Latest news with #CRISPR-based
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Seek Labs Maps Measles Virus with BioSeeker™, Opening the Door to First-Ever Programmable Antiviral Therapeutic Amid Global Outbreaks
SALT LAKE CITY, June 23, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seek Labs, a biotech company boldly seeking a healthier world through AI-powered discovery, programmable therapeutics, and point-of-care diagnostics, today announced the successful mapping of conserved therapeutic targets within the measles virus (MeV) genome using BioSeeker™, the company's proprietary AI-powered discovery engine. Amid rising measles outbreaks worldwide, this breakthrough marks a foundational step toward developing the world's first programmable antiviral therapeutic for measles, leveraging Seek Labs' CRISPR-based Programmable Target Ablation Platform (PTAP™). BioSeeker scanned thousands of publicly available measles virus isolates, identifying a multiplexed set of high-impact, PTAP-compatible genomic targets (stable, conserved regions most critical to viral replication). These sites form a blueprint for CRISPR-based "seek-and-destroy" therapeutics capable of irreversibly disabling the virus with speed, specificity, and resilience against resistance. "This is exactly why we built BioSeeker; to deliver smarter, faster weapons against viral diseases that still lack effective treatments," said Jared Bauer, CEO of Seek Labs. "There are no targeted therapeutics for measles once infection occurs. With BioSeeker, we can now design a precision treatment that shuts down the virus at its source, unlocking a powerful new paradigm for global health." A Game-Changing Response to the Measles Crisis Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, spreading through airborne droplets and capable of causing severe complications, which include pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. Recent surges, such as the nearly 200,000 cases globally in early 2025, have placed renewed strain on public health systems and highlight the urgent need for scalable antiviral interventions. The urgency of this breakthrough is underscored by Utah's recent confirmation of its first measles case amid an ongoing national outbreak. As Seek Labs is headquartered in Salt Lake City, this development brings the crisis closer to home and emphasizes a critical need for accelerated antiviral solutions, especially in areas where vaccination rates remain low or immunity wanes. While Seek Labs is not advancing this candidate in-house, the company will make its complete BioSeeker-generated measles guide set available to qualified partners and is actively seeking collaborators to accelerate preclinical development. "We've done the foundational work and now we're inviting bold partners to help turn it into a breakthrough," said Kim Wirthlin, Chief Strategy Officer. "This is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to co-develop a targeted antiviral for measles and reshape how the world responds to this disease." Part of a Global Disease Atlas to Outpace Emerging Threats This milestone is part of Seek Labs' broader initiative to build a Global Disease Atlas, a real-time, AI-powered genomic map of the world's most dangerous pathogens. The Atlas is on track to map over 95% of high-burden viral threats across both human and animal health, guiding the development of pan-pathogen, programmable therapeutics and diagnostics designed to adapt faster than viral evolution. Powered by BioSeeker, the Atlas enables faster decision-making, smarter intervention points, and scalable innovation across public health, biodefense, and pandemic preparedness. Seek Labs is actively partnering with biopharma, government, and global health organizations to move these discoveries into the clinic. Organizations interested in licensing, partnerships, or deploying these innovations for public health impact are encouraged to contact Seek Labs directly. About Seek Labs At Seek Labs, we don't wait for change—we build it. We're seeking the breakthroughs the world can't wait for by developing programmable "seek and destroy" therapeutics and point-of-care molecular diagnostics that close the gap between outbreak and intervention. Powered by our AI discovery engine, BioSeeker™, these platforms form a full-stack development engine—from target discovery to real-world deployment—designed to accelerate innovation and impact across global health. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Seek Labs is a proud member of BioHive, Utah's collaborative life sciences ecosystem. Together with our partners, we're building faster, smarter solutions for the world's most urgent health challenges. Forward-Looking Statements and Regulatory Disclaimer This press release includes forward-looking statements about Seek Labs' technologies, development plans, and partnership opportunities. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. The technologies described are investigational and have not been reviewed or approved by the FDA or any other regulatory authority for clinical or commercial use. View source version on Contacts Bridget Baldwin, Director of Communications, communications@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Health
