Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Meghana Keshavan
Published on 2024-02-09 14:38:22
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an area of increasing interest and investment in biotechnology. This week, our biotech podcast delves into this topic, along with other notable news, including the lackluster efficacy of Moderna’s RSV vaccine compared to its competitors, and a hearing led by Senator Bernie Sanders about prescription drug pricing which left many feeling underwhelmed.
Recently, Metagenomi, a gene editing startup, raised $94 million in an initial public offering. This is just one example of the increasing interest and investment in biotech. But what about AI in the biotech industry? It has promised to revolutionize medicine and healthcare by finding new drug targets, designing therapies, and improving clinical trials. On our podcast, STAT’s Casey Ross joins us to explain how AI is being utilized in the biotech industry, as well as a conversation with Joel Dudley, a partner at Innovation Endeavors, about how to discern the most promising ideas from those that are a waste of time.
In contrast, a hearing led by Senator Bernie Sanders on prescription drug pricing, which included the participation of CEOs from major pharmaceutical companies, did not deliver the new ideas and solutions that many had hoped for. Questions failed to elicit meaningful responses, leaving many feeling unsatisfied with the lack of progress on the issue of high drug prices.
One piece of upcoming news involves Gritstone Bio and their Phase 2 studies on a personalized cancer vaccine targeting a specific form of colon cancer. These neoantigen vaccines are tailored to teach a patient’s own T cells how to recognize mutated cancer proteins specific to the individual patient’s cancer in order to increase the chances of successful treatment.
However, not all news is positive. Analysts have raised concerns about Moderna’s RSV vaccine, noting a faster decline in efficacy compared to vaccines from GSK and Pfizer. While initial data showed promising results for Moderna, follow-up data has raised doubts among analysts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will convene an advisory committee to discuss Moderna’s vaccine candidate in the coming days.
Aside from these headline stories, the biotech industry continues to see a surge in the number of companies going public. As an indication of the rapid pace of developments in this sector, Kyverna recently completed a $319 million upsized IPO, adding to the growing number of biotech companies entering the public market.
The House has also passed a ban on the use of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in federal health programs, demonstrating an ongoing focus on policy issues that impact the biotech industry.
In conclusion, AI has become a significant focus in biotech, with the potential to revolutionize medicine and healthcare. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of vaccines, ongoing clinical trials, and the increasing number of biotech companies entering the public market continue to shape the landscape of the industry. However, the challenges related to drug pricing and efficacy remain prominent issues that need to be addressed.
