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Nature Biotechnology’s annual survey highlights academic start ups that are, among other things, correcting misfolded or disordered proteins, creating second-generation GPCR agonists, building a new gene delivery platform and mining cancer genomes for novel targets.
Two DNA nanodevices, RatiNa and pHlicker, provide precise mapping of sodium levels in acidic organelles and potassium activity at a single-organelle resolution.
Our ranking is out, and it has a few surprises. In pole position — predictably — is Wegovy, the weight-slashing GLP-1 agonist, with AI-hallucinated proteins a close second. These are followed by drugging options for RNA. The dark horses are virus-free gene therapies and a sweet protein.
The go-ahead for Vertex’s gene editing therapy in sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia is a historic milestone, but this one-time treatment is costly.