- Business Wire
Seek Labs Maps Measles Virus with BioSeeker™, Opening the Door to First-Ever Programmable Antiviral Therapeutic Amid Global Outbreaks
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seek Labs, a biotech company boldly seeking a healthier world through AI-powered discovery, programmable therapeutics, and point-of-care diagnostics, today announced the successful mapping of conserved therapeutic targets within the measles virus (MeV) genome using BioSeeker™, the company's proprietary AI-powered discovery engine. Amid rising measles outbreaks worldwide, this breakthrough marks a foundational step toward developing the world's first programmable antiviral therapeutic for measles, leveraging Seek Labs' CRISPR-based Programmable Target Ablation Platform (PTAP™). Amid rising measles outbreaks worldwide, this breakthrough marks a foundational step toward developing the world's first programmable antiviral therapeutic for measles, leveraging Seek Labs' CRISPR-based Programmable Target Ablation Platform (PTAP™). BioSeeker scanned thousands of publicly available measles virus isolates, identifying a multiplexed set of high-impact, PTAP-compatible genomic targets (stable, conserved regions most critical to viral replication). These sites form a blueprint for CRISPR-based 'seek-and-destroy' therapeutics capable of irreversibly disabling the virus with speed, specificity, and resilience against resistance. 'This is exactly why we built BioSeeker; to deliver smarter, faster weapons against viral diseases that still lack effective treatments,' said Jared Bauer, CEO of Seek Labs. 'There are no targeted therapeutics for measles once infection occurs. With BioSeeker, we can now design a precision treatment that shuts down the virus at its source, unlocking a powerful new paradigm for global health.' A Game-Changing Response to the Measles Crisis Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, spreading through airborne droplets and capable of causing severe complications, which include pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. Recent surges, such as the nearly 200,000 cases globally in early 2025, have placed renewed strain on public health systems and highlight the urgent need for scalable antiviral interventions. The urgency of this breakthrough is underscored by Utah's recent confirmation of its first measles case amid an ongoing national outbreak. As Seek Labs is headquartered in Salt Lake City, this development brings the crisis closer to home and emphasizes a critical need for accelerated antiviral solutions, especially in areas where vaccination rates remain low or immunity wanes. While Seek Labs is not advancing this candidate in-house, the company will make its complete BioSeeker-generated measles guide set available to qualified partners and is actively seeking collaborators to accelerate preclinical development. 'We've done the foundational work and now we're inviting bold partners to help turn it into a breakthrough,' said Kim Wirthlin, Chief Strategy Officer. 'This is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to co-develop a targeted antiviral for measles and reshape how the world responds to this disease.' Part of a Global Disease Atlas to Outpace Emerging Threats This milestone is part of Seek Labs' broader initiative to build a Global Disease Atlas, a real-time, AI-powered genomic map of the world's most dangerous pathogens. The Atlas is on track to map over 95% of high-burden viral threats across both human and animal health, guiding the development of pan-pathogen, programmable therapeutics and diagnostics designed to adapt faster than viral evolution. Powered by BioSeeker, the Atlas enables faster decision-making, smarter intervention points, and scalable innovation across public health, biodefense, and pandemic preparedness. Seek Labs is actively partnering with biopharma, government, and global health organizations to move these discoveries into the clinic. Organizations interested in licensing, partnerships, or deploying these innovations for public health impact are encouraged to contact Seek Labs directly. About Seek Labs At Seek Labs, we don't wait for change—we build it. We're seeking the breakthroughs the world can't wait for by developing programmable 'seek and destroy' therapeutics and point-of-care molecular diagnostics that close the gap between outbreak and intervention. Powered by our AI discovery engine, BioSeeker™, these platforms form a full-stack development engine—from target discovery to real-world deployment—designed to accelerate innovation and impact across global health. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Seek Labs is a proud member of BioHive, Utah's collaborative life sciences ecosystem. Together with our partners, we're building faster, smarter solutions for the world's most urgent health challenges. Forward-Looking Statements and Regulatory Disclaimer This press release includes forward-looking statements about Seek Labs' technologies, development plans, and partnership opportunities. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. The technologies described are investigational and have not been reviewed or approved by the FDA or any other regulatory authority for clinical or commercial use.
