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It’s all about platform technology today—from a platform developing animal-free meat and dairy and innovative de-icing technology, to how platform technology can drive rare disease R&D. (558 words, 2 minutes, 47 seconds) |
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This biotech platform is enabling animal-free protein – and stronger defense |
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Ginkgo Bioworks’ platform is driving innovations in animal-free meat and dairy while bolstering defense capabilities.
The backstory: BIO member Ginkgo Bioworks’ platform programs cells using a codebase of cells, enzymes, and genetic programs. Frequently compared to computer programming, the platform enables rapid prototyping of thousands of biological designs.
Seafood without a catch: AQUA Cultured Foods uses microbial fermentation to develop alternative proteins from plants with the taste and look of ordinary seafood. The sustainable, pollutant-free proteins will be enhanced through Ginkgo’s “next-generation sequencing and advanced analytics services,” the company announced March 27.
Hold the cow: Imagindairy’s update on the ancient fermentation process yields plant-based dairy products with the flavor, texture, and nutrition of dairy from cows. They're using Ginkgo’s Protein Expression Service to develop a new line of whey-free products.
Ice, ice, maybe: Ginkgo recently announced it's working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop proteins that can control ice, with military and commercial applications like preventing frost formation on satellites or vehicles.
Through an earlier defense contract, Ginkgo is developing biothreat screening to rapidly identify when an organism has been genetically engineered.
Why it matters: “To deter and defend against biological attacks, America needs its own biodefense capabilities,” says BIO CEO John Crowley, who has emphasized biotech’s role in national security. “Policymakers must also prioritize the country’s supply chain to ensure the U.S. has the capacity to meet both domestic and global demand for innovative medicines.” |
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A mother’s mission to streamline rare disease drug development |
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One mother's advocacy for streamlined regulation of gene therapy for rare diseases stands as a beacon of hope, alongside a public-private collaboration that’s driving innovation forward, reports Bio.News.
The challenge: 95% of rare diseases have no treatment and nearly 80% are genetic. While 30 million in the U.S. are impacted, the limited patient population (under 200K) for each disease makes R&D challenging.
Enter the Bespoke Gene Therapy Consortium (BGTC)—a public-private collaboration between NIH, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), biopharma companies, and non-profits. BGTC's goal is to advance gene therapies tailored to the unique genetic makeup of individuals with rare diseases.
What they’re doing: BGTC recently released its first deliverable, a Regulatory Playbook for the development and regulatory submission of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies for rare diseases.
Why it matters: Using naturally occurring viruses to deliver healthy genes to specific areas of patients’ bodies, adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapiescould be transformational in rare disease. BGTC recommends speeding and derisking R&D using a single platform to investigate many such therapies.
“Call me a cockeyed optimist, but I don’t believe in the impossible,” says Sharon King, who has been dedicated to rare disease R&D after her daughter, Taylor, passed away with CLN1 Batten disease. “I believe that we will find a way, either through the development of platforms for conditions that can be treated in similar ways, or through the continued development of new medical innovation.”
Read the full story at Bio.News. |
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Photo of Sharon King and her daughter, Taylor, provided to Bio.News. Credit: Stacy Carter. |
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