‘It’s Super Exciting’: CRISPR-Based Cholesterol Treatment Successful In Monkeys, Moves Into Human Trials
Verve Therapeutics says its one-time treatment significantly reduced LDL cholesterol for six months. The company hopes to begin clinical trials next year on people born with HeFH, a genetic heart disease that causes lifelong, high LDL levels. Other news is on Intarcia Therapeutics and AI tools.
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Verve Selects Its First CRISPR Base Editing Treatment For Human Trials
Verve Therapeutics said Tuesday its one-time treatment that uses the “base editing” form of CRISPR to remove a cholesterol-associated gene in monkeys has demonstrated durable and significant reductions in LDL “bad” cholesterol for six months. Based on these new data, Verve intends to advance the treatment, called VERVE-101, into clinical development for people born with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or HeFH, a genetic heart disease that causes lifelong, high LDL levels. (Feuerstein, 1/12)
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Key Investor Writes Down Stake In Former Diabetes Unicorn Intarcia
Intarcia Therapeutics, a one-time biotech unicorn that has been unable to secure approval for a diabetes implant, has lost the support of a major Chinese investor and is being forced to auction lab equipment for the cash it needs to remain in business. China-based Luxin Venture Capital Group has written down to zero its investment in Intarcia, according to documents reviewed by STAT. Luxin invested $30 million in the company’s 2016 venture round. (Sheridan and Feuerstein, 1/12)
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Health Tech Experts Explain Why Trust Is Crucial For Clinical AI Tools
It was a slight departure from the usual Consumer Electronics Show panel: Rather than touting the latest health gadgets that attendees have come to expect from the annual Las Vegas tech bonanza, panelists at a session on trust in AI for health care grappled with how to ensure the tools don’t worsen inequality or create new problems for health care providers. (Brodwin, 1/12)