Business Upturn
15-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Intellia Therapeutics Announces Positive Three-Year Data from Phase 1 Trial of Lonvoguran Ziclumeran (lonvo-z) in Patients with Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress
With up to three years of follow-up, a single dose of lonvo-z led to a 98% mean reduction in monthly HAE attack rate in all 10 patients All 10 patients were attack-free and treatment-free for a median of 23 months through the latest follow-up, demonstrating the potential of lonvo-z to become the first one-time therapy for most HAE patients Lonvo-z was well tolerated and continues to demonstrate a favorable safety profile The global Phase 3 HAELO trial of lonvo-z has concluded screening ahead of schedule with more than half screened from U.S. sites; Intellia to provide an update on enrollment in the future CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA), a leading clinical-stage gene editing company focused on revolutionizing medicine with CRISPR-based therapies, today announced three-year follow-up data from the Phase 1 portion of the ongoing Phase 1/2 study in patients with HAE after receiving a single dose of lonvoguran ziclumeran (lonvo-z, also known as NTLA-2002). Results were shared in an oral presentation at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress 2025, held June 13-16 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. 'Today's results underscore the promising potential of Intellia's approach to gene editing therapy – a one-time treatment that was well tolerated and offered a highly differentiated, durable effect for patients suffering from a serious disease,' said Intellia President and Chief Executive Officer John Leonard, M.D. 'Seeing all 10 patients in the Phase 1 portion of this study free from both HAE attacks and chronic therapy at nearly two years of median follow-up is incredibly encouraging. These data fuel our optimism for the outcomes of our ongoing Phase 3 HAELO study, which we expect to report in the first half of 2026, and highlight the strong value we believe it will offer patients, physicians and payers.' 'People living with HAE often report a reduced quality of life because they worry about the likelihood of their next attack, either because they still experience attacks or are reminded of it by their use of chronic therapy,' said Dr. Joshua Jacobs, Medical Director, Allergy and Asthma Clinical Research, Inc. 'Based on the data, it is reasonable to expect lonvo-z could offer patients the potential to be free from both physical HAE attacks and the burden of managing chronic HAE treatment.' In the Phase 1 portion of the study, a one-time dose of 25 mg (N=3), 50 mg (N=4) or 75 mg (N=3) of lonvo-z was administered via intravenous infusion and plasma kallikrein protein levels were measured along with HAE attacks. At the time of the February 12 data cutoff, patients were attack-free and treatment-free for a median of nearly two years. With up to three years of follow-up, a single dose of lonvo-z led to a mean reduction in monthly HAE attack rate of 98% over the study period, compared to pre-treatment baseline. For all 10 patients, deep, dose-dependent and durable reductions in plasma kallikrein protein continued to be observed through the latest assessment. Safety Across all three dose levels, lonvo-z has been well tolerated and continues to demonstrate a favorable safety profile consistent with earlier data presented at EAACI in 2024. The most frequent adverse events during the study period were infusion-related reactions (IRRs). IRRs were mostly Grade 1 and resolved with all patients receiving the full dose. With up to 3 years of follow-up, no treatment-emergent serious adverse events were observed, and no treatment-related adverse events were observed during the period following 28 days after dosing. Clinical Development Plans Intellia's global Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled HAELO trial is ongoing to assess the safety and efficacy of lonvo-z at the 50 mg dosage. The Company announced today the HAELO trial has successfully completed screening ahead of schedule, with over half of the patients being screened in the United States. The study is no longer recruiting and Intellia will provide an update on enrollment in the future. New and longer-term data from the Phase 2 portion of the ongoing Phase 1/2 study is planned to be presented in the second half of 2025. Intellia expects to submit a biologics license application (BLA) in 2026 to support the Company's plans for a U.S. launch in 2027. For more information on HAELO (NCT06634420), please visit About the Lonvoguran Ziclumeran (lonvo-z, also known as NTLA-2002) Clinical Program Intellia's ongoing Phase 1/2 study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of lonvo-z in adults with Type I or Type II hereditary angioedema (HAE). The Phase 1 portion of the study is an international, open-label study designed to identify the dose level of lonvo-z selected for further evaluation in the Phase 2 portion of the study. Enrollment in both portions of the Phase 1/2 study is complete. Intellia dosed the first patient in the global Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled HAELO trial in January of 2025. Visit (NCT05120830) for more details. About Lonvo-z Based on Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR/Cas9 technology, lonvo-z has the potential to become the first one-time treatment for hereditary angioedema (HAE). Lonvo-z is an investigational in vivo CRISPR-based gene editing therapy designed to prevent HAE attacks by inactivating the kallikrein B1 ( KLKB1 ) gene, which encodes for prekallikrein, the kallikrein precursor protein. Interim Phase 1/2 clinical data showed dramatic reductions in attack rate, as well as consistent, deep and durable reductions in kallikrein levels. Lonvo-z has received five notable regulatory designations, including Orphan Drug and RMAT Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Innovation