Tag: genomics
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Early Trial Results Targeting Cancer Mutations Promising
20 August 2015. A clinical trial testing the efficacy of a cancer drug to treat multiple types of cancer based on a common genomic mutation, showed a melanoma drug could treat at least a few other cancers. A team from the U.S. and Europe, led by researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New…
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Flatiron, Guardant Partner on Cancer Genomics, Analytics
19 August 2015. Guardant Health, a provider of genomic analysis from liquid biopsies, and Flatiron Health, a provider of electronic records and analytics for cancer patients are collaborating on a cloud-based platform to support research leading to targeted therapies for cancer patients. The companies expect the service to be available in the first half of…
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Cancer Precision Medicine Trial Underway
18 August 2015. A new clinical trial is enrolling participants that tests multiple types of therapies on a number of different cancers based on the genomic make-up of individual patients. The intermediate-stage trial is part of the National Cancer Institute’s Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice, or NCI-MATCH program. NCI-MATCH seeks to determine if tumors with…
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Oilseed Plant Engineered for Biofuel, Chemical Feedstocks
14 August 2015. A biochemistry lab at Kansas State University genetically engineered camelina oilseed plants to make them better feedstocks for biofuels and chemicals. The team led by Kansas State professor Timothy Durrett published its findings in the August issue of the journal Plant Biotechnology Journal (paid subscription required). Durrett, with colleagues from University of…
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Genetic Test Found to Save Drug Expense, Boost Adherence
13 August 2015. A genetic test to guide the choice of drugs prescribed to patients with psychiatric disorders was found to reduce the cost of medications to those patients and improve adherence to the drugs prescribed, compared to patients who were not given the test. Results of the study evaluating the GeneSight test, made by…
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Intrexon Acquires Oxitec, Partners on Genetic Disorder
10 August 2015. Intrexon Corp., a biotechnology company specializing in synthetic biology, is acquiring Oxitec Ltd., a designer of genetically modified insects to control the spread of disease-bearing and agricultural pests for $160 million. Intrexon is also partnering with Synthetic Biologics Inc. to develop therapies for phenylketonuria, a genetic metabolic disorder. Intrexon, in Gaithersburg, Maryland…
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Pharma Licenses University Antibiotic Enhancements
5 August 2015. Technologies that remove side-effect causing toxicity from gentamicin, a powerful antibiotic drug, are being licensed from two universities by La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company. Financial terms of the agreements between the San Diego biopharmaceutical developer and University of Alabama in Birmingham and University of Indiana were not disclosed. Gentamicin is one of a…
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Robotics Harnessed to Produce Adult Stem Cells
4 August 2015. An automated system now uses robotics instead of manual lab handling to convert skin samples from individuals into stem cells that can transform into any other cells in the body, for regenerative medicine, drug development, and research. The system, developed at New York Stem Cell Foundation, or NYSCF, is described in yesterday’s…
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Crop Biotech Acquires Genomic Engineering Technology
29 July 2015. Calyxt Inc., a biotechnology company developing new varieties of food crops, is licensing technology from University of Minnesota for more efficient modification of plant genomes. Financial details of the agreement between Calyxt, in New Brighton Minnesota, and the university were not disclosed. Calyxt — until recently known as Cellectis Plant Sciences —…
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Computer Model Predicts Protein Binding to DNA, RNA
28 July 2015. Geneticists and computer scientists wrote a machine-learning model for predicting the way proteins bind to genetic material, and uncovering mutations causing disease. The team led by Brendan Frey with the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research in Toronto published its findings yesterday in the journal Nature Biotechnology (paid subscription required). Frey and other…