Scientists have managed to engineer viruses that can infect only specific bacteria. This discovery opens up vast opportunities for medical innovation through new forms of therapy — but it also raises serious concerns about potential misuse, including the development of biological weapons.
Dutch firm Pharming Group has announced that its workforce reduction plan is progressing as scheduled. Up to 20% of non-medical staff could lose their jobs — mainly those based at the company’s headquarters. The goal is to boost operational efficiency and achieve profitability more quickly.
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is betting on AI. The company has just signed a deal worth up to $555 million with U.S.-based startup Algen Biotechnologies. The partnership aims to advance therapies that combine gene editing with artificial intelligence.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine this year has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow (Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle), Frederick J. Ramsdell (Sonoma Biotherapeutics, San Francisco) and Shimon Sakaguchi (Osaka University) “for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.” The 11 million Swedish kronor prize will be shared equally, and the award ceremony will traditionally take place on 10 December in Stockholm.