News Digest #216 – Synthorx raises $63M, new startup Mammoth uses CRISPR to tackle diagnostics

Hi all,This week, Mammoth Biosciences, co-founded by Jennifer Doudna, launched the world’s first and only CRISPR-enabled platform capable of detecting any biomarker or disease containing DNA or RNA. The technology could replace the need for dedicated testing devices, while also increasing accessibility and ease-of-use.

“With use cases ranging from individuals to larger healthcare systems, agriculture, mining, and beyond, Mammoth is taking CRISPR out of the lab to create something that is transformative for the general public”, said co-founder Jennifer Doudna.

Synthorx raised $63 million in Series C financing to advance the development of Synthorin cytokines, which use the company’s expanded genetic alphabet technology. Cytokines enhance the antitumor activity of checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, CAR-T therapies, and oncolytic viruses.

Laura Shawver, president, CEO, and director of Synthorx.Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute has co-founded another CRISPR startup, Beam Therapeutics, which has raised the first $13 million of a Series A financing round.The Center for Excellence in Engineering Biology and the leadership of Genome Project-write (GP-write) announced its first grand-scale community-wide project: to develop “ultra-safe cells” that resist natural viruses, plus partial resistance to aging, cancer, and other harms.Finally, Ryan Bethencourt, CEO of Wild Earth, is leading the charge towards a different kind of pet food. With the first fungi-based plant food launching late 2018, they are at the forefront of a new approach to feeding animals. The company kicked off with $4 million and their plan is to go after the entire pet food market.

Have a great rest of the week.Regards,John

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