A day after my article was published, it was announced that two patients (a 75-year-old female, and a 64-year-old male) died in Singapore from COVID19-related complications. Not unexpectedly, the country is now facing a second and larger wave of case spikes. The main reason for the surge in cases is coming from Singaporeans and long-term residents returning home from the UK and US, where uncontained outbreaks have clearly been raging for weeks, largely undetected. At this point in writing, Singapore has reported a total of 732 confirmed cases in the country – more than double from 313 a week ago.
Since the first confirmed case was identified in Singapore 55 days ago, the country has done a remarkable job of containment and mitigation. As of this writing, there have only been 313 confirmed COVID19 cases in Singapore with no COVID-related deaths. Those are remarkably low numbers compared with South Korea, Italy, Iran and other countries.
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.