The fundamental biology of making biotech proteins without cells, courtesy of Fundamental Applied Biology
Biotechnology owes its birth as an industry to the discovery of recombinant DNA, which allowed researchers to make particular proteins by tinkering with cellular genomes. Inserting the gene for human insulin into a bacterial cell, for instance, turns it into an insulin factory. The same goes for any number of other biotech drugs, which by and large are produced in living but genetically altered cells.
Although cellular production first made it possible to make industrial levels… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Friday, Nov. 2, 2007
Featured companies: Ascent Therapeutics, Bas Medical, Bikam Pharmaceuticals, Fundamental Applied Biology, Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Medavante, Trivitron, Vapotherm
UPDATED: Expanded items on Bas Medical and Juvaris.
Bas Medical raises $20M for heart-failure drug — San Mateo, Calif.-based Bas Medical, a biotech developing drugs based on a hormone called relaxin, raised $20 million in a third funding round, VentureWire reports (subscription required). Investors included Domain Associates, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sears Capital Management.
Relaxin is a natural peptide hormone whose levels… Continue Reading