Good morning, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you. Given that this is already the middle of the week and we have survived this far, no reason not to continue, yes? Just consider the alternatives. In fact, this modest accomplishment calls for celebration. So please join us in quaffing a ritual cup of needed stimulation. Our choice today is the pistachio creme, which goes quite well with pistachio baklava. Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest to help you along. Once again, we hope you have a successful day and, of course, keep in touch. We enjoy hearing your tips, feedback, and tidbits….
An Eli Lilly gene therapy allowed an 11-year-old boy who was born deaf to hear again 30 days after participating in a clinical trial, The New York Times explains. The goal of the therapy is to replace the mutated otoferlin gene in patient ears with a functional gene. The trial is one of five that are either underway — the others are in China and Europe — or about to start. Investigators from all five of the studies will be presenting their data on Feb. 3 at a meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology. The therapy was developed by Akouos, which Lilly recently purchased for about $487 million.
U.K. government ministers are hoping to secure a major new vaccines investment by AstraZeneca with a possible state aid package worth tens of millions of dollars, in a deal that would deliver a big boost to the country’s life sciences sector, The Financial Times reports. The investment would be a coup for the government after AstraZeneca chief executive officer Pascal Soriot last year chose Ireland over the U.K. for a new $360 million factory, blaming a “discouraging” U.K. tax rate. The main corporate tax rate is 25% and Soirot complained