

Show notes

Episode 15 (March 29, 2024): From the expansion of Nvidia's generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform for drug discovery to AI notetakers that coach doctors to be more human, the GEN editors discuss the latest news in AI from two conferences in California: Nvidia GTC (San Jose) and Precision Med TRI-CON (San Diego).

Featuring Alex Philippidis (Senior Business Editor, GEN), Fay Lin, PhD (Senior Editor, GEN Biotechnology), Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD (Senior Editor, GEN), moderated by Corinna Singleman, PhD (Managing Editor, GEN and IPM).

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

GTC 2024: Nvidia Highlights AI ‘Revolution’ in Drug Discovery, Genomics

By Alex Philippidis, GEN, March 19, 2024.

GTC 2024: Nvidia’s Quantum Expansion Runs through the Cloud

By Alex Philippidis, GEN, March 20, 2024.

Machines Bring Efficiency…and Empathy? Eric Topol Talks AI in Precision Medicine

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, March 28, 2024.

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Optimizing Nanoparticles and Messenger RNAs with Multiple “Tails” Mar 22, 2024

Show notes

Episode 14 (March 22, 2024): This week, the GEN editors cover identifying receptors and proteins for cellular uptake and intracellular processing of nanoparticles, and a new mRNA structure by adding multiple “tails” to the molecules that boosted mRNA activity levels in cells by 5 to 20 times.

Featuring Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, (Senior Editor, GEN), Uduak Thomas (Senior Editor, GEN), and moderated by Fay Lin, PhD, (Senior Editor, GEN Biotechnology)

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

Nanoparticle Uptake Screen Informs Nanomedicine Design

By GEN, March 19, 2024.

mRNA Therapeutics May Act Longer If Given Multiple Tails

By GEN, March 22, 2024

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NanoString Finds a Buyer, Slide Tags Enter in Early Access as Curio Trekker, Cellares Unveils Cell Therapy Manufacturing Platform Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

Episode 13 (March 15, 2024): This week, the GEN editors discussed business news from NanoString, Curio, and Cellares.

Featuring Alex Philippidis (Senior Business Editor, GEN), Uduak Thomas (Senior Editor, GEN), Jonathan Grinstein, PhD, (Senior Editor, GEN), and moderated by Corinna Singleman, PhD, (Managing Editor, GEN and IPM).

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

The State of Omics 2024 Registration

GEN Summit

NanoString Agrees to be Acquired by Investment Firm for $220M

By GEN, March 11, 2024.

Curio Begins Testing Commercial Spatial Barcoding Technology for Single Cell Sequencing

By GEN, March 12, 2024

Cellares Unveils Clinically-Compliant Cell Therapy Manufacturing Platform

By Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, GEN, March 12, 2024

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International Women’s Day, Nanoparticles and Delivery, Novo Nordisk’s Expansion, and Organoids for Congenital Conditions Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

Episode 12 (March 8, 2024): Featuring Julianna LeMieux (Deputy Editor-in-Chief, GEN), Uduak Thomas (Senior Editor, GEN), and Alex Philippidis (Senior Business Editor, GEN), moderated by Fay Lin (Senior Editor, GEN Biotechnology)

This week, the GEN editors cover a recent interview with the Lost Women of Science, advances in delivery with lipid nanoparticles, Novo Nordisk’s expansion in the Boston area, and how organoids derived from amniotic fluid show promise for understanding fetal diseases.

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

At Lost Women of Science, the Unsung Are Celebrated

By Julianna LeMieux, GEN, March 7, 2024.

To Mark International Women’s Day, C-Suite Women Share Leadership Insights

By GEN, March 7, 2024.

Lipid Nanoparticles Engineered to Target Lung Cells Reduce Tumor Size in Mice

By GEN, March 4, 2024.

Novel Thio-lipids Developed Capable of Reaching Eyes and Lungs in Animals

By GEN, March 5, 2024.

Novo Nordisk Expands Boston Area Research and Early Development

By Alex Philippidis, GEN, March 2, 2024.

Metal-Organic Nanoparticles Enable Better Vaccine Delivery, Stronger Immune Response

By GEN, March 6, 2024.

Organoids Originating from Cells in Amniotic Fluid Could Illiminate Congential Conditions

By GEN, March 5, 2024.

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Moderna Gets Back to Its Roots, Form Bio and Ginkgo Bioworks Team Up, and Under-the-Radar Rare Autoimmune Diseases Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Episode 11 (March 1, 2024): After being diverted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to develop and manufacture COVID-19 vaccines, Moderna gets back to advancing rare disease mRNA therapeutics; a look at rare autoimmune diseases that fly below the public radar; Form Bio announced a partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks to bring their AI out of the computer and into gene therapy production by optimizing genetic payloads.

