In one of the biggest startups ever, Xaira Therapeutics has launched with more than $1 billion from investors. The financing, according to BioWorld records, is roughly equivalent to Roivant Sciences Inc.’s $1.1 billion raise in August 2017 and Galderma Inc.’s $1 billion private placement in June 2023. Xaira said it plans to leverage advanced machine learning research and expansive data generation to power new models for developing new therapeutics.

Wave Life Sciences Ltd. has reported that GSK plc has selected its first two programs to advance to development candidates following achievement of target validation as part of the companies’ ongoing collaboration.

A computational program based on single-cell transcriptome sequencing has identified six types of senescent cells, enabling the design of more precise senolytic drugs. The success of these compounds depends on their ability to recognize senescent cellular patterns and avoid proliferating cells, differentiated cells, or quiescent (temporarily resting) cells.

Researchers from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have created a new orthotopic preclinical model of glioblastoma (GBM), designed to recapitulate patient response to standard-of-care and targeted treatments.

Circio Holding ASA has established technical in vivo proof of concept for its proprietary Circvec circular RNA platform by demonstrating statistically significant improvement in durability over mRNA-based expression.

Researchers from the U.K.’s University of Birmingham have filed for protection of an implantable device for targeted drug delivery in patients who have undergone surgery, particularly surgery to remove one or more tumors.

Eli Lilly and Co. continues its development of an oral drug delivery device that can successfully deliver a drug that would otherwise be ineffective when taken orally.

Vernalis (R&D) Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitgen Inc., and C4x Discovery Holdings plc have entered into a collaboration to identify modulators of an undisclosed, hard-to-drug, high-value target involved in inflammatory disease.

Odyssey Therapeutics Inc. has entered into a strategic research collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a Johnson & Johnson company, to jointly discover and optimize small-molecule medicines against select therapeutic targets.