Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
Call for pause on human genome editing
- According to Fierce Biotech, an international group of gene editing leaders has called for a 10-year ban on heritable human genome editing (HHGE) because of ethical concerns and unproven medical safety.
- The group suggests strengthening treaties, preventing patenting of HHGE technologies and rescinding funding from researchers who pursue HHGE during the moratorium.
Medtech IPO resurgence
- After a three-year drought, the medtech industry has seen a burst of initial public offering (IPO) activity, with several companies raising significant funds.
- According to MedTech Dive, despite recent IPOs, there is still market uncertainty. The volatile economic environment, including tariff tensions, has led to fluctuating stock prices and cautious optimism about future IPOs.
Major mRNA investment announced in U.K.
- A pharmaceutical company specializing in mRNA technology plans to invest up to £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in the U.K. over the next decade, according to Fierce Biotech, including the construction of two new research centers and a headquarters in London, creating over 400 full-time jobs.
- The U.K. government has pledged up to £129 million ($172 million) in grant money to support the project, marking one of the largest grants of its kind for a pharmaceutical company in U.K. history.
Biotech growth in New Jersey
- Portal Innovations is set to build a 30,000-square-foot biotech incubator lab space in New Jersey, as part of the New Jersey Innovation Hub, aiming to boost the state’s biotech and medtech sectors.
- According to Fierce Biotech, the incubator will provide nearby universities with seed capital, access to life sciences equipment, and connections to potential investors and pharma partners.
China overtakes U.S. in global drug trials
- China led global drug development last year with more than 7,100 clinical trials, surpassing the U.S.’s approximately 6,000; Axios reports this surge stems from Beijing’s decade-long biotech investment strategy.
- S companies are increasingly licensing Chinese-developed compounds, raising concerns about America’s biotech dominance and the need for stronger domestic innovation policies.
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
