Reports + Research
Synthetic Biology Company Synthorx Raises $63 Million
Synthorx has raised $63 million in a series C financing round led by OrbiMed and joined by new investors, Medicxi and Osage University Partners, and existing investors, Avalon Ventures, RA Capital Management, and Correlation Ventures. Synthorx was founded on a breakthrough in synthetic biology that expands the genetic alphabet from Dr. Floyd Romesberg’s lab at The Scripps Research Institute. This breakthrough allows the company to make improved protein therapeutics, the first of which will be an improved IL-2, to be used in combination with other immuno-oncology drugs, such as CAR-T therapies and checkpoint inhibitors.
Salk Institute Scientists Develop Gene Edited Cell Therapy for Hemophilia
Scientists at the Salk Institute combined CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing with stem cell technology to create a cell therapy for the blood clotting disorder hemophilia B. Preclinical experiments in hemophiliac mice showed that the injected cells remained viable and functional for nearly a year after one treatment. The scientists are also exploring the use of the patient’s own cells using induced pluripotent stem cell technology.
Scripps Translational Science Institute Receives $34 Million NIH Award
The Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) has received more than $34 million in renewed funding from the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). The funding will be used to apply genomic and digital technologies, coupled with bioinformatics tools to better understand each individual and ultimately render more effective care. In addition, the renewal features a drug discovery collaboration between STSI and another of TSRI’s affiliated institutes, the California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), which focuses on the translation of basic research to new medicines that address unmet medical needs.
How Innovus Markets 28 Drugs
Innovus Pharma’s CEO freely admits to the San Diego Reader that the 15 employees are not enough to manage the marketing of 28 products, with up to 10 new ones coming this year. A dozen of the products are sold around the world, and most of the products are available over-the-counter. The company’s website currently lists four open positions.
Read + Listen
POW! Podcast of the Week
It’s not a podcast, but you can listen to the interview with Mark Bowles, ecoATM founder and success story. He talks with KPBS on “The Next Big Idea,” which just happens to be in biotech.
Events
It’s Happening Here
May 15
From Scientist to Entrepreneur: Reflections on San Diego as a Biotech Hub is taking place the evening of May 15 at the Rady School of Management
May 16
Looking for a job in San Diego life sciences? Think about addending Link to San Diego: Life Sciences, sponsored by San Diego Regional EDC, taking place the evening of May 16 at MiraCosta College in Oceanside.
May 17
Ignite @ UC San Diego: Pioneers in Innovation is an event for STEAM students and is taking place the evening of May 17 at Price Center Forum.
Client disclosure: Synthorx
Tags: Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Blogs, Medical Research, Medicine, Salk Institute, Scripps
