November 14, 2018 Comments (0) Views: 6634 Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Blog

Biotech Briefing: Salk Institute Awarded $19.2 Million Grant for Alzheimer’s Research

Plus: Sea World and Illumina Collaborate on Dolphin Genome Sequence

Reports + Research

Salk Gets $19.2 Million Grant for New Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease

The eight-year, $19.2 million grant from AHA-Allen Initiative in Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment will be used by a diverse research team to investigate underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and aging-related cognitive diseases with the goal to find new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. According to Xconomy, the multidisciplinary team will “analyze interactions between proteins, genes, metabolism, inflammation, and epigenetics” to develop new methods to study aging and diseased neurons and other brain cells.

Sea World San Diego and Illumina Collaborate to Sequence Dolphin Genome

After four years, a new, higher-quality genome has been sequenced and assembled for the bottlenose dolphin, one of the most widely studied marine mammals. CBS8 reports that this genome will be used for species conservation research as well as “to understand human health based upon the genetics in common between dolphins and humans.”

Adamis Unveils Smaller, Cheaper EpiPen Rival

When the price of a two-pack of Mylan’s EpiPen reached $600, people were rightfully upset as they rely on this emergency medication to control life-threatening allergic reactions. Mylan was able to charge a premium because no other competitive product existed. Now local San Diego company Adamis will soon be offering a competitive alternative called Symjepi. Symjepi provides a manual injection of epinephrine, the drug that counteracts the anaphylactic reaction. The Symjepi injector is smaller and is expected to be cheaper than the rival EpiPen.

Synthorx Files $100 Million IPO

Building on the company’s $63 million financing in May, Synthorx has filed with the SEC to raise a $100 million IPO on the Nasdaq with symbol THOR. Synthorx’s lead cancer drug candidate is designed as a more efficacious variant of interleukin-2 (IL-2) made with the company’s expanded genetic alphabet platform. Nektar Therapeutics also has a modified IL-2, but results in clinical trials have been mixed, possibly due to non-specific modifications. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the company plans to file an IND application for THOR-707 in Q2 2019.

Read + Listen

POW! Podcast of the Week

Nature Podcast delves into how to build a synthetic cell.

Events

It’s Happening Here

November 15
BIOCOM’s annual Celebration of Life dinner will take place the evening of November 15

WIB-Southern California Presents: Cannabinoid Research and Orphan Diseases on the evening of November 15

December 1-4
The 60th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition, known as the top conference for malignant and non-malignant hematology, will take place December 1-4 at the San Diego Convention Center.