CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 5, 2020 – Obsidian Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering controllable cell and gene therapies, announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Obsidian’s SAB is comprised of distinguished research scientists, professors and industry experts recognized as key opinion leaders in the fields of immuno-oncology, synthetic biology, and cell and gene therapy.
Today announced data supporting Phase 2 development of its lead drug candidate, BTRX-335140 (BTRX-140), a selective kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist. New results from a positron emission tomography (PET) occupancy study in healthy volunteers confirmed that BTRX-140 engages KORs in the brain at levels that are projected to be effective in treating symptoms relevant to depression and other CNS disorders.
Propelled by growing understanding of their biology, and an expression pattern that goes well beyond T cells, SIGLEC proteins are rising as the next set of checkpoint targets to challenge PD-1. The sugar-binding proteins could prove useful outside of cancer as well.
Epirium Bio, Inc. (“Epirium”) formerly, Cardero Therapeutics, Inc., today announced it has raised $85 million in Series A financing provided by Longitude Capital, ARCH Venture Partners, Bluebird Ventures, Adams Street Partners, Vertex Ventures HC, and The Longevity Fund. Epirium is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics that optimize both tissue bioenergetics and structure through a novel mechanism of action discovered by the company.
New research is now focusing on those mysterious loops. They are surprisingly common in cancer cells and play a bigger role in many types of cancers than was previously recognized. Healthy cells can carry smaller circles of their own. These DNA circles also may affect how our bodies work, and may even be linked to aging or diseases other than cancer.
Obsidian is building a tool kit of engineered proteins whose expression can be finely tuned with FDA-approved small molecules, and its first application is in boosting the efficacy of cell therapies through a deal with Celgene. Founded by Atlas Venture in 2015, the start-up thinks it can deploy the tech in any modality where proteins can be manufactured.