The biotech bi-weekly: preserving biodiversity, engineering phage therapies, manufacturing difficult-to-express molecules and revolutionizing viticulture

We’ve been bouncing between the lab, the field and the clinic over the last two weeks; here are the latest biotech industry updates! A grant has been awarded to advance research on stem-cell reprogramming in wild animal species, a phage-engineering technology demonstrated toxin-neutralizing effects in a colorectal cancer model, a cell line platform has been launched to help develop difficult-to-express molecules, and a collaboration is utilizing genomics to breed better varieties of grapevines and hops that are resistant to pests and diseases. Plus, so much more! Products Expanding an iPSC-derived portfolio for hematopoietic research Trailhead Biosystems (OH, USA), a biotechnology company advancing scalable human cell models derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), announced the commercial release of TrailBio® Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells. These progenitor cells are derived from a single, well-characterized iPSC line using Trailhead's proprietary high-dimensional design-of-experiments (HD-DoE®) platform, providing researchers with a consistent, scalable and ready-to-use tool for hematopoietic research. Read the full release here >>> Launching a cell line platform for developing innovative molecules WuXi Biologics (China), a global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), has announced the launch of WuXia293Stable, a new platform designed for the development and manufacturing of innovative, difficult-to-express molecules that are stably expressed in HEK293 cells. The platform, which demonstrates high titers, robust stability and high quality, significantly enhances the developability and manufacturability of these molecules, offering a highly efficient CMC solution for biologics that are sophisticated in both structure and function. Read the full release here >>> Providing super-resolution imaging options for neuroscience research Biotium (CA, USA), a life science reagent producer, will support the advancement of super-resolution imaging with the release of their MiniMab™ single-domain antibody (SdAb) series. The MiniMab™ SdAb series, like Nanobodies®, are high-affinity recombinant alpaca VHHs against Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1) and Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 1 (VGLUT1). Read the full release here >>> The protein navigating melanoma metastasis A protein critical to melanoma cell metastasis has been discovered, offering strategies to impede cancer spread throughout the body. Partnerships & acquisitions 10x Genomics to acquire Scale Biosciences 10x Genomics (CA, USA), a single-cell and spatial biology company, has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Scale Biosciences (CA, USA), a company specializing in innovative and scalable single-cell analysis. The acquisition provides 10x with key inventions and technologies that will advance innovation across the company's Chromium platform. It also helps broaden access to single cell analysis by making it more powerful, affordable and accessible to researchers worldwide. Read the full release here >>> A collaboration to improve breast cancer patient outcomes SOPHiA GENETICS (Rolle, Switzerland), a cloud-native healthcare technology company and a leader in data-driven medicine, has announced an expansion of its partnership with AstraZeneca (Cambridge, UK). This new, multi-year collaboration will leverage SOPHiA GENETICS's multimodal AI Factories to generate evidence on the efficacy, value, and real-world impact of therapies for certain types of breast cancer. It will also support the potential development of a bespoke AI-powered predictive model aimed at optimizing outcomes for individuals undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Read the full release here >>> Revolutionizing New Zealand viticulture with genomics MGI Tech Co. (Shenzhen, China), a life science tools and technologies developer, has joined efforts with Lincoln University (Canterbury, New Zealand) to address sustainable challenges in viticulture through advanced sequencing technology. The initiative aims to utilize genomics to breed better varieties of grapevines and hops that are tolerant and resistant to pests and diseases, thus reducing fungicide use across New Zealand's US$2.1 billion wine industry. Read the full release here >>> Rapid mass spectrometry could detect harmful algae before they pose a threat Native mass spectrometry that targets the blue component of blue-green algae has been found to be more sensitive to potentially toxic blooms than current techniques. People, publications and initiatives Women In Bio announces new Boardroom Ready cohort Women In Bio (WIB; GA, USA), in collaboration with sponsor, Latham & Watkins, celebrates the latest cohort for the Boardroom Ready program, which supports access to networking, community, and collaboration for women in biotech and life sciences. Latham's sponsorship has enabled the expansion of programming for the Executive Women In Bio program (EWIB), the life science community's pre-eminent resource for executive women. EWIB is committed to empowering leaders at the highest levels by hosting robust professional development programs, creating targeted networking events, and fostering exclusive communities that amplify and support each other. Women In Bio membership and events are open to all. Read the full release here >>> A new boost for CryoZoo, Barcelona’s animal cell biobank The Barcelona CryoZoo (Spain) has received a grant from the international organization Revive & Restore (CA, USA) to advance research on stem-cell reprogramming in wild animal species. The Barcelona CryoZoo is a one-of-a-kind project aiming to safeguard and study biological material from a wide range of animal species – especially those at risk of extinction – in order to preserve and better understand the planet’s biodiversity. Read the full release here >>> iNtRON Bio demonstrates toxin-neutralizing effect of phage-engineering technology in colorectal cancer model The bacteriophage technology development company, iNtRON Bio (WA, USA), proposes a new possibility for microbiome-based anticancer drugs in treating colorectal cancer – considered a hard-to-treat disease – by applying our phage engineering technology called IMPA™. iNtRON Bio has been developing PHAGERIAⓇ, an immunotherapeutic targeting gut bacteria, and through the IMPA™ phage-engineering technology developed in-house, iNtRON Bio has secured a new drug candidate payloaded with a substance that effectively eliminates colibactin, a major causative agent of colorectal cancer and have filed a related US patent application. Read the full release here >>> The post The biotech bi-weekly: preserving biodiversity, engineering phage therapies, manufacturing difficult-to-express molecules and revolutionizing viticulture appeared first on BioTechniques.