Your missing links are here (14 May 2020)

Some of the best stuff we picked up around the Internet

By: Rasmus Kragh Jakobsen - May. 14, 2020

Sherlock Biosciences makes history and receives FDA authorization for a CRISPR technology product. Their CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 test kits will bring speed and precision to diagnostics in the fight against COVID19. Press release.
So well deserved! Cancer researcher and immunotherapy pioneer Carl June elected to the U.S. National Academy of Science. Earlier this year, June spoke to us on the first two CRISPR gene therapies here and here.
An illuminating interview with AAV pioneer Guangping Gao - from Chinas cultural revolution to the gene therapy revolution.
European Medicines Agency (EMA) names CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing therapy an orphan drug for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB), known as Butterfly's Skin. It is the first drug using genome-edited cells in Spain. Press release.

STOPCovid. New CRISPR Coronavirus Test Could Be a Pandemic 'Game-Changer'. The test »gives results as simply as a pregnancy test does« writes Carl Zimmer in NYTimes.
Urgent need for improved and more accessible testing for COVID-19 is driving CRISPR-based diagnostics.

Nature paper shows precise simultaneous correction of several mutations in monkey embryos using CRISPR base editing.
Fascinating BioRxiv paper: Automated design of CRISPR prime editors for thousands of human pathogenic variants.
Programming PAM antennae promote up to 50% more efficient CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.
Genome Editing Helps Cell Lines 'Clean Up' Their Protein Production.
CRISPR-based gene editing enables FOXP3 gene repair in IPEX patient cells.
Light-controlled guide RNA hones CRISPR targeting. »In principle, multicolour targeting systems could be developed to allow different genes to be switched off simultaneously or at different times.«
Highly efficient zinc finger gene editing of Cystic Fibrosis patient-derived airway basal cells demonstrate efficient functional correction of CFTR and provide a platform for further ex vivo and in vivo editing.

CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals drug - CTX001 for the Treatment of Severe Hemoglobinopathies - granted FDA Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT). The designation will speed development and review for the new blood-disease treatment. Press release.
CRISPR Therapeutics stock jumps 15% in 2 days after their CRISPR drug was granted fast track. COO Lawrence Otto Klein sells 25,000 shares.
Durham’s Kriya Therapeutics lands $80M to advance gene therapies for diabetes and severe obesity.
Two of MilliporeSigma's CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing patents have been allowed in the U.S. The company is licensing this foundational technology which provides researchers with tools to 'knock-in' or 'knock-out' mutations. Press release.
Intellia Therapeutics reports progress on CRISPR/Cas9 AML cancer therapy using proprietary cell engineering process at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT).
Intellia Therapeutics names David Lebwohl, M.D., Chief Medical Officer
Genentech lures prize-winning cancer researcher Aviv Regev from Broad Institute to lead research and early development.

Lots of interesting sessions at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the ASGCT (American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy). Did You miss some? - for the registered attendees recordings are available.
Engineering Vero Cell Lines Using CRISPR to Increase Production of Viral Vaccines.
TODAY: Kiana Aran, Cardea Bio on Synthego's CRISPR Office Hours: Fighting COVID-19 with CRISPR-Chip Powered Diagnostics.