University of Pennsylvania

At the Skin of Color Update 2024 conference, Susan C. Taylor discussed diagnosis and management of hair disorders in skin of color patients, focusing on central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), which can lead to misdiagnosis and psychosocial burden. CCCA is common in men and often underdiagnosed, with dermatoscopic features like peripilar halo and honeycomb pattern. Comorbidities include hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. Taylor also introduced other hair loss types like lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, and traction alopecia, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis and treatment in diverse populations.

Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative's I-SPY 2.2 trial aims to personalize treatment for high-risk early-stage breast cancer patients, potentially preventing recurrence and improving outcomes. The trial's adaptive design allows for treatment optimization based on individual responses, accelerating drug development and delivery for various diseases.

IBI363 received FDA fast track designation for melanoma; Boruzu, a ready-to-use bortezomib, was approved for multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma; combining lenvatinib with pembrolizumab shows efficacy in non-clear renal cell carcinoma; cost-effectiveness of TKIs in chronic myeloid leukemia was discussed; immunotherapies for T-cell lymphomas were reviewed.

New dual-layer nanopore system, GURU, offers precise detection and control of molecules like DNA, enhancing sequencing technology and overcoming limitations of protein-based systems.

Researchers led by Marija Drndić and Dimitri Monos have developed a dual-layer nanopore system (GURU) that enhances DNA sequencing and protein identification by providing precise control and detection of molecules. This platform, eliminating the need for proteins, offers improved accuracy and longer operational lifespans, potentially revolutionizing sequencing technologies for complex genomic regions like HLA genes.

Tyra Biosciences appoints Dr. Doug Warner as Chief Medical Officer to oversee clinical portfolio and lead development strategies for TYRA-300, TYRA-200, and TYRA-430, aiming to improve clinical outcomes in oncology and skeletal dysplasias.

Roivant acquires mosliciguat from Bayer for pulmonary hypertension; Viridian's thyroid eye disease treatment succeeds in Phase 3; Verily alums launch Highlander Health for clinical research optimization; House passes BIOSECURE Act restricting business with Chinese biotechs; Candid Therapeutics raises $370M for bispecific antibody therapies; Merck's Keytruda faces potential competition from Akeso's ivonescimab; Penn's gene therapy ATSN-101 shows promise for rare blindness.

Adfire Health's Talent Engagement division spins off into Rave Health, expanding to include patient marketing services under CEO Richard Kaskel. Rave Health aims to enhance healthcare marketing through advanced data analytics and technology.

NSF invests $75M in five new biofoundries to support bioeconomy, envisioning it as one of five future industries. These facilities will democratize access to technology, train workforce in biology, computer science, AI, and robotics, and standardize techniques for industrial scale. NSF also launched a new directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, focusing on biotechnology with over $530M in funding.

New results show promise in treating Leber congenital amaurosis 1 (LCA1) with ATSN-101, an AAV5 gene therapy. Some patients experienced a 10,000-fold improvement in vision, with rapid improvements lasting at least 12 months. Published in *The Lancet*, the study highlights the potential of gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases.