Touching Base

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 TailsBy GEN, March 22, 2024  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 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 $220MBy GEN, March 11, 2024. Curio Begins Testing Commercial Spatial Barcoding Technology for Single Cell SequencingBy GEN, March 12, 2024 Cellares Unveils Clinically-Compliant Cell Therapy Manufacturing PlatformBy Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, GEN, March 12, 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 CelebratedBy Julianna LeMieux, GEN, March 7, 2024. To Mark International Women’s Day, C-Suite Women Share Leadership InsightsBy GEN, March 7, 2024. Lipid Nanoparticles Engineered to Target Lung Cells Reduce Tumor Size in MiceBy GEN, March 4, 2024. Novel Thio-lipids Developed Capable of Reaching Eyes and Lungs in AnimalsBy GEN, March 5, 2024. Novo Nordisk Expands Boston Area Research and Early DevelopmentBy Alex Philippidis, GEN, March 2, 2024.Metal-Organic Nanoparticles Enable Better Vaccine Delivery, Stronger Immune ResponseBy GEN, March 6, 2024. Organoids Originating from Cells in Amniotic Fluid Could Illiminate Congential ConditionsBy GEN, March 5, 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 RootsBy Jonathan D. Grinstein, GEN, February 28, 2024 Taming the Immune System When Rare Diseases StrikeBy Kathy Liszewski, GEN, February 27, 2024 Form Bio’s AI Ensures Gene Therapies Pass Muster, with Ginkgo’s HelpGEN, February 28, 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 EditingThe CRISPR Journal, February 14, 2024 Addressing Scientific Misconduct: An Interview with Elisabeth BikBy Uduak Thomas, GEN Biotechnology, February 15, 2024 StockWatch: Biogen’s Q4 Results Disappoint AnalystsBy Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, February 18, 2024 Astellas and Kelonia Partner for $800M In Vivo CAR T Cell TherapiesBy Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, GEN Edge, February 20, 2024 PRINT: Precise RNA-Mediated Insertion of TransgenesGEN, February 21, 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ThreatBy Uduak Thomas, GEN, February 14, 2024 Exscientia Fires CEO for “Inappropriate” Relationships with Two EmployeesGEN, February 13, 2024 Sun, Spatial, and Sequencing: A Report from the First Day of AGBTBy Julianna LeMieux, PhD, and Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, GEN, February 7, 2024NanoString CSO Joe Beechem Insists the Company “Not Going Anywhere”By Julianna LeMieux, PhD, GEN, February 8, 2024  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gene therapy updates for rare diseases by Intellia and Ultragenyx, Novo Holdings' acquisition of Catalent for $16.5B to keep up with drug demand, NanoString bankruptcy after patent infringement lawsuit, and an interview with Simon Barnett on advancing biotech's digitization and the intersection of machine learning and biophysics in structural biology.

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 MarketBy Uduak Thomas, GEN, January 31st, 2024Light My Fire: COUR Raises $105M Series A to Advance Tolerogenic Nanoparticles for AutoimmunityBy Jonathan Grinstein, GEN Edge, January 30th, 2024 Gene Replacement Therapy Halts Fatal Arrhythmogenic Condition in MiceGEN, January 30th, 2024 StockWatch: IPO Revival? CG Oncology, ArriVent Raise a Combined $555MBy Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, January 28th, 2024       Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 6 (January 26, 2024): 11-year-old regains hearing after gene therapy; Kyverna uses blood draw instead of apheresis for CAR T manufacturing; DNA production technology with GSK and Elegen, StockWatch with Nvidia and Recursion; an interview with renowned cardiologist, Eric Topol, MD Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:  Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in 11-Year-Old After Just One MonthGEN, January 24th, 2024 GSK and Elegen Team Up to Develop DNA-Based Medicines and VaccinesBy Jonathan Grinstein, GEN Edge, January 24th, 2024Blood Brothers: Kyverna Reinvents Autologous CAR T Manufacturing from Blood Draw By Jonathan Grinstein, GEN Edge, January 24th, 2024 StockWatch: Nvidia Jumps 24% on Recursion, Amgen AI Partnerships By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, January 21st, 2024 Five Deaf Children Have Hearing Restored by AAV-Based Gene TherapyGEN, January 25th, 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 5 (January 19, 2024); RNAs to address Alzheimer’s disease; monkey cloned via somatic cell nuclear transfer; Cytokinetics stock roller coaster; an interview with founder and CEO of 1910 Genetics, Jen Nwankwo, PhD.Listed below are key references to the GEN stories, media and other items discussed in this episode of Touching Base:· Alzheimer’s Disease Linked to Toxic Short RNAsGEN, January 18, 2024.·   Rhesus Monkey Cloned via Somatic Cell Nuclear TransferGEN, January 16, 2024.·   StockWatch: M&A Talk Fuels Cytokinetics Stock Roller CoasterBy Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, January 16th, 2024.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.