RNA

Michael Smyth is Medical Director at Galapagos UK, responsible for launching innovative therapies in the UK to help change the course of inflammatory disease for patients. Having studied medicine at Liverpool University, one of his personal missions is lifelong learning which is reflected in his role to strive for new treatment options that lead to better […]

Two weeks ago, the Moderna mRNA vaccine became the third vaccine to be approved for emergency use in the UK. With 94% effectiveness, this vaccine is an exciting addition to the COVID-19 relief effort and brings us one step closer to the end of the pandemic. Before 2020, efforts to study mRNA vaccines weren’t at the forefront of […]

Targeting RNA is set to be the next big thing; 85% of human genome transcribed to RNA but only 3% translated into proteins, therefore making it an obvious target. With Risdiplam being approved by the FDA in August, and several major collaborations also being penned throughout 2020, including a $190 million deal between Arrakis and […]

The new CPhI report looks ahead to a post-pandemic 2021 with pharma manufacturing capacity and payment structures shifting as new sourcing strategies emerge. It explores the potential implications in 2021 of impending vaccine approvals, a new administration in the White House and a return to dual supply chain strategies. The report – which summarises expert analysis […]

None of the mutations currently documented in the SARS-CoV-2 virus appear to increase its transmissibility in humans, according to a study led by UCL researchers. The analysis of virus genomes from over 46,000 people with COVID-19 from 99 countries is published in Nature Communications. First and corresponding author Dr Lucy van Dorp (UCL Genetics Institute) […]

PerkinElmer will acquire Horizon Discovery for approximately $383 million (£296 million). The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021 subject to conditions. The investment will allow PerkinElmer to expand its portfolio of leading, automated life sciences discovery and applied genomics solutions to include gene editing and gene modulation tools. The acquisition […]

By Ibis Sanchez-Serrano and Rathnam Chaguturu Mitigation of COVID-19 pandemic requires a combination of effective epidemiological policies and the discovery/development of powerful drugs against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes this disease. This article examines the major initiatives being explored at the public policy level to contain the spread of COVID-19 […]

By Dr Jamie Freeman Base editing is a potentially transformative technology for engineering DNA in cells that has the potential to generate knockouts or correct certain errors or mutations in the DNA for applications such as cell or gene therapies. Compared with currently-available gene editing methodologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, which creates ‘cuts’ in the gene […]

By Dr Karin Bottcher High content screening (HCS) has played a significant role in infectious disease research and drug discovery to date and can be a strong tool in the age of COVID-19 and beyond. With a focus on viral diseases, this article will describe how HCS has been used by laboratories around the world […]

By Dr Ross Macdonald Cell-based therapies are being widely recognised for their potential to treat a variety of medical conditions, but they face major obstacles toward commercialisation. Traditionally, they have been difficult and expensive to make in large quantities. Biopharmaceutical companies must develop manufacturing solutions that will enable them to efficiently and reproducibly create the […]