On January 6, 2022 Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ: TWST), a company enabling customers to succeed through its offering of high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform, reported an agreement with the Broad Institute to make available a whole exome target enrichment panel to enable next-generation sequencing (NGS) in canine genomics research (Press release, Twist Bioscience, JAN 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234598374]). The panel, known as the Twist Alliance Canine Exome Panel, is available for order today and will begin shipping in February 2022.

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The Twist Alliance Canine Exome is the most current commercial exome-scale assay available for canine NGS research, and is based on updated content from CanFam v3.1. The panel was collaboratively designed with the Vertebrate Genomics Group at the Broad Institute by leveraging Twist’s rapid, iterative and flexible NGS platform to provide a rapid, off-the-shelf solution covering all coding exons of canine genes. In addition to exon-centric content, the assay includes regions of known importance in human cancers. When used with Twist’s robust end-to-end target enrichment workflows it enables cost-effective comparative studies between human and canine genomics to drive further insight into both human and canine health.

"In addition to the benefits to dogs from research using our canine exome panels, there may also be implications for human health, as both canines and humans suffer from similar inherited diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disorders," said Emily M. Leproust, PhD, chief executive officer and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. "We are excited to expand our solutions in veterinary medicine, with the launch today of the Twist Alliance Canine Exome Panel."

About Twist Alliance Panels

In partnership with leading research institutions from around the world, Twist has curated a collection of high-quality target enrichment panels for applications ranging from carrier screening to cancer diagnostics and whole exome sequencing. The Twist Alliance Panels combine the strengths of precise, highly uniform oligonucleotide synthesis with the specialty expertise of leading scientific research partners.

Well designed, custom target enrichment panels enable increased sequencing depth on target genes while reducing overall sequencing. This allows for more sensitive detection of target sequences and higher confidence variant detection.

On January 6, 2022 ATCC, the world’s premier biological materials management and standards organization, reported that it has been awarded a contract with Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. (Leidos Biomed), current operator of the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, for the continued production, characterization and distribution of next-generation cancer models (NGCM) (Press release, Leidos, JAN 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234598373]). These models will be distributed solely by ATCC as part of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Human Cancer Model Initiative (HCMI), an international consortium that is generating novel, next-generation, tumor-derived culture models annotated with genomic, clinical and biospecimen data. In consultation with the HCMI team at Leidos Biomed and the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) at NCI, the contract will add 70 additional NGCMs to HCMI’s current catalog of 182 models – all of which will be available as a community resource through its data portal.

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"We recognize that the industry needs more biologically relevant cancer models and are well positioned to ensure that this expanded collection of diverse NGCMs is available to the scientific community through the HCMI," said Raymond H. Cypess, D.V.M., Ph.D., chairman and CEO of ATCC.

NGCMs are invaluable for in vitro studies as they more closely mimic the in vivo disease characteristics. The new models from primary, metastatic and recurrent cancers will expand the types of cancers represented and increase the number of patient-derived tumors available for study. New cancer types potentially released under this contract include but are not limited to bladder, endometrial, head and neck, ovarian, pediatric, and rare cancer, as well as desmoid tumor, lymphoma, and neuroblastoma.

"ATCC is at the core of enabling breakthroughs in cancer research by collaborating with HCMI to provide well-characterized 2D and 3D models for R&D studies," said James Clinton, Lead Scientist at ATCC. "These patient-derived in vitro cancer models will include 2D conditionally reprogrammed cells (CRCs) and 3D neurospheres and organoids grown in a cellular matrix that better recapitulate the in vivo environment than adherent cell lines."

Using detailed methodologies and key technical inputs developed and shared by the HCMI Cancer Model Development Centers (CMDCs), scientists at ATCC have successfully replicated and compiled model-specific, easy-to-follow culture protocols and a video for the 3D model, containing everything that will be required to initiate, expand, and cryopreserve organoids embedded in 3D culture. They will also provide guidance and advice to fellow scientists working with NGCMs in their own laboratories.

"With this contract, ATCC will expand its commitment to the NCI’s mission to improve human health by providing the scientific community with in vitro tools like NGCMs to study cancer, identify and target novel therapies, and facilitate translational cancer research," said Joseph Leonelli, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of ATCC Federal Solutions. "We look forward to supporting HCMI’s efforts to prioritize the development of solutions to advance cancer research worldwide."

On January 6, 2022 RayzeBio, Inc., a targeted radiopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline against validated solid tumor targets, reported that Ken Song, M.D., President and CEO of the Company, will be presenting at the 40th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference being held virtually on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 (Press release, RayzeBio, JAN 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234598372]).

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J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. EST
Please click on the below link to find additional details about the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
View Source

On January 6, 2022 RenovoRx, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNXT), a biopharmaceutical company and innovator in targeted cancer therapy, reported that Shaun Bagai, Chief Executive Officer, will participate in the H.C. Wainwright Bioconnect Virtual Conference on behalf of RenovoRx (Press release, Renovorx, JAN 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234598371]). The conference will be held January 10-13, 2022.

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Mr. Bagai’s investor presentation will be available on-demand beginning January 10th at 7:00 am EST.

Management will be available during the H.C. Wainwright Bioconnect conference for 1-on-1 meetings with the investment community. To schedule a meeting please reach out to your H.C. Wainwright representative or KCSA Strategic Communications by emailing [email protected].

For further information about the H.C. Wainwright Bioconnect conference and to register to attend virtually click here.

A webcast of the event will be available for a limited time on the Events page in the Investors section of the Company’s website at View Source

On January 6, 2022 Gennao Bio, a privately held genetic medicines company developing first-in-class, targeted nucleic acid therapeutics, reported the appointments of Joseph W. McIntosh, M.D., as chief medical officer, and Anuj Goswami, J.D., MBA, as general counsel (Press release, Gennao Bio, JAN 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234598370]).

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"We are thrilled to welcome Joe and Anuj to the Gennao Bio team. Joe is a proven leader with significant expertise in rare disease and oncology drug development and Anuj has deep legal experience leading financing and M&A transactions, as well as corporate governance, IP, and compliance activities for life science companies," said Stephen Squinto, Ph.D., chief executive officer and chair of the board of Gennao Bio. "These appointments reflect the tremendous growth of our organization, and our dedication to bringing together a best-in-class team to develop our GMAB platform for oncology and rare monogenic skeletal muscle diseases."

Dr. McIntosh joins Gennao with more than 16 years of drug development experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a focus on gene therapies and rare genetic disease. Previously, he served as chief medical officer for Jaguar Gene Therapy, responsible for the development of the company’s AAV9-based gene therapies. Prior to Jaguar, he served as chief medical officer at Aruvant Sciences, overseeing the clinical development of the company’s investigational gene therapy for sickle cell disease. Earlier in his career, he held positions of increasing leadership at PTC Therapeutics, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Eisai and Pfizer. Before joining the biopharma industry, he trained in emergency medicine at Kent and Canterbury Hospital in the UK. Dr. McIntosh earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biochemistry and a medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.

Mr. Goswami joins the Gennao team with over 20 years of experience in private practice at Ballard Spahr LLP in Philadelphia. As a partner in Ballard’s Business & Finance practice, he served numerous clients through various stages of the growth cycle, leading multi-disciplinary teams to support a range of early stage and public company clients. Mr. Goswami brings a breadth of expertise advising clients in the life sciences, technology, and retail sectors on a variety of matters, including equity and debt financing, corporate governance, M&A transactions and employment law. He received his B.A. in economics from Haverford College and his J.D. and MBA from The Ohio State University.