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Groundbreaking for the IGI – Bakar Labs Building Marks the Start of New Era of Genomic Innovation at UC Berkeley

Groundbreaking on IGI-Bakar Labs building heralds innovation and collaboration between two of UC Berkeley's premier champions of research. Read post
Seven people in a group sitting together

Azalea Therapeutics Launches with $82 Million Financing to Redefine Precision Genomic Medicines by Engineering Cells Directly Inside Each Patient

“At Azalea, we are aiming to make cell therapy as simple as dosing a medicine,” said Jenny Hamilton, Ph.D., co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Azalea Therapeutics. “By combining cell-selective delivery with site-specific genome integration, we can create potent and durable in vivo CAR-T and other cell-based therapies inside the body and extend the reach of genome engineering to many more patients.” Read post
Male scientist in lab with PPE

Nosis Bio Announces Development Candidate Nomination for Lead Fibrosis Program

Nosis Bio, an AI-native biotechnology company pioneering cell-targeted gene silencing, today announced the nomination of its first development candidate (DC) for fibrosis. The milestone marks the company’s transition into IND-enabling studies and the advancement of its proprietary targeted delivery and drug design platform into clinical-stage development. Fibrosis affects over 100 million people globally and remains a high-burden, underserved condition that causes progressive scarring of critical organs such as the lungs, kidneys, and heart. Despite its prevalence, the field has seen limited progress, with existing treatments offering only modest efficacy and being constrained by systemic toxicity and poor tolerability. Read post
plant science

Verinomics and Pinnacle Seed Form Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Innovation in Leafy Greens

Verinomics, a leader in agricultural genomics and gene editing, and Pinnacle Seed, a premier supplier of elite leafy green varieties, today announced a strategic partnership to combine top-tier genetics with cutting-edge breeding and gene editing technologies. The 5-year collaboration aims to develop next-generation leafy green varieties with enhanced disease resistance, improved yield, and superior agronomic profiles to address critical challenges facing growers and the entire supply chain. Read post
ray therapeutics

Ray Therapeutics Awarded $8M CIRM Grant to Advance RTx-015 Gene Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa

“Retinitis pigmentosa remains a devastating condition with no approved treatments for the vast majority of patients,” said Paul Bresge, CEO & Co-Founder, Ray Therapeutics. “We are deeply grateful to CIRM for their belief in our science and their continued support of our programs. We are honored to partner with CIRM as we advance therapies that have the potential to transform the lives of patients.” Read post
gigacrop

GigaCrop to Advance Photosynthesis for Boosted Crop Productivity

Biotech pioneer GigaCrop today announced it raised a $4.5 million pre-seed round of funding led by Playground Global. Using machine learning to improve enzymes, the company aims to boost photosynthesis, crop yields, and farmers’ profits. GigaCrop’s technology will help plants use sunlight more efficiently, enabling agricultural producers of food, fiber, and fuel to grow more with the same water, fertilizer, and acreage. Read post
Matthew "Oki" O'Connor

Cyclarity Therapeutics Closes Tranche 1 of Series A Funding Round

Cyclarity will use funds from this round to commence clinical trials later this month for the development of UDP-003, a novel therapeutic designed to reduce atherosclerotic plaque accumulation by targeting its root cause, the accumulation of toxic oxidized cholesterol in cells and tissues. Read post
Three people standing in front of a Cyclarity banner

Cyclarity Therapeutics Secures Approval for First-in-Human Clinical Trial

Cyclarity Therapeutics is pleased to announce regulatory approval to begin its first-in-human clinical trial. The trial will be conducted at CMAX, one of Australia’s leading clinical research centers, in partnership with Monash University. This effort will be led by Dr. Stephen Nicholls of the Victorian Heart Institute (VHI), a distinguished leader in cardiovascular medicine. In addition to a traditional SAD/MAD phase 1 trial, the authorization includes an allowance to enroll 12 patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) to assess the safety of UDP-003 in individuals with plaque buildup, as well as to explore anecdotal evidence of efficacy. This represents a critical first step in evaluating the potential impact of our therapy in a population with high unmet need. Read post
ariz logo

ARIZ and NATA Announce Collaboration to develop multiple targeted nucleic acid therapies for cancer treatment

ARIZ and NATA have announced an exciting new partnership aimed at advancing cancer treatment through the development of multiple targeted nucleic acid therapies. By combining ARIZ’s cutting-edge research and NATA’s expertise in molecular medicine, the collaboration seeks to pave the way for innovative therapies that could revolutionize the way cancer is treated. This strategic alliance marks a significant step forward in the fight against cancer, offering new hope for more personalized and effective treatments. Read post
The HOPO Therapeutics team in front of the Bakar Labs core facility

HOPO Therapeutics Awarded Up to $226 Million from BARDA for Advanced Development of its Oral Decorporation Agent for Heavy Metal Toxicity

The funds will be used to advance development of the drug candidate HOPO-101 through registrational studies as a medical countermeasure against radiological threats, including planned submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The initial award of approximately $9.4 million will fund toxicology and pharmacology studies, manufacturing activities, and nonclinical research in other types of heavy metal poisoning, with approximately $216 million in additional funding available for later-stage development upon agreement between BARDA and HOPO. Read post
RVB cells delivering protein therapy continuously on skin

NIH Awards ResVita Bio a $2M Phase II SBIR Grant for Continuous Protein Therapy for Netherton Syndrome

ResVita Bio is pioneering continuous protein therapy, delivered through a genetically engineered probiotic platform that temporarily colonizes the skin and continuously releases therapeutic proteins, such as LEKTI, to inhibit protease activity. This continuous delivery method ensures high levels of the therapeutic agent at the site of damage, restoring the integrity of the skin barrier. This represents a significant shift from traditional therapies, which may not provide sustained treatment at the site of the disease. Read post
Illustration of genetic sequence of zinc finger domains

ARIZ Precision Medicine Announces Grant of Key US Patent Covering Lead Cancer Drug

ARIZ has a proprietary ligand targeted nanoparticle drug delivery system designed to destroy cancer cells, without harming normal cells. ARIZ’s target a family of genes known as the PRDMs (Positive Regulatory Domain-containing Methyltransferases) that are genetic drivers that control cell growth, proliferation, survival and mobility. Studies show that alterations in the expression and activity of the PRDMs are among the first drivers in normal cells that lead to cancer cell formation. The PRDMs have been implicated in solid tumors such as breast, colon, gastric, liver, lung, melanoma, and prostate cancers, as well as in blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Read post
A Bakar Labs laboratory seen from the outside

L’Oréal and Bakar Labs Join Forces To Advance Bio-Based Cosmetic Testing and Product Development

“L’Oréal has been a pioneer of 3D reconstructed skin for over 25 years, establishing alternative solutions for a world without animal testing. Today, we are pleased to power Bakar Labs at UC Berkeley with this L’Oréal proprietary skintech platform to support Bakar’s best-in-class startup ecosystem in their quest for new discoveries. With a fully integrated production of 3D reconstructed skin, we will provide Bakar startups with whatever is needed to achieve their goals,” said Barbara Lavernos, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Research, Innovation, and Technology at L'Oréal. Read post