Answer ALS, Cedars-Sinai Collaboration, Single-Cell Protein Profiling, ChapsVision Acquires Sinequa, More

By Bio-IT World Team  

November 25, 2024 | Answer ALS and Cedars-Sinai have announced the completed availability of the largest ALS patient-based induced pluripotent stem cell and bio data repository; Scale Biosciences and Revvity’s business, BioLegend, announced the availability of a first-of-its-kind TotalSeq Phenocyte single-cell protein profiling solution that supports customers by more easily identifying and characterizing rare cell subtypes; ChapsVision has acquired Sinequa; and more. 

ChapsVision has acquired Sinequa. This strategic acquisition and a $90 million investment led by Tikehau Capital and others will enhance ChapsVision’s ArgonOS platform, combining advanced search and data processing capabilities that support clients’ digital needs in industries, such as manufacturing, life sciences, and financial services, as well as aerospace and defense. As Sinequa serves many prestigious clients, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and NASA, this acquisition will provide organizations with a platform that leverages AI and natural language processing. In addition, this acquisition aligns with ChapsVision’s ambitions for rapid international growth, particularly in Europe and North America. Press release. 

Answer ALS and Cedars-Sinai have announced the completed availability of the largest amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient-based induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and bio data repository. The repository encompasses biological and clinical data from nearly 1,000 ALS patients, offering an unprecedented resource for global researchers studying ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This approach enables investigators across academia and industry to access a vast array of patient-specific iPSCs and differentiated motor neurons. They can then analyze ALS disease progression in lab-created cells and correlate these observations with the detailed clinical, genetic, and protein profiles unique to each ALS patient. Press release. 

Healx announced it will use a Sanofi compound to identify new disease indications using Healnet, Healx’s AI-driven drug discovery platform. Under the agreement, Sanofi will provide data related to a late stage discontinued asset that is being considered for out-licensing. In addition to leveraging Healnet to identify novel rare disease indications from integrated, large scale, complex biological information, Healx will also deploy its extensive drug discovery and development expertise to provide Sanofi with an innovative, AI-driven therapeutic rationale to support the compound’s future development. Healnet incorporates recent advances in generative AI to find connections between biological and chemical entities that could be turned into new treatments. Press release. 

Scale Biosciences and Revvity’s business, BioLegend, announced the availability of a first-of-its-kind TotalSeq Phenocyte single-cell protein profiling solution that supports customers by more easily identifying and characterizing rare cell subtypes, which ultimately power immunology and oncology research. The solution is enabled by the proprietary combination of Scale Biosciences’ Quantum Barcoding technology platform and BioLegend’s TotalSeq antibody conjugates. The new offering builds upon BioLegend’s well validated TotalSeq-A antibody panels and Scale Bio’s Quantum Barcoding technology workflow. The combined offering can be used to power biomarker discovery and the identification of rare cells within a heterogeneous population without complex panel design, complicated workflows, or dedicated instrumentation. Press release. 

GeneDx announced GeneDx Discover, a first-of-its-kind data visualization tool, which provides biopharmaceutical companies access to deidentified and aggregated genetic data—powered by GeneDx’s database—to improve all stages of drug development. The new offering is part of GeneDx’s ongoing investment to deliver personalized and actionable health insights to inform diagnosis, direct treatment, and improve drug discovery. GeneDx Discover is a self-service tool that leverages real-world data to enable a deeper understanding of the characteristics of target patient populations. The tool combines disease prevalence and phenotypic information, alongside variant-level details, unlocking a better understanding of the size and unique characteristics of the total addressable market for genetically-defined disease cohorts, as well as obtaining variant-level resolution to define the cohort. Press release. 

Model N launched new generative AI (GenAI) and expanded data capabilities to strengthen its core product suite. Integrating GenAI and intelligent data into the company’s Channel Data Management, Formulary Compliance, and Provider Management solutions showcases Model N's commitment to delivering continuous innovation to the world’s most innovative brands in life sciences and high tech. Model N’s new generative AI Catalog Discovery is a part of its Channel Data Management solution that effectively helps high tech companies manage revenue from indirect sources. GenAI Catalog Discovery automates point-of-sale (POS) data processing, converting unstructured product descriptions into structured, actionable data, regardless of language. Model N’s Formulary Compliance, is designed with broader market input. Formulary Compliance grants pharma companies access to a comprehensive, reliably sourced, and maintained formulary database, offering valuable insights into compliance trends to support customer negotiations. Press release. 

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications has launched DeltaAI, an advanced AI computing and data resource that will be a companion system to NCSA’s Delta. Funded by nearly $30 million in awards from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and accessible to researchers across the country through the NSF ACCESS program and the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot, DeltaAI will enable scientists and researchers to address the world’s most challenging problems by accelerating complex AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing applications running terabytes of data by using state-of-the-art hardware, including the NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip. Press release. 

Sapio Sciences has entered into a co-marketing agreement with Waters Corporation to enhance data integrity, workflow efficiency, and laboratory productivity. The advanced data processing and review capabilities of waters_connect software, when combined with Sapio LIMS, can facilitate workflow efficiencies, enabling laboratories to handle larger volumes of samples with greater speed and precision. This connectivity not only streamlines operations but also enhances collaboration among laboratory personnel by providing a unified solution for improved data sharing and analysis. Press release. 

CapeStart debuted MadeAi, a generative AI-based platform that dramatically streamlines the synthesis of clinical information, with its first solution, MadeAi-LR. Supporting literature review, MadeAi-LR unlocks efficiency for systematic literature reviews (SLRs), clinical evidence reports (CERs), meta research, targeted literature reviews (TLRs), and other clinical literature assessments. MadeAi-LR cuts literature review time nearly in half—with 90% accuracy for title and abstract screening, and more than 80% accuracy for data extraction, and single- and multiple-article summarizations. Features of MadeI-LR include GenAI-aided screening, summarizing (including single-article summary and multiple-articles summary), and authoring; confidence scoring; full-text purchase and management; and more. Press release. 

Trogenix emerged from stealth mode to unveil its therapeutic platform for treating aggressive cancers. Trogenix spun out from the University of Edinburgh in 2023 and raised a seed financing round earlier this year. It was built from inception by 4BIO Capital. The company's lead program targets glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive form of brain cancer, where only 25% of patients survive beyond one year. The company's proprietary Synthetic Super-Enhancers (SSEs) are engineered DNA elements that act as docking stations for transcription factors uniquely expressed in aggressive cancer cells. Through these SSEs, Trogenix's Odysseus platform delivers a comprehensive attack on cancer through controlled cell killing via targeted expression of cytotoxic payloads, immune modulation to overcome tumour-induced immunosuppression, and a unique ‘Trojan Horse’ approach that reawakens the immune system to provide long-term protection against recurrence. Press release. 

Exagen announced the validation and regulatory submission for approval of new Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) biomarkers, to be incorporated into the AVISE CTD platform. Collectively, these new biomarkers will further improve the clinical utility of AVISE CTD, providing clinicians with the information they need to definitively diagnose patients and shorten their autoimmune diagnostic journeys. Press release. 

Critical Path Institute (C-Path) announced a landmark initiative, Gender Equitable Medicines for Parkinson's Disease (GEM-PD), dedicated to globally advancing actionable research on how Parkinson's disease uniquely impacts women and individuals across the sex and gender spectrum. GEM-PD aims to accelerate the development of more personalized treatments by leveraging diverse data and innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital health technologies. The initiative seeks to generate drug development solutions that will lead to more equitable approaches to detection, disease management, and therapies for all individuals living with Parkinson's. GEM-PD will also partner with and build upon the achievements of C-Path's Critical Path for Parkinson's (CPP) Consortium, a global public-private partnership committed to accelerating the development of therapies that improve the lives of those with Parkinson's. Press release. 

BioNTech has acquired Biotheus. With the acquisition, BioNTech will obtain full global rights to the late-stage clinical asset BNT327/PM8002, an investigational bispecific antibody targeting PD-L1 and VEGF-A. The transaction is part of BioNTech’s oncology strategy, aimed at enhancing the company’s capabilities to research, develop and commercialize combination therapies using BNT327/PM8002. With the acquisition of Biotheus, BioNTech aims to further strengthen its capabilities to develop, manufacture, and commercialize next-generation bispecific antibodies and novel treatment combinations. Press release. 

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) announced a collaboration with Johnson & Johnson aimed at supporting research testing a combination of two types of targeted therapies, teclistamab, and daratumumab, to treat a rare disease called AL amyloidosis. Affecting approximately 4,500 people annually in the U.S., AL amyloidosis can be associated with blood cancers, particularly multiple myeloma as well as lymphomas or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Press release. 

Nxera, formerly known as Sosei Group or Sosei Heptares, and Antiverse have entered a multi-target partnership and licensing agreement to design antibodies for G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The collaboration combines Antiverse’s generative AI antibody design expertise, including its proprietary machine-learning-generated ‘epitope-specific libraries,’ with Nxera’s NxWave platform, a powerful tool for GPCR target selection, validation, and structural determination. The partnership aims to bring transformative therapies for multiple diseases of high unmet need. The first project will be aimed at designing antibodies with agonistic function for a challenging GPCR target. Press release. 

CCRM Nordic, Sahlgrenska Academy, and Sahlgrenska University Hospital formed a strategic partnership relating to promote and simplify cooperation within the field of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and related technologies. The parties’ intention is that this partnership will be part of a broader focus to link the Swedish and Nordic ATMP ecosystems with research and development within academia, healthcare, and industry. The parties have agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation within project and business development, process development from early research to production, quality-controlled GMP production, making clinical trials possible, training, and knowledge exchange. Press release. 

BC Platforms, Modirum Platforms, and VEIL.AI have deployed software in Finnish health data research environments closely resembling the coming European Health Data Space secondary (EHDS2) framework. The companies have combined their expertise to create end-to-end reference architecture and data exchange formats for an AI-enhanced software platform that is streamlining and automating EHDS2 processes for life sciences research use-cases using real-world data (RWD). The functionalities address well known pain points including data discovery, submitting and handling data requests, and GDPR compliant release of approved data to Secure Processing Environment for analysis, for federated analysis or as anonymized format. In addition, Productivity Leap offers services for EHR data harmonization projects. Press release. 

Evogene announced a collaboration with Google Cloud to develop a cutting-edge foundation model for generative small molecule de novo design, propelling Evogene’s ChemPass AI tech-engine to new levels of innovation. ChemPass AI is a computational technology platform that directs and accelerates the discovery and development of novel products based on small molecules. This initiative seeks to advance the discovery and development of novel small molecules for drug development, sustainable crop protection, and other innovative products across a wide range of life-science industries. The collaboration also follows the successful integration of ChemPass AI into Google Cloud and will now focus on expanding the tech-engine’s value through the creation of a state-of-the-art foundation model capable of generating and optimizing novel small molecule structures with desired properties. Press release. 

Parse Biosciences announced the launch of the Parse GigaLab to scale single cell sequencing to billions of cells per year. The GigaLab leverages Parse’s Evercode single cell technology with a scaled-up workflow and expanded automation to enable discoveries never before deemed possible with current single cell approaches. These new capabilities will be particularly enabling for researchers focused on large-scale drug and perturbation screens, dataset generation for generative AI models, and atlasing for population studies. Press release. 

Gingko Bioworks has launched their Antibody Developability product, designed to accelerate biologics development by providing high-quality, AI-ready data at an unprecedented scale. Gingko Bioworks built a platform that produces and tests thousands of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and other binder classes using a panel of the most commonly used developability assays in the industry. The platform not only accelerates the generation of critical data but also ensures it is efficiently pulled and merged from multiple instruments, formatted, and ready for AI/ML model training or validation. Blog post.