The R&D World Index (RDWI) slid this week even as several companies rolled out big new R&D projects. For the week ending May 9, 2025, the index closed at 3,773.11, down 3.85% (–151.24 points). Sixteen of the 25 members fell. Eli Lilly & Co. was the biggest laggard (–10.81%) despite breaking ground on a huge…
Why science ethicists are sounding skepticism and alarm on ‘de-extinction’
In April, headlines crowed that pups named Romulus and Remus — and Khaleesi — heralded the return of the dire wolf. But at a GW Law webinar, neuroscientist and executive director of The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy Lori Marino, Ph.D., urged caution, drilling into the fine print, calling them “proxies.” “What is being produced”…
ALAFIA system speeds complex molecular simulations for University of Miami drug research
The University of Miami’s Systems Drug Discovery Lab routinely runs large-scale, physics-based simulations to study protein–ligand binding and support early-stage therapeutic modeling for research. In a proof-of-concept study, the Lab incorporated ALAFIA’s AIVAS Supercomputer, powered by Ampere’s 192-core AmpereOne processor, reducing simulation times from over 24 hours to just a few. This enabled more efficient…
Funding flows to obesity, oncology and immunology: 2024 sales data show where science is paying off
Follow the money and you’ll spot the biology that paid off in 2024. PD-1 immunotherapy kept oncology on top, with Keytruda ringing up $29.5 billion in revenue. In obesity and diabetes, the top five GLP-1/GIP incretins (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Rybelsus and Trulicity) pulled in **$46.1 billion**, up a remarkable **37.8 %** year over year. And…
Health-related innovation in Morocco highlighted by resident inventor patenting activity
The continents of Europe, Asia, and the Americas are widely recognized as sources of innovation, but Africa is less known for its R&D efforts. Yet, despite certain economic challenges, Africa is beginning to take its place on the world stage for invention. Recent patenting activity can identify the seeds of such nascent creativity. Patent protection…
Cleveland Clinic’s quantum computer, CAS data power new Alzheimer’s research pact
CAS and Cleveland Clinic are joining forces, uniting CAS’s scientific knowledge management expertise with Cleveland Clinic’s AI and quantum computing capabilities to tackle drug discovery challenges in Alzheimer’s disease, while also focusing on broader research related to health, wellness, and healthy aging. The collaboration will apply Cleveland Clinic’s advanced AI algorithms to analyze CAS’s curated…
NIH layoffs threaten US’s edge in science and health innovation
With federal layoffs across various government agencies making the weekly news, one announcement deserves far more attention than it is receiving: staffing cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Amid a wave of reductions affecting civil servants in science, health, and environmental agencies, the NIH layoffs could quietly deliver a significant blow to the…
Breathing easier on the moon: NASA and Corscience team up to monitor spacesuit safety
As NASA prepares for astronauts’ return to the Moon through the Artemis program, even the most minor details inside a spacesuit can make a big difference. The top priority is ensuring astronauts can breathe safely and efficiently during long hours on the lunar surface. In pursuit of that goal, NASA has teamed up with German…
Proscia raises $50M to expand AI pathology platform amid growing demand for precision diagnostics
Proscia, a company developing digital and AI-based pathology software, has raised $50 million in a Series C funding round to expand the adoption of its Concentriq platform. The new investment brings the company’s total funding to $130 million as demand grows for more efficient diagnostic tools in oncology and other disease areas. The funding round…
A tale of two industries: How manufacturing and medical imaging experts can learn from each other
At first glance, medical and manufacturing professionals might seem worlds apart. Doctors focus on healing individuals, while manufacturers emphasize efficiency and mass production. Clinicians work with unique, ever-changing patient conditions, whereas manufacturers aim for controlled, repeatable processes to ensure product uniformity. Yet, when it comes to imaging technology, these fields have more in common than…
How HORIBA Scientific aims to bring automotive-style automation to pharma labs
Standalone instruments are out; automated workflows are in. That was a take from an interview with Andrew Whitley, VP and field officer for the HORIBA Life Science Business unit, in an interview at PittCon 2025. The company, which just announced a trio of products at the show, is applying lessons learned from its automotive testing…
8 major R&D moves this week: Roche/Genentech moves to Harvard, TSMC invests $100B, ThyssenKrupp cuts jobs and more
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending March 7, 2025, closed at 4,106.42 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index dipped –1.37% (or -56.96 basis points). Seventeen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.08% (Stellantis NV) to 12.51% (Volkswagen AG). Eight RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.25%…
Scientists tune into cells’ electrical whispers with atom-thick “microphones”
For decades, probing the electrical activity of living cells has been like listening to a symphony recorded with bulky, imprecise microphones — relying on invasive electrodes and sometimes disruptive dyes. Now, engineers at the University of California, San Diego, have unveiled a potentially life-changing invention: atom-thick semiconductors that can “hear” these faint cellular signals using…
This week in research: A space launch, breathing eyes, glaciers melting, and more
Could a new telescope unearth cosmic recipes for life? Can a cell patch rescue fading eyesight? And what’s with bubbles “galloping” in a lab? This week’s research roundup probes the surprising frontiers of astronomy, medicine, archaeology, and more — raising as many questions as it answers. Read on for highlights that challenge familiar assumptions and…
New implant may help patients regenerate their heart valves
Each year, over 5 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with heart valve disease, a condition that lacks long-term treatment options. When a heart valve is damaged due to a congenital defect, lifestyle choices, or aging, blood flow can become disrupted, potentially leading to life-threatening complications. Valve replacement and repair are the only treatments…
7 major R&D moves this week: Lilly and Merck launch a consortium with Purdue, Continental to cut jobs, Apple latest phone and more
The R&D World Index saw a slight gain last week amidst a landscape of innovation and cost-cutting within global industries. Pharma giants Eli Lilly and Merck announced a partnership with Purdue University to launch the Young Institute Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium, aimed at bolstering domestic pharmaceutical production. However, automotive supplier Continental AG revealed further job cuts…
Two-way brain-computer interface enables users to pilot drones with thoughts
Brain signals in, mechanical responses out—traditionally, that’s been the limit of many brain computer interfaces (BCIs). But in a sense, this BCI doesn’t just listen; it talks back. In a study published in Nature Electronics, a research team in China reported a two-way setup that not only efficiently decodes a user’s intentions but also sends tailored…
Gene therapy edges closer to curing rare childhood blindness
In a first for one of the most severe forms of childhood blindness, doctors in London have used gene therapy to restore vision in four children born with a rare genetic mutation (AIPL1 gene (Aryl-hydrocarbon-interacting protein-like 1). The treatment, recently profiled in The Guardian, involves injecting a functional copy of the AIPL1 gene beneath the…
Engineered mice with human telomeres could hold anti-aging clues
Washington State University scientists have reported an advance in anti-aging research by creating what they call “the first mouse model with truly humanized telomeres,” as reported in Nature Communications. Telomeres—protective chromosome caps—naturally shorten with each cell division, eventually contributing to cellular aging or death. While traditional lab mice have exceptionally long telomeres and readily express…
SwRI, UTSA use machine vision to track neuron development leading to potential therapies
A research collaboration between Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) uses machine vision algorithms to track how brain cells, or neurons, develop over time. The team aims to better understand brain cell behavior and identify new therapies for neurological disorders by monitoring how new neurons grow and integrate…
Evo 2 AI promises to accelerate genetic engineering and synthetic biology
Researchers at Arc Institute, in collaboration with NVIDIA and teams from Stanford University, UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco, have introduced Evo 2: an AI foundation model trained on the genetic sequences of more than 100,000 species. Evo 2 can identify meaningful patterns in a range of genomes and accurately predict mutations that influence disease…
7 major R&D moves this week: Honda and Nissan end merger talks, Baidu to launch driver-less taxis in UAE, Chevron is moving
The R&D World Index saw gains this week, driven partly by a surge in Intel’s value amid significant developments across various sectors. Honda and Nissan have ended their merger talks, citing concerns over autonomy and decision-making, while GlaxoSmithKline consolidates its vaccine R&D in Cambridge, MA. Novartis is set to reacquire rights to a blood clot…
The Cultivated B announces low-cost small molecules for stable, scalable cell growth
The Cultivated B has discovered a chemical class of FGFR1 agonists intended to mimic the effects of basic fibroblast growth factors (bFGF) on cell proliferation, a critical component of cell-culture media. According to the company, these small molecules provide a stable, cost-effective alternative that could have wide-ranging implications for cultivated meat, biopharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, and…
Robotic ‘backhand’ grasper achieves up to 100% grasp success for spinal cord injury patients
Among the circa 15 million people worldwide who live with spinal cord injuries (SCI), many lose critical hand function, making everyday tasks like picking up a water bottle or reaching into a cupboard extraordinarily difficult. Now, a team of UC Berkeley researchers has developed a “backhand” robotic grasper that is showing promising results—enabling individuals with…
Thermo Fisher Scientific launches new spatial imaging system for tissue proteomics research
Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the Invitrogen EVOS S1000 Spatial Imaging System, designed to help researchers generate more efficient, high-quality, multiplexed images of tissue samples. The system uses advanced spectral technology to capture images of up to nine targets simultaneously, reducing the need for multiple imaging rounds and preserving tissue integrity. “Understanding tissue structure and function…