In an historic first successful procedure, surgeons in the US have transplanted a genetically modified pig heart into a patient
This was made possible through advances in the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology; researchers could genetically tweak the pig organ so the human immune system wouldn't reject it. The group of researchers inactivated 62 porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in pig embryos. These viruses are embedded in all pig's genomes and cannot be treated or neutralized.
CRISPR tech startups have raised more than $2B globally over the last four years. Global VC funding has gone from $172M in 2016 to $882M in 2021, a 5.1x increase. In 2021, investment was driven mainly by megarounds, an 86% of total investment. The largest rounds: Arbor Biotechnologies ($215M Series B), Inscripta ($150M Series E) and Mammoth Biosciences ($150M Series D). Have a look at all rounds here.
By December 2021, CRISPR tech startups have reached a combined enterprise value of $37.5B, a 15x increase in the last five years. Today, Intellia Therapeutics is the most valued company at $7.3B, followed by CRISPR Therapeutics ($5.31B) and Beam Therapeutics ($4.9B).
🫀Artificial Intelligence tool could help GPs diagnose heart failure. Using a ‘smart’ stethoscope – the Eko DUO device – that records electrocardiograms (ECGs) as well as heart sounds, the researchers applied the novel AI algorithm that determines within 15 seconds whether the pumping action of their hearts is weakened, providing an immediate diagnosis of heart failure
🇺🇸 Eikon Therapeutics, live-cell super-resolution microscopy to drug discovery, raised $518M in Series B.
🇺🇸 Maze Therapeutics with the mission to find so-called genetic modifiers, or genes that can change the severity of a monogenetic disease like sickle cell, raised $190M.
We've added a new tab on company profiles to show details of the patents that the company has received. You can filter for this data in the Advanced Filters > Patents tab. For instance, CRISPR Therapeutics has a patent in “Universal Donor Cells”, an in vitro method for generating a universal donor cell.
Job opportunities
Avi Medical is hiring for 40 positions, including Head of Product, Managing Director, Head of Clinical Operations, and more.
AccuRx is hiring for 38 positions for IT Manager, Product Designer, Finance Analyst, and more.
This is Dealroom's weekly health newsletter. Get more industry-specific intelligence on the evolving world of healthtech and biotech, emerging trends, and game-changing startups. Delivered on Thursdays.
Dealroom.co, Cornelis Dirkszstraat 27-2, 1056 TP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands