Roman Kasianov

Roche has unveiled its proprietary Sequencing by Expansion (SBX) technology, marking its return to the next-generation sequencing (NGS) space. SBX introduces a new biochemical approach designed to address the limitations of current sequencing technologies, particularly in speed, scalability, and signal clarity. The technology was presented shortly before the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) conference, accompanied by a technical webinar led by Mark Kokoris, vice president and head of SBX technology at Roche.

A recent study from researchers affiliated with Insilico Medicine has identified Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK) inhibition as a potential method for reducing the effects of cellular aging. The research implies there's potential for INS018_055, a TNIK inhibitor, to limit the buildup of aging cells and associated inflammation, which are linked to age-related diseases.

Illumina has announced a collaboration with the Broad Institute on a Spatial Flagship Project aimed at advancing spatial transcriptomics research using Illumina’s newly developed spatial technology platform. The partnership was revealed ahead of the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) General Meeting in Florida, where researchers from both organizations, alongside St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), are scheduled to present early research findings.

Evo 2, the largest AI foundation model for biology to date, is now publicly available via NVIDIA BioNeMo (Arc Institute's preprint), offering researchers a tool for analyzing and generating genomic sequences at an unprecedented scale. The model is a result of a collaboration between the Arc Institute, NVIDIA, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.

Spore.Bio, a Paris-based deeptech startup, has raised $23 million in a Series A funding round, led by Singular, just two years after its founding. The company is developing AI-powered microbiology testing that significantly reduces the time needed to detect bacterial contamination in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic manufacturing.

The round also saw participation from Point 72 Ventures, 1st Kind Ventures, Station F, Lord David Prior, LocalGlobe, No Label Ventures, and Famille C. The funding follows an €8 million pre-seed round raised in December 2023.

The recent turmoil surrounding federal research funding—including the NIH policy to cap indirect costs at 15%—has left many early-stage biotech startups in financial limbo. In response, Altitude Lab, a biotech accelerator founded by Recursion in Salt Lake City, has launched a pre-seed venture fund to support Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)-reviewed startups affected by these funding disruptions.

Latent Labs, a company developing AI models for computational protein design, has raised $50 million in funding and announced its emergence from stealth. The funding includes a $40 million Series A, co-led by Radical Ventures and Sofinnova Partners, with participation from Flying Fish, Isomer, 8VC, Kindred Capital, and Pillar VC. Additional investors include Google Chief Scientist Jeff Dean, Aidan Gomez (Cohere), and Mati Staniszewski (ElevenLabs).

Receptor.AI and Moexa Pharmaceuticals Limited have announced a partnership to accelerate the development of Moexa’s SMAD3 inhibitors for cancer and fibrosis. The collaboration aims to integrate AI-driven drug discovery workflows with Moexa’s small molecule inhibitors, which have shown promising preclinical results.

Advarra, a provider of regulatory review solutions and clinical research technology, has introduced its Study Collaboration solution, designed to streamline site activation workflows, improve stakeholder engagement, and enhance visibility across clinical trials. The new offering combines Advarra’s Longboat technology, acquired in 2020, with its study startup delivery program and single sign-on capabilities, aiming to reduce delays in trial timelines.

RyboDyn, a biotechnology company targeting the “dark proteome,” has announced the discovery of a previously hidden human proteome and closed a $4 million pre-seed financing round. The funding will advance the development of novel immunotherapies for cancer and other diseases.