New single-step genome editing techniques that enable the insertion, inversion or deletion of long DNA sequences at specified genome positions have been demonstrated in bacteria. The advance opens the door to the development of programmable methods for rearranging DNA, using recombinase enzymes guided by RNA. The two different approaches to using insertion sequences (IS) – some of the simplest and most compact mobile genetic elements – are described in two papers published in Nature and Nature Communications.

Fibrobiologics Inc. has announced the development of a novel artificial thymus organoid that can restore immune function in a severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse model.

A new approach against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has combined immunotherapy with molecularly targeted therapy to activate the immune response and inhibit oncogenic pathways, which prevented tumor progression and eliminated cancer cells. Brigham and Women’s Hospital scientists have developed nanoparticles loaded with antibody conjugates that could deliver large amounts of treatment to the tumor tissue. This new strategy could improve the results of conventional immunotherapy in these patients and reduce toxicity of existing treatments.

Oblique Therapeutics AB has entered into an agreement with the KTH Royal Institute of Technology to utilize KTH’s supercomputer resources for analyzing protein structures.

Italfarmaco SpA and Iktos SA have entered into a collaboration to develop next-generation histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors for a variety of non-oncological diseases, including diseases affecting the central nervous system.

Alivexis Inc. has entered into a research collaboration agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. to identify small-molecule compounds for a new drug target selected by Astellas.

In what represents its first patenting Demon Curonix BV is seeking protection for a system for providing microvesicles to be used in combination with focused ultrasound for drug delivery to the brain.

A collaborating team of researchers from Northwestern University and Rice University continue to build intellectual property for an implanted biohybrid (bioelectronic/engineered cell) device that has been likened to an implantable pharmacy on a chip that never runs out.

The world’s largest and most comprehensive repository of somatic mutations found in cancer is celebrating its 20th birthday by adding 307,000 new genomic variants to its 24 million-strong database. With somatic mutations being the main drivers of tumor development, the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) is firmly established as a source of potential drug targets, for the discovery and validation of biomarkers associated with prognosis, treatment response and patient outcomes, and as a resource for characterizing the mutational landscape of individual tumors.