Los Angeles Business Journal. (February 14, 2020). Xencor to License Food Allergy Drug. Retrieved March 7, 2020 from: https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2020/feb/14/xencor-license-food-allergy-drug-aimmune/
The Bay Area has been licensed to develop and produce a drug that has the potential to treat asthma and food allergies. In exchange for the license it is possible that the company will receive up to 285 million dollars in addition to a royalty. The drug is an antibody of immune cells that are all cloned from a single parent.
The license will allow for a wide distribution of this drug which has the potential to help many people who suffer from asthma and allergies. However, the drug has the potential to fail for people who lack the initial antibody that the drug clones to fight off the reactions
EurekAlert! (February 25, 2020). Stabilizing freeze-dried cellular machinery unlocks cell-free biotechnology. Retrieved March 8, 2020 From https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/cpsu-sfc022520.php
California Polytechnic State University developed a way to improve cell-free biotechnology using bio-manufacturing and portably applications. The technology harnesses active cellular machinery in a test tube but does not need living cells to be used. It can be used for on demand manufacturing of biomaterials and markers. It works as a freeze-dryer for cells. Allowing cells to be stored at room temperatures for much longer than before (days now it’s weeks).
These advances allow for samples to be taken and then carried for the remainder of a research expeditions without needing refrigeration. In addition, it has the potential to unlock longer shelf lives of products that spoil quickly and prevent the productivity of e-coli strands that form when good expire.
Stanford News. (October 8, 2019) Invasive breast cancers punch tunnels into neighboring tissue. Retrieved March 7, 2020 from: https://news.stanford.edu/2018/10/08/invasive-breast-cancers-punch-tunnels-neighboring-tissue/
A researcher at Stanford University has discovered that breast cancer cells can physically force their way into other parts of the body and become invasive tumors. It is possible that prostate, liver, skin, and other cancers may also be able to do this. After many tests it was discovered that the cells have ways of transfer other than using chemical escape means.
The knowledge that cells can do this may be a key step in creating solutions to block/stop the cells from doing this and curing or prolonging the lives of those who have cancers. Research can now more conclusively stop the spread of cancers.
Stanford News. (October 31, 2019) Stanford researchers develop tiny nanostraws to deliver molecules to human cells safely and efficiently. Retrieved March 6, 2020 from: https://news.stanford.edu/2018/10/31/nanostraws-deliver-molecules-cells-safely-quickly/
Researchers have developed nanostraws. Small glass tubes that penetrate a cells membrane to deliver molecules. The molecules it delivers can be one of many gene-editing drugs that hold infinite possibilities for administration of medicines. The tubes work better than previous methods that involve a virus that had to infect the cells, the straws have the ability to deliver molecules to cells in under 20 seconds and killed less than ten percent of cells.
Modern vaccines have become more and more advanced as technology advances. However, the methods of administration have not made large steps. The nanostraws have made the administration of essential drugs much faster and more reliable. It also has opened a gateway for advances in gene editing and possibilities for cures to diseases of the cell that had been risky treatments in the past.
Stanford News. (November 22, 2019) Enzyme toolkit made at Stanford helps make biotechnology globally accessible. Retrieved March 8 from: https://news.stanford.edu/2019/11/22/enzyme-toolkit-makes-biotechnology-globally-accessible/
A Stanford researcher named Drew Endy was partially responsible for creating and enzyme tool kit. Endy’s kit was called “Open Enzymes” and made biotechnology research in labs around the world more accessible. It allows for enzymes to be made in the field in mere days. The new kit reduces the need for in field refrigeration of enzymes and makes the whole process much cheaper than before.
The article shows a sneak peak of what breakthrough technology can do when applied to biotechnology. The ability to make enzymes in the field has streamlined research by removing the need for constant refrigeration like before and reducing the time it takes to do conduct research without long lag times after ordering enzymes because they can now be made on site.
Fierce Biotech. (November 11, 2019). AASLD: Gilead wants to move the needle for fatty liver therapies. Retrieved November 11, 2019 from https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/aasld-gilead-wants-to-move-needle-for-fatty-liver-therapies
Scientists at Gilead Sciences in Boston have found a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH which has failed in phase three of both studies however the Gilead is bringing in noninvasive tests for new trials with the hopes of creating new therapies. Gilead found through their noninvasive test that the liver responded better than it did through a liver biopsy. It was found that there was less scarring based on a pathologist saw in a tiny tube.
Gilead’s new technology could allow for noninvasive tests to be more accurate than biopsies. This would allow for tests to be run without causing any physical damage to the patient’s bodies while at the same time getting more accurate results. Although Gilead is also working on improving their biopsies, they hope to be able to get the most accurate results without killing the patient.
