Reports + Research
UC San Diego Reports First Results from Largest Microbiome Study
As part of the American Gut Project, researchers from UC San Diego and University of Chicago collected data and microbiomes from the public in a “citizen science” effort. The first results from the project highlight the importance of a diverse, plant-based diet and revealed insights to the connection between gut bacteria and mental health.
Illumina Acquires Edico Genomics
Xconomy reports that Illumina obtained Edico for $100 million. Edico speeds genome sequence processing by aligning the short sequence reads with a reference genome. Edico’s technology has been used locally at Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine to expedite diagnosis of childhood genetic diseases.
Ansun BioPharma Raises $85 Million Series A for Broad Spectrum Anti-Virals
The financing was led by Sinopharm Healthcare Fund and Lilly Asia Ventures. Ansun BioPharma is developing broad spectrum anti-viral biologic therapeutics to combat severe viral respiratory tract infections. Proceeds will be used to fund a Phase 3 trial to treat hospitalized, immunocompromised subjects infected with parainfluenza virus.
La Jolla Pharmaceuticals Secures $125 Million Royalty Financing for Drug Launch
La Jolla Pharmaceuticals’ agreement with HealthCare Royalty Partners will give the company $125 million in exchange for tiered royalty payments on worldwide net sales of Giapreza, a new drug for dangerously low blood pressure. The drug was approved by the FDA late last year. La Jolla Pharmaceuticals will use the proceeds to launch Giapreza and further develop other pipeline programs.
San Diego EDC Launches Free Online Toolkit for Employee Recruitment
To help company’s recruit talent to move San Diego, the online toolkit is available upon request. The EDC recently launched a campaign, called “San Diego: Life Changing.”
Editorial: More Female Leaders Will Drive Innovation
In an editorial for STAT News, Melissa Burstein, co-founder and executive vice president of Ra Medical Systems, writes about how the gender imbalance is stifling innovation and leading to suboptimal healthcare products and services in the biotech and medtech industries.
Read + Listen
POW! Podcast of the Week
Check out the KPBS podcast Rad Scientist, which this season talks with San Diego experts in sperm, plants, stars, and nuclear physics.
Events
It’s Happening Here
May 19
The American Thoracic Society is holding the Respiratory Innovation Summit on May 19 in downtown San Diego.
May 23
Women in Bio, Southern California presents “iTalk: Women Leaders Impacting Life Sciences” on the evening of May 23.
May 30
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning in Drug Discovery: Moving Beyond the Hype is taking place Wednesday, May 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Tags: Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Blogs, Illumina, Innovation, Medical Research, UCSD
