Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
Personalized genetic therapy center launches for rare diseases
- According to Fierce Biotech, the new nonprofit Center for Therapeutic Genetics will bring together researchers from the Broad Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital and The Jackson Laboratory to develop personalized genetic medicines for patients with rare diseases.
- The center will initially focus on severe childhood epilepsies caused by rare genetic mutations and aims to create a more repeatable framework for custom genetic therapies using advances in gene editing and precision medicine.
Large genetics study finds new clues for borderline personality disorder
- According to Nature, researchers conducted the largest genome-wide association study of borderline personality disorder and identified 11 regions of the human genome linked to risk for the condition.
- The findings also show genetic overlap with other psychiatric and physical health conditions, giving researchers new leads for studying disease biology and potential future treatment approaches.
Type 1 diabetes screening gaps highlight early detection opportunity
- According to Fierce Pharma, a survey commissioned by a large pharmaceutical company found significant misconceptions about Type 1 diabetes that may be discouraging screening, including the belief held by nearly two-thirds of respondents that the disease is primarily diagnosed in children, even though adults account for more than half of new cases. Limited awareness of adult-onset Type 1 diabetes and uncertainty about the need for screening were identified as key barriers.
- The survey also found a gap between concern about Type 1 diabetes risk and willingness to get screened, pointing to a need for more education and physician engagement around early detection.
Plans to impose tariffs on generic drugs announced
- The White House announced plans to impose tariffs on generic drugs not manufactured in the U.S., allowing imports to remain tariff-free for the next two years, followed by 100% tariffs in August 2028 and 200% tariffs one year later. The stated goal is to encourage pharmaceutical companies to relocate generic drug manufacturing to the United States, according to EndpointsNews.
- The proposal targets heavy U.S. dependence on foreign generic drug production, particularly from countries such as China and India. Because generic drugs account for about 90% of U.S. prescriptions and only about 10% are currently manufactured domestically, industry observers expect large-scale reshoring efforts could increase costs and potentially lead to higher prices for generic medicines.
UK biotech records strongest financing quarter in five years
- Findings from the UK’s Biodindustry Association’s latest UK biotech financing report show that Q2 2026 was the strongest quarter for UK biotech venture capital investment in five years, with companies securing £2.05 billion and accounting for 61% of Europe’s £3.3 billion total.
- While a particular artificial intelligence drug discovery company dominated headlines by securing a £1.6 billion investment, funding activity was spread wide across the industry. Excluding this individual investment, UK Biotechs still secured £498 million in investment, almost double the £279 million raised in the same period last year
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