Passport by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Priority Medicines (PRIME) Designation by the European Medicines Agency, as well as Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the European Commission. About Intellia Therapeutics Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) is a leading clinical-stage gene editing company focused on revolutionizing medicine with CRISPR-based therapies. Since its inception, Intellia has focused on leveraging gene editing technology to develop novel, first-in-class medicines that address important unmet medical needs and advance the treatment paradigm for patients. Intellia's deep scientific, technical and clinical development experience, along with its people, is helping set the standard for a new class of medicine. To harness the full potential of gene editing, Intellia continues to expand the capabilities of its CRISPR-based platform with novel editing and delivery technologies. Learn more at and follow us @intelliatx. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' of Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. ('Intellia' or the 'Company') within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding Intellia's beliefs and expectations concerning: the safety, efficacy, success and advancement of its clinical programs for lonvoguran ziclumeran or 'lonvo-z' (also known as NTLA-2002) for hereditary angioedema ('HAE'), including the ability to successfully complete its global Phase 3 HAELO study; its expectation to present additional data regarding lonvo-z, including reporting outcomes of the Phase 3 HAELO study in the first half of 2026 and presenting new and longer-term data from the Phase 2 portion of the ongoing Phase 1/2 study of lonvo-z in the second half of 2025; and its expectation to be able to support a biologics license application for lonvo-z for the treatment of HAE by 2026 for a U.S. launch in 2027. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to Intellia's ability to protect and maintain its intellectual property position; risks related to Intellia's relationship with third parties, including its contract manufacturers, licensors and licensees; risks related to the ability of its licensors to protect and maintain their intellectual property position; risks related to Intellia's ability to protect and maintain its intellectual property position; risks related to valid third party intellectual property; risks related to Intellia's relationship with third parties, including its licensors and licensees; risks related to the ability of its licensors to protect and maintain their intellectual property position; uncertainties related to regulatory agencies' evaluation of regulatory filings and other information related to our product candidates, including lonvo-z; uncertainties related to the authorization, initiation and conduct of studies and other development requirements for our product candidates, including uncertainties related to regulatory approvals to conduct clinical trials, including our ability to complete the Phase 3 HAELO study for HAE; the risk that any one or more of Intellia's product candidates, including lonvo-z, will not be successfully developed and commercialized; and the risk that the results of preclinical studies or clinical studies will not be predictive of future results in connection with future studies for the same product candidate or Intellia's other product candidates. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Intellia's actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in Intellia's most recent annual report of Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Intellia's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Intellia undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. Intellia Contacts: Investors:Brittany ChavesSenior Manager, Investor Relations [email protected]
Business Wire
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Taconic Biosciences Enters Into an Exclusive License Agreement With Helmholtz Munich to Expand Its CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Services
RENSSELAER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Taconic Biosciences, a global leader in providing animal model solutions and services, entered into an exclusive license agreement with Helmholtz Munich, one of Germany's leading biomedical research centers, to provide preclinical researchers with advanced CRISPR gene editing services. By exclusively licensing Helmholtz Munich's groundbreaking gene editing techniques and applications, Taconic Biosciences strengthens its position as a leader in the commercialization of cutting-edge CRISPR gene editing services. Share Through this agreement, Taconic has acquired the exclusive rights to a patented CRISPR-based gene editing technology developed at Helmholtz Munich to improve the generation of genetically modified animal models for biomedical research. "Taconic is excited to expand our already extensive capabilities in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing through this new partnership with Helmholtz Munich,' said Mike Garrett, Chief Executive Officer of Taconic Biosciences. 