Reports + Research
AGTC and Otonomy Collaborate to Develop Gene Therapy for Congenital Hearing Loss
Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC) and Otonomy formed a collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy that could potentially restore hearing in patients with hearing loss caused by a mutation in the gap junction protein beta 2 gene (GJB2). Patients with mutations in GJB2 account for 30% of all genetic hearing loss cases and can have severe-to-profound hearing loss in both ears that is often identified when they are newborns.
ResMed Named Dealmaker of the Year by Medtech Insight
ResMed’s acquisition of five companies (HEALTHCAREfirst, MatricCare, Apacheta, Propeller Health, and HB Healthcare) propelled the company to be recognized as Medtech Insight’s Dealmaker of the Year. The technologies from these companies range from a digital sensor to help track and improve inhaler use to a software solution and service for home health and hospice agencies. These acquisitions were “to advance its (ResMed’s) mission of helping keep millions of people healthy and out of the hospital.” ResMed CEO Mick Farrell said, “This past year we have helped over 100 million people sleep, breathe, and live higher-quality lives in out-of-hospital healthcare.”
Molecular Assemblies Raises $12.2 Million For Enzymatic DNA Synthesis
The traditional chemical DNA synthesis method has been used for decades to create DNA, but it is limited to making short sequences that need to be further processed for longer sequences. It also is inherently error prone and requires hazardous chemicals. With $12.2 million, Molecular Assemblies hopes to advance enzymatic DNA synthesis, which is designed to make long, high-quality DNA with non-toxic aqueous reagents, for life science and data storage applications. Molecular Assemblies President and CEO Michael Kamdar told Xconomy, “the funding round will allow the company to expand its 16-person team to about 25 people, and prep a product for commercialization within the next two years.”
Read + Listen
Editorial: 27 Tips to Create a Boundless Biotech
Zach Hornby, CEO of Boundless Bio, which recently launched with $46 million, lays out 27 tips to construct “a vibrant, homegrown biotechnology organism.” One that I am going to implement today is #23.
POW: Podcast of the Week
The Illumina Genomics Podcast is at more than 50 episodes and the topics range from genomics and tiger conservation in Nepal to unravelling the mystery of autoimmunity.
It’s Happening Here
October 16:
Bio in the Brewery with California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) will take place Wednesday, October 16 from 5 pm to 7 pm at New English Brewing in Sorrento Valley.
Tags: Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Medical Research, Venture Funding