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

Rare Disease Day: Moderna Gets Back to Its Roots

By Jonathan D. Grinstein, GEN, February 28, 2024

Taming the Immune System When Rare Diseases Strike

By Kathy Liszewski, GEN, February 27, 2024

Form Bio’s AI Ensures Gene Therapies Pass Muster, with Ginkgo’s Help

GEN, February 28, 2024

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Prime Editing for Isogenic iPSCs, PRINT, Universal In Vivo CAR T Editing, Biogen Q4 Results Disappoint; Andrea Choe Feb 23, 2024

Show notes

Episode 10 (February 23, 2024): Researchers from Francis Collins’ lab developed an efficient CRISPR prime editing protocol to generate isogenic-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines carrying heterozygous or homozygous alleles for putatively causal single nucleotide variants. An RNA-based system known as PRINT can create and introduce site-specific, safe, and stable transgenes into the human genome. Astellas Pharma and Kelonia announced a nearly $800 million research collaboration and license agreement to develop innovative universal, off-the-shelf in vivo CAR T cell therapies. Fourth-quarter earnings and revenue fell short of expectations as Biogen worked to eliminate 1,000 jobs (11.5% of its workforce), among other cost-cutting actions, and restructured its pipeline after a slow start.

Plus, an interview with Andrea Choe, founder and chief executive officer at Holoclara.

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

Generation of Human Isogenic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines with CRISPR Prime Editing

The CRISPR Journal, February 14, 2024

Addressing Scientific Misconduct: An Interview with Elisabeth Bik

By Uduak Thomas, GEN Biotechnology, February 15, 2024

StockWatch: Biogen’s Q4 Results Disappoint Analysts

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, February 18, 2024

Astellas and Kelonia Partner for $800M In Vivo CAR T Cell Therapies

By Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, GEN Edge, February 20, 2024

PRINT: Precise RNA-Mediated Insertion of Transgenes

GEN, February 21, 2024

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CRISPRed Pigs, Exscientia Fires CEO, & AGBT Roundup; Christian Henry Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

Episode 9 (February 16, 2024): Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, British animal genetics firm Genus has generated a population of pigs that are resistant to the deadly porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. Exscientia has fired its founder, CEO, and principal executive officer Andrew Hopkins, PhD, and removed him from the company’s board, after it concluded that he engaged in “inappropriate” relationships with two employees. Julianna LeMieux, PhD, Deputy Editor in Chief at GEN, provides a recap of her time at AGBT 2024.

Plus, an interview with Christian Henry, president and chief executive officer at PacBio.

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

CRISPRed Pigs: Precision Porcine Gene Editing Combats PPRS Virus Threat

By Uduak Thomas, GEN, February 14, 2024

Exscientia Fires CEO for “Inappropriate” Relationships with Two Employees

GEN, February 13, 2024

Sun, Spatial, and Sequencing: A Report from the First Day of AGBT

By Julianna LeMieux, PhD, and Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, GEN, February 7, 2024

NanoString CSO Joe Beechem Insists the Company “Not Going Anywhere”

By Julianna LeMieux, PhD, GEN, February 8, 2024

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Intellia and Ultragenyx’s Clinical Updates, Novo Holdings’ Catalent Acquisition, and NanoString Bankruptcy; Simon Barnett Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

Episode 8 (February 9th, 2024): Intellia and Ultragenyx gave updates on their clinical trials for gene therapies for inherited rare diseases. Novo Holdings, which manages the assets of the foundation that controls Novo Nordisk, agreed to buy Catalent for $16.5 billion to keep up with the high demand for its hit drugs Wegovy and Ozempic. Spatial biology tools developer NanoString Technologies filed for bankruptcy, blaming the $31 million jury award assessed against it last November in a patent infringement case filed by rival 10x Genomics. Plus, an interview with Simon Barnett, research director at Dimension.

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media, and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

Gene Therapy for Hereditary Angioedema Shows Success in Patients

· GEN, February 5, 2024

Ultragenyx’s Gene Therapy Ameliorates Pediatric Neurodegenerative Disorder

· By Jonathan Grinstein, GEN Edge, February 7, 2024

CRISPR-Repaired T Cells May Treat Fatal Inflammatory Diseases

· GEN, February 5, 2024

NanoString Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Launches Strategic Review

· By Alex Philippidis, GEN, February 5, 2024

Novo Holdings Buys Catalent for $16.5B; Sells Three Sites to Novo Nordisk for $11B

· By Alex Philippidis, GEN, February 5, 2024

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Genome Interpretation, Nanoparticles, Gene Therapy, 2024 IPOs; Nautilus Biotechnology Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Episode 7 (February 2, 2024): Simplify Genomics launches genome interpretation platform, COUR’s nanoparticles for autoimmunity, gene replacement therapy for heart condition, CG Oncology and ArriVent IPOs; an interview with Nautilus Biotechnology co-founders, Sujal Patel and Parag Mallick.

Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:

Human Longevity Spin-Out Aims to Tap into Variant Interpretation Market

By Uduak Thomas, GEN, January 31st, 2024

Light My Fire: COUR Raises $105M Series A to Advance Tolerogenic Nanoparticles for Autoimmunity

By Jonathan Grinstein, GEN Edge, January 30th, 2024

Gene Replacement Therapy Halts Fatal Arrhythmogenic Condition in Mice

GEN, January 30th, 2024

StockWatch: IPO Revival? CG Oncology, ArriVent Raise a Combined $555M

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, January 28th, 2024

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