Last Week’s Poll Results:

Have recent developments in preclinical toxicology screening changed your view of Animal Testing? 

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes ✅ - With developments in computational biology, I don't see animal testing as necessary as it once was. (5)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No ❌ - We should still be performing preclinical animal testing to prove safety. (2)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No 😐️ - I never supported animal testing to begin with! (0)

Insights from Tardigrades offer to Improve Medications

By Imagine Biotech

Tardigrades, sometimes referred to as “Water Bears” due to their appearance and the environment in which they live, are able to survive extreme temperatures, 6x the pressure at the bottom of the ocean, and even the vacuum of space. With more that 1300 cataloged species of Tardigrades, researchers have begun studying how an organism can endure such harsh conditions, and how insight can be applied to drug development.

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🌍 Found in extreme environments: from 20,000 feet up in the Himalayas to 15,000 feet deep in the ocean.

🌠 Survived the vacuum of space and intense solar radiation for 10 days during experiments aboard the ISS.

🛡️ Can survive temperatures as low as -328°F (-200°C) and as high as 300°F (150°C).

💧 Can lose up to 99% of their water and still rehydrate back to life.

⚛️ Survive doses of radiation up to 5,000 grays, while humans typically die at around 5 grays.

⏳ Capable of surviving for decades in a suspended state, returning to life when conditions improve.

🔬 Tardigrades are just 0.3 to 0.5 mm long (about the size of a grain of sand) and can only be seen under a microscope.

🔬 Have unique DNA repair mechanisms that allow them to withstand extreme environmental stress.

Their resilience against radiation and dehydration offers insights into creating drugs that enhance human cell survival under extreme conditions. These findings could be critical in fields such as space exploration, cancer treatments, and therapies that protect cells from damage

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Heather Maynard, professor of chemistry / biochemistry and researcher at UCLA, intrigued by how Tardigrades were able to survive such harsh environments, began investigating the organism. Through her research, Maynard discovered that a sugar molecule, Trehalose, was responsible for stabilizing the whole Tardigrade organism. Taking it one step further, Maynard proceeded to engineer her own polymer based upon Trehalose which she named pTrMA.

• A polymer is a molecule composed of smaller molecules referred to as monomers. Carbohydrates are an example of a polymer made from simple sugars.

Taking her pTrMA back to the lab, Maynard investigated the polymer’s effect on Insulin and discovered that even at temperatures close to 200°F. Without pTrMA present, insulin that is heated or shaken can clump resulting in clogged needles of insulin pumps and sometimes even resulting in sickness. It is industry standard that insulin is refrigerated while being transported which can lead to logistical complexity. Maynard’s pTrMA offers to solve this issue by simplifying and reducing the cost of transporting Insulin.

• Tardigrades can survive up to 1000x the amount of radiation that is fatal to a human.

From surviving the harshest conditions imaginable to providing insight potentially resulting in increased simplicity and cost effectiveness of Insulin transport, the Tardigrade is an extremely useful organism in drug development. If only one aspect of the water bear’s mind-boggling survival capability is able to supply potentially life saving insight, one can only imagine what is in store as further research continues.

| 📰 Weekly News 📰 |

💓 Bayer sees success in heart failure treatment Kerendia 💊 

Bayer has announced the results of a phase three heart failure trial for Kerendia. Initially approved as a therapeutic for chronic kidney disease associated with Type 2 diabetes 3 years ago, the drug has recently proved itself in Phase 3 heart failure trials. A 16% reduction in the risk of cardio death lead Bayer’s results and coupled with a 70% YoY increase in sales for Kerendia, the future looks bright.

🖋️ Rate cuts likely to boost Biotech stock performance 🧪 

For the first time since 2020, the Federal Reserve is almost certain to cut interest rates in the coming weeks. Biotech and Pharmaceutical companies, who allocate large swaths of their budget towards R&D along with clinical trials have had a hard time justifying capital raises when interest rates are near 5%. As rates are cut, companies have an easier time justifying taking on less costly debt that can further operations. With more than 80% of companies in the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF losing money, access to cash is paramount for biotech companies looking to continue operations and development.

💵 Sanofi sees mixed results but potential for MS treatment 🧠 

Four years ago, Sanofi purchased Principia Biopharma for approximately $3.68 billion dollars. The deal, originally aimed at expanding Sanofi’s neurology portfolio, saw the acquisition of tolebrutinib— a therapeutic intended for multiple sclerosis treatment. Recent announcements regarding the efficacy of tolebrutinib have been less than stellar. In two Phase 2 studies of the therapeutic, the drug didn’t outperform any other Sanofi portfolio medicine. Tolebrutinib was noted, however, to sufficiently prevent the progression of a less common, “non-relapsing secondary progressive” form of the disease. While only summary results were announced, specific data supporting the claims is to be announced at a meeting later in the month.

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