Physics.org. (November 11, 2019). Too much sugar doesn’t put the brakes on turbocharged crops. Retrieved November 11, 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2019-11-sugar-doesnt-turbocharged-crops.html
Scientists have discovered that “turbocharged crops” like maize have unique sugar sensing abilities unlike other plants like wheat and rice. They believe that the secret to maize growing so fast is that the plants self-regulate photosynthesis based on its sugar productions. In C3 plants when sugar levels get too high the plant will shut down photosynthesis while in C4 plants there is a higher threshold allowing plants to grow a much higher rate. Scientists believe that the key to make all crops turbocharged is in this gene and if there are able to alter it, leading to an improved yield.
When we are able to control and replicate the C4 gene in plants we will create much higher yields of crops like rice and wheat which are staples of the American diet. An improved yield could lead to two major changes in society: first it could lead to a sustainable larger population in the United states, and second it could allow us to maintain the population while farming on much less land than we currently do. This could allow for more conservation and reconstruction of wild forest land throughout the united states.
U.S. News. (August 1, 2019). 3-D Printers Might Someday Make Replacement Hearts. Retrieved November 11, 2019 from https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-08-01/3-d-printers-might-someday-make-replacement-hearts
Scientists have taken the first steps to creating 3-D printed body parts. They hope to be able to print tissue and replacement organs for people who have suffered damage to one part of their body as a result of disease. Although it is unlikely that this will happen in the next few years because the technology just isn’t that advanced yet. Scientists have been able to print tiny carbon and collagen fibers which tells them that it is possible they just need to keep working at it. It is hoped that they will be able to create a functioning heart however it is understood that they are nowhere near being able to create a functioning heart but, they have begun taking large steps in the right direction.
The possible development of a 3-D printer for human tissue and organs has countless applications. Not only would it be able to give people suffering from a disease that attacks only one part of the body a fighting chance, but it could allow for non-invasive testing of products on human tissue without the moral implications. This technology would eliminate the need for organ donors and skin graphs by simply creating new organs specialized for the patient cutting down on any possibility of the body rejecting the foreign organ.
CNBC. (November 8, 2019). Superbugs pose a dangerous, $65 billion threat to the US health-care system. Retrieved November 10, 2019 from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/07/superbugs-dangerous-65-billion-threat-to-the-us-health-care-system.html
Antibiotic resistant bacteria are becoming an international problem as well as a domestic one. The liberal use of antibiotics throughout the world has led to bacteria developing a resistance. It is predicted that over the next 30 years 2.4 million or more people will die unless something is done to stop the resistance. Currently about 30,000 people a year die in the U.S. alone from super bugs. By 2050 the United States is predicted to spend $65 billion at the bottom line the U.S. will spend $3.5 billion per year for health care due to these superbugs. In addition, super bugs are most likely to target elderly, men, and children under 12 months. It is necessary to begin promoting better hygiene habits around care providers. It is also important to cut back on the use of antibiotics.
The threat of the superbug is not to be overlooked. Antibiotics are perhaps the greatest biotechnological advancement of the past century. However, as a result of using antibiotics so much for everything from a cut to a bactericidal infection virus has led to bacteria creating a resistance to them. This resistance is what makes a superbug so deadly, there is almost no medicine that can kill a superbug. Leading to very high death rates among those who contract the ever more popular viruses. There needs to be another large breakthrough in this field for people to stand a chance against superbugs.
New York Times. (June 15, 2019). Mission Impossible? Maker of Plant-Based Burger Struggles to Meet Chains’ Demand. Retrieved November 10, 2019 from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/15/business/impossible-foods-burger-demand.html
The recent craze for plant-based burgers like the impossible burger or the impossible whopper which is now available at 300+ locations originated at a United States based company. Impossible Foods who is actually based in Redwood City CA has been making burger patties from genetically manufactured soy-based protein. Shockingly across the United States the burger is in short supply despite being produced and distributed by over 400 companies.
Historically vegetarian options of burgers have been far less popular than their beef counterpart. However, after this advancement in the creation of vegetarian burgers that supposedly taste the same as a beef burger would without the negative effects of beef. Not only are these “fake” burgers less costly on the human body while still supplying high amounts of protein but if these burgers become increasingly more popular throughout the U.S. there could be a significant decrease in beef demand. This would allow for us not only to decrease our beef production but in turn reduce our emissions of methane into the atmosphere. In conclusion, as “impossible burgers” become increasingly popular there will be many unforeseen benefits to human health, meat production, and methane emission.
