In July, American pharmaceutical giant Merck completed the $3 billion acquisition of a biotech firm named Eyebio. The deal included a hefty upfront cash payment of $1.3 billion.
The centrepiece of the acquisition was EYE103, a cutting-edge, antibody-based drug with remarkable potential to treat retinal diseases caused by vascular leakage, such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD), diabetic macular oedema (DME), and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR).
NVAMD affects over 200 million people globally, while millions more with type-1 or type-2 diabetes are at risk of developing DME. FEVR is a disorder that can lead to progressive vision loss. These conditions had no cures and EYE103 offers hope as a first drug of its kind. Its innovative antibody activates the Wnt-signalling pathway-a protein network that transmits cellular information-strengthening blood vessel integrity in the eye and preventing fluid build-up in the retina.
The antibody molecule in EYE103 is one of thousands of engineered antibodies-each with the potential to become future drugs for a range of serious illnesses, from cancer to rare diseases originating from the lab of Canadian researcher Sachdev Sidhu.
The 55-year-old recently returned to his country of origin for an event. I met him for a teatime interview at a bistro beside the serene artificial lake at the Taj Kumarakom Resort in Kerala. I was expecting a formally attired, jargon-spewing man of science. But, my preconceived notions were quickly shattered. Sidhu, the author of more than 200 scientific papers, a co-inventor on more than 50 patents granted by or filed with the US patent office, and a professor and entrepreneurin-residence at the University of Waterloo, arrived in shorts and a round-neck T-shirt and ordered a glass of wine. In response to one of my early questions, he quoted American rapper Snoop Dogg.
Bu hikaye THE WEEK India dergisinin December 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye THE WEEK India dergisinin December 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Forging the future
As the curtain falls on 2024, I take pride in the extraordinary milestones achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This year stands as a testament to the Modi government's resolve to forge a resilient and forward-looking Bharat. From groundbreaking advancements in infrastructure to visionary global initiatives, these efforts resonate deeply with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Our strange democracy
Abraham Lincoln is lauded as among the very best presidents the US ever had: the statesman par excellence successfully steered the nation through the devastating and perilous years of the American civil war. Not only did Lincoln manage to keep his country united, he also ensured the passage of the 13th amendment to the US constitution, which abolished slavery.
Five years of post-pandemic fashion
It has been five years since we discovered what Covid-19 was, and five years since it disrupted the world forever. The World Health Organization activated their emergency systems on January 1, 2020, and informed the world by January 4, 2020. By the end of that week, they had set guidelines for various countries to follow. Comparable to the Spanish flu of 1918, more than 7 million people have died of Covid according to official data. Unofficially, no one has an idea. WHO has just this week asked China to provide critical data to understand the virus's origins as a “moral and scientific imperative”.
Community spirit
Rhythm of Dammam opens a window to the world of African-origin Siddis of Uttara Kannada
'Breaking' down a scandal
Society Girl is not just a case study of a high-profile death in Pakistan but also a stark commentary on media trials
Progress card
Jasmine Shah's book tells you what the AAP has achieved in Delhi in the last 10 years
SENSE IN NONSENSE
In his latest book of poetry, Ruskin Bond is at his funniest
Get ready for Trump bump
The ‘butterfly effect’ is a beautiful, mysterious metaphor of the planet’s interconnectedness.
QUIET FLOWS THE FAITH
The melding of an ancient amorphous faith and the latest science; of an antique tradition and new practices; ways of life older than memory and new expressions is happening at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
Trash to treasure
How a weed-choked Dal Lake spurred Maninder Singh's journey to become a waste management visionary
