Our ability to use engineered bacteria for cancer therapy is rapidly expanding. A survey of preclinical, clinical and commercial efforts provides an overview of the state of the field, revealing trends that could inform future directions.

Recent patents relating to epigenetic modification and analysis.

Recent moves of note in and around the biotech and pharma industries.

A semiannual snapshot of job expansions, reductions and availability in the biotech and pharma sectors.

Genome sequencing in newborns is delivering insights into severe genetic diseases not afforded by traditional tests, but integrating genomics into newborn screening remains a logistics and cost challenge.

The predominance of manufacturing process patents asserted in litigation by originator biologics companies against would-be biosimilar entrants has resulted in a number of Congressional and administrative agency proposals that could increase scrutiny and limit enforceability.

A recent study found high amounts of microplastics in the human brain. This could spur funding and technological advances for plastic degradation.

Society, patients and clinicians welcome a much-needed non-opioid pain medication. Vertex’s first-in-class analgesic Journavx could soon be followed by a new generation of addiction-free pain drugs acting at Na_V1.8 sodium channels.