Latest news with #POLARIS
Al Arabiya
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Trump administration insists Iran strikes worked amid media skepticism
In this episode of W News, presented by Leigh-Ann Gerrans, we examine questions surrounding the effectiveness of US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insists the strikes were successful, backing President Donald Trump and criticizing media coverage of an intelligence report that questioned the operation's results. Guests: Saul Montes – Political analyst Gabriel Noronha – Executive Director of POLARIS National Security and former Special Advisor at the US State Department for Iran Trent Murray – Correspondent Patrick Fok – Correspondent
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SpliceBio secures $135m for gene therapy development
SpliceBio has closed a Series B financing round, raising $135m for the clinical development of SB-007, its gene therapy candidate for Stargardt disease. Jointly led by Sanofi Ventures and EQT Life Sciences, the funding round also saw participation from Roche Venture Fund and current investors including Novartis Venture Fund, UCB Ventures, New Enterprise Associates and Ysios Capital. The Series B financing will support the ongoing interventional Phase I/II ASTRA trial and the observational POLARIS study of SB-007. The funds will expedite the development of SpliceBio's AAV gene therapy programme pipeline across fields including neurology, ophthalmology and other undisclosed indications, leveraging the company's protein splicing platform. Stargardt disease is a genetic retinal condition that occurs due to mutations in the ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 4 (ABCA4) gene, resulting in progressive loss of vision and eventual blindness. SB-007 has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to enter clinical development. It aims to deliver a functional copy of the full-length ABCA4 protein, potentially treating individuals with Stargardt disease, irrespective of their specific ABCA4 mutation. Three new members will join the company's board of directors: EQT Life Sciences managing director Daniela Begolo, Sanofi Ventures partner Laia Crespo and Roche Venture Fund head Carole Nuechterlein. SpliceBio co-founder and CEO Miquel Vila-Perelló stated: 'This financing marks a pivotal milestone for SpliceBio as we advance the clinical development of SB-007 for Stargardt disease and continue to expand our pipeline across ophthalmology, neurology and beyond. 'The support from such high-quality investors underscores the strength of our programmes and our unique protein splicing platform and its potential to unlock gene therapies for diseases that remain untreatable today.' In 2023, SpliceBio signed a licensing agreement with Spark Therapeutics, allowing the latter to use its protein splicing platform and develop a gene therapy for an undisclosed inherited renal disease. "SpliceBio secures $135m for gene therapy development" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Arabian Post
26-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Astrolight Secures €2.8M to Propel Laser Communication Breakthroughs
Lithuania's Astrolight has secured €2.8 million in seed funding to advance its laser-based communication systems, aiming to establish a high-speed, secure optical data highway between satellites and Earth. This investment underscores the growing confidence in optical communication technologies as a superior alternative to traditional radio frequency systems. Astrolight's flagship product, the ATLAS terminal, is engineered to facilitate data transmission from low Earth orbit satellites to ground stations at speeds up to ten times faster than conventional methods. This technology not only enhances data throughput but also offers increased resistance to jamming and interception, addressing critical concerns in both commercial and defence sectors. The company's collaboration with NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic has positioned it among the top ten innovators selected from 44 participants. This partnership provides Astrolight with access to up to €300,000 in additional funding, specialised training, and a network of investors, facilitating the adaptation of its technologies for defence applications. ADVERTISEMENT Astrolight's POLARIS system, designed for ship-to-ship communication, exemplifies its dual-use approach. Developed in collaboration with the Lithuanian Navy and the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, POLARIS aims to replace traditional signal lamps with laser-based communication, enhancing operational stealth and resilience in contested environments. In a significant stride towards international collaboration, Astrolight has been selected to supply its ATLAS-1 optical terminal for the PeakSat mission, a CubeSat project led by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 2025, PeakSat will demonstrate laser communication capabilities from LEO to ground stations in Greece, marking a pivotal step in validating next-generation optical communication technologies. Astrolight's recent operational test of a mobile optical ground station achieved gigabit-per-second data rates over a 10-kilometre distance, demonstrating the viability of cost-effective, scalable ground stations built from commercial off-the-shelf components. This development is crucial in addressing the limitations of radio frequency spectrum and meeting the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission from LEO satellites. The global satellite laser communications market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 40% between 2024 and 2032, reaching an estimated $15 billion. Astrolight's advancements in laser communication technologies position it as a key player in this burgeoning market, offering solutions that cater to both commercial and defence needs. Founded in 2019 by Laurynas Mačiulis, a former CTO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics, Astrolight has rapidly evolved from a research initiative into a company at the forefront of optical communication innovation. Its strategic partnerships and technological breakthroughs reflect a commitment to enhancing global communication infrastructure through laser technology.