'This technology significantly enhances Taconic's ExpressMODEL ® platform to deliver high-quality, precise CRISPR/Cas9-generated custom animal models on an accelerated timeline to our customers." Taconic has been a pioneer in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing services for over a decade and remains at the forefront of advanced gene-modification methodologies. By exclusively licensing Helmholtz Munich's groundbreaking gene editing techniques and applications, Taconic Biosciences strengthens its position as a leader in the commercialization of cutting-edge CRISPR gene editing services. "This agreement with Taconic will deepen our understanding of gene function by enabling the development of advanced, genetically engineered animal models," said Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wurst, co-inventor of the licensed technology at Helmholtz Munich. "By combining our innovative CRISPR technology with Taconic's expertise in animal model generation and breeding, we aim to accelerate the creation of precise models that uncover the genetic basis of diseases — supporting scientific discovery and paving the way for future medical breakthroughs.' This partnership marks a significant milestone in Taconic's commitment to providing researchers with advanced tools for biomedical research. By integrating novel CRISPR/Cas9 technologies with proven expertise in model generation, the collaboration supports the rapid development of scientific breakthroughs and improved translation of genetic research into therapeutic innovation. To learn more about the ExpressMODEL ® CRISPR Platform and our Custom Model Generation Solutions, visit Or call 1-888-TACONIC (888-822-6642) in the US, +45 70 23 04 05 in Europe, or email info@ About Taconic Biosciences, Inc. Taconic Biosciences is a fully licensed, global leader in genetically engineered rodent models and services. Founded in 1952, Taconic provides the best animal solutions enabling customers to acquire, custom-generate, breed, precondition, test, and distribute valuable research models worldwide. Specialists in genetically engineered mouse and rat models, microbiome, immuno-oncology mouse models, and integrated model design and breeding services, Taconic operates service laboratories and breeding facilities in the U.S. and Europe, maintains distributor relationships in Asia and has global shipping capabilities to provide animal models almost anywhere in the world.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SOLVE FSHD and Modalis Announce Strategic Collaboration to Develop an Innovative CRISPR-Based Epigenome Editing Treatment for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
VANCOUVER, British Columbia & TOKYO & WALTHAM, Mass., June 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SOLVE FSHD, a venture philanthropy organization dedicated to accelerating treatments for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), and Modalis Therapeutics Corporation (TSE 4883; "Modalis"), a CRISPR-based epigenome editing therapeutics company focused on rare genetic diseases, today announced a strategic collaboration to develop an innovative therapy for FSHD, a debilitating muscular disorder affecting approximately 1 million individuals worldwide. The novel therapy leverages Modalis's proprietary CRISPR-GNDM® (Guide Nucleotide-Directed Modulation) technology, which can dynamically modulate gene expression without introducing double-strand DNA breaks. SOLVE FSHD will provide strategic funding to support the development of Modalis's MDL-103 program. MDL-103 is an innovative therapeutic solution that continuously suppresses the expression of the DUX4 gene, the toxic disease-causing gene for FSHD, which becomes abnormally activated due to epigenetic changes in the D4Z4 repeat region on chromosome 4. MDL-103 is designed to have durable activity over long periods of time under the control of a strong, muscle-specific promoter, and is delivered to the muscles of patients using a muscle-tropic AAV delivery system. Modalis's CRISPR-GNDM® technology has the potential to transform the treatment of FSHD by epigenetically silencing the expression of DUX4. "SOLVE FSHD is pleased to partner with Modalis and to add them to our diverse portfolio of collaborators that are advancing potential therapies for FSHD," stated Eva Chin, Executive Director of SOLVE FSHD. "SOLVE FSHD identified Modalis as a company committed to finding a cure for this debilitating condition. We were impressed by their unique approach to targeting the epigenetic cause of FSHD, using a platform technology that has shown promise in other neuromuscular diseases. We believe that the support from SOLVE FSHD will allow Modalis to accelerate the advancement of MDL-103 into clinical trials." "We are delighted to be working in partnership with SOLVE FSHD and greatly appreciate the invaluable support for the development of MDL-103," said Haru Morita, CEO of Modalis. "This strategic collaboration is a strong validation of Modalis's CRISPR-GNDM® technology and our MDL-103 program. As a pioneer in this technology, we have demonstrated promising long-term drug efficacy in mouse models, shown durable target engagement and safety in non-human primates, and exhibited excellent biodistribution in neuromuscular disorders. We believe that MDL-103, which incorporates CRISPR-GNDM® technology with a muscle tropic AAV delivery system, has significant potential as a breakthrough treatment for FSHD." About SOLVE FSHD SOLVE FSHD is a venture philanthropic organization established to catalyze innovation and accelerate key research in finding a cure for FSHD. Established by renowned Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Chip Wilson, the Wilson family has committed $100 million to kick-start funding into projects that support the organizations' mission to solve FSHD by 2027. The goal of SOLVE FSHD is to find a solution that can slow down or stop muscle degeneration, increase muscle regeneration and strength, and improve the quality of life for those living with FSHD, visit About Modalis Therapeutics Corporation Modalis was founded in 2016 and conducts research and development activities in Massachusetts, USA. Modalis is a pioneering leader in the field of epigenetic medicine. Modalis develops therapeutics for patients suffering from serious genetic disorders such as neuromuscular diseases, CNS diseases, and cardiomyopathies. Modalis's proprietary CRISPR-GNDM® technology is capable of specifically up or down modulating the expression of disease-relevant genes without introducing double-strand DNA breaks. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts SOLVE FSHDAlexandra Grant, House of Wilsonalexandrag@ Modalis Therapeutics CorporationCorporate Planning Departmentmedia@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
