Three patients whose lower bodies were left completely paralyzed after spinal cord injuries were able to walk, cycle and swim using a nerve-stimulation device controlled by a touchscreen tablet, researchers reported on Feb. 7.

As a general rule, whatever health condition a person may have, COVID-19 makes it worse. But COVID-19 also causes certain conditions or is being implicated in their earlier onset. Type 1 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease are prime examples. Now, researchers report that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may also cause fetal inflammation, even when the placenta itself is not inflamed.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Sanofi’s proposed drug to address red blood cell destruction in patients living with a rare form of anemia called cold agglutinin disease (CAD). 

Aside from vaccines, the advent of several effective COVID-19 antiviral therapies, including Pfizer’s Paxlovid, provides hope for ending the pandemic. Details about the U.S. government’s contract with Pfizer for 10 million doses of Paxlovid are emerging, with some unusual elements.

Biogen is backing Genentech on developing a bispecific antibody aimed at B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company exercised an option to participate in Roche Group member Genentech’s development of mosunetuzumab under a long-standing collaboration for antibodies targeting CD20.

A multinational team of researchers genetically engineered T-lymphocytes to produce dual receptor rejuvenated T-cells, which exhibit antitumor properties with persistent, unlimited availability in vivo.

Scientists believe that Alzheimer’s disease is a potential cause of not just beta-amyloid accumulation, but also immune system dysfunction.

Merck

Researchers studying Merck & Co. Inc.’s cancer drug Keytruda for HIV patients who also have cancer say the immunotherapy may help displace the virus from human immune cells, offering an intriguing area of study for treatment of chronic HIV infection.

Kyverna Therapeutics secured an additional $85 million following a successful Series B financing round to support various projects in the company’s pipeline of therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 

Temps are falling and so is investor cash as BioSpace reviewed which biotech companies are scooping up the dollars.