cell therapy

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are highlighting a newly described mechanical 'force' that appears to influence both cancer progression and the fitness of immune cells. The work suggests physical forces inside tissues, not just chemical signals, may shape how tumours grow and how effectively immune cells fight disease, with potential implications for future cancer therapies.

Billionaire physician and NantWorks founder Patrick Soon-Shiong has invested in new funding rounds for two biomanufacturing startups, Prolific Machines and Multiply Labs, according to Fierce Pharma. The moves signal growing interest in applying chip-based and robotics-driven technology to drug and cell therapy manufacturing, an area seen as a bottleneck for biotech production.

Researchers report that a circular RNA, CircAbcc1, encodes a protein called ABCC1-677aa that modulates the DLX1 molecule to suppress ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, in chronic cerebral ischemia. The finding, published in Nature, points to a previously unknown mechanism that could inform future therapies for reduced blood flow to the brain and the neuronal damage it causes.

Acupuncture Today examines whether light therapy can improve the zeta potential of blood, a measure of the electrical charge on red blood cells that influences how they clump or flow. The discussion explores the proposed mechanism and what it could mean for circulation and general health, though firm clinical conclusions remain limited.

BioProcess International has released an eBook on autologous cell therapies, focusing on how manufacturing processes and patient access models must evolve for personalized medicine to scale. The publication examines the challenges of producing individualized therapies, including supply chain complexity, cost pressures, and the infrastructure needed to deliver cell treatments to more patients.

Researchers report that naturally occurring RNA modifications in archaea, single-celled microorganisms often found in extreme environments, are strikingly similar to chemical modifications scientists use in modern medicine, including in RNA-based therapies and vaccines. The finding suggests these microbes independently evolved chemistry that medical research relies on, offering new clues about RNA biology and potential directions for drug development.

Editas Medicine said it will present posters at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy's 33rd Annual Congress and take part in an upcoming investor conference. The gene-editing company did not disclose further details in the announcement, and no data summaries or pipeline updates were included with the initial notice.

A Nature publication examines targeting ribosome biogenesis, the process by which cells build their protein-making machinery. The research is drawing attention in biology and medicine because the ribosome assembly pathway is considered a promising target for new drugs, particularly in cancer treatment, where rapidly dividing cells depend heavily on ribosome production.

A University of California San Diego-led study reports that pancreatic cancer cells can change their genetic makeup, revealing a mechanism by which the disease may adapt and evolve. The finding could help explain why pancreatic cancer is so aggressive and hard to treat, and may open new avenues for research into therapies targeting this cellular adaptability.