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Sana Biotechnology inks $50M deal for precise gene editing system from Beam Therapeutics

GeekWire

Sana Biotechnology has a new $50 million tool in its toolbox. Beam may also receive additional payments, for instance upon the achievement of development and sales milestones. Sana aims to develop therapeutics for conditions as diverse as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. Sana CEO and president Steve Harr.

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Seattle-based Icosavax, which is developing COVID-19 vaccines, files for IPO 4 years after launch

GeekWire

Icosavax creates virus-like particles with technology licensed from the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design. The company, a spin-out from the UW’s Institute for Protein Design , is developing vaccines to resemble naturally occurring viruses. Icosavax Photo).

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Cell therapy startup Immusoft lands deal with Takeda worth potentially more than $900M

GeekWire

Seattle-based cell therapy startup Immusoft will collaborate with pharma giant Takeda to develop treatments targeted to the central nervous system in a deal worth potentially more than $900 million. Immusoft CEO Sean Ainsworth. Immusoft Photo). Immusoft closed a $33 million Series B round last year, noted FierceBiotech.

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Shares of Neoleukin Therapeutics spike after announcing layoffs and potential sale or merger

GeekWire

The publicly traded Seattle biotech company hired investment bank SVB Securities to review potential alternatives including a sale, merger, asset divestiture or licensing. “It Neoleukin shifted its focus to developing other protein therapeutics.

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Merck’s multi-billion dollar bet on Seattle Genetics sparks hope for breast cancer treatments

GeekWire

based biotechnology company struck a deal with Merck in which the pharmaceutical powerhouse will provide a $600 million upfront payment and make a $1 billion equity investment to continue development of treatments for breast cancer. billion if development milestones are met, and another $1.75 Merck will own about 2.9

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Life sciences startups in Eastern Washington find a welcoming ecosystem away from big cities

GeekWire

Washington State University assistant professor and Appiture Biotechnologies co-founder Georgina Lynch. Hojah received funding from Simpson and other backers to launch his eight-employee startup developing assistive technologies for people with multiple sclerosis and other conditions. WSU Photo).

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Seattle biotech startup AltPep raises $23.1M to tackle Alzheimer’s and related diseases

GeekWire

AltPep is developing tools and treatments for diseases caused by amyloid proteins that are incorrectly folded and create harmful deposits. The UW has licensed the exclusive rights of this intellectual property to the startup. Another Seattle-area biotech startup, Athira Pharma, is also developing treatments for Alzheimer’s.