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Aging is malleable, at least in animal models. But to prove the efficacy of interventions aimed at extending healthspan and to test life-extending approaches in humans, longevity researchers first need to agree on the best measuring tools. With the power of ’omics, AI and large biobanks, improved biomarkers may be forthcoming. Companies and academic researchers are rallying forces, but how far have they gotten?
A new generation of companies is pursuing insect larvae as a protein source for animal feed, fertilizer, biofuels and even as ingredients for burgers and shakes. The insects promise to deliver cheaper and more sustainable alternatives to soy and fishmeal, with the added benefit that larvae can be raised on organic waste.
The US Supreme Court decision in the Amgen vs. Sanofi patent dispute over PCSK9 inhibitors puts a decisive end to broad patents claiming rights over all molecules directed at a given target.
Biogen’s drug Qalsody is the first drug to gain approval for a genetically defined form of ALS, but there is more to come as developers zoom in on a wide range of disease targets.
Gene therapies have made spectacular progress in delivering new cures for previously intractable disease, but they remain the world’s most expensive treatments. Now companies are replacing the virus in gene therapies with new delivery technologies that promise not only to overcome the limitations of viral vectors but to slash production costs too.
The GLP-1 agonist Wegovy has re-energized the hunt for obesity treatments. Alternatives — ranging from bitter taste compounds to lean muscle boosters and bacteria — are already in the clinic.
Biotech companies are racing to test bacteriophages — some as found in nature, others armed with CRISPR–Cas — to destroy drug-resistant bacteria selectively while keeping the microbiome intact.
Promising gene therapy, gene editing and antisense oligonucleotide approaches herald a new era of cardiac medicine for patients with certain so-far intractable heart conditions.
RNA editing is rapidly gaining prominence as its transient and reversible changes promise a safer and more flexible option to reverse disease-causing mutations than DNA editing.
Protein engineers are drawing on rapidly evolving machine learning tools, deep reservoirs of data, and the structure-predicting firepower of AlphaFold2 to pursue more sophisticated de novo protein designs.
As farmers around the globe embrace microorganisms to treat and protect crops, ag giants sort out how they will participate in the industry, coming to different conclusions.
Natural killer cells are attractive as cancer immunotherapy agents because — unlike T cells — they evade immune rejection and do not induce cytokine storms. But capturing their activity in effective therapies remains a work in progress.
New sequencers are poised to disrupt Illumina’s dominance. Users will need to navigate the opportunities and challenges on offer in an increasingly crowded market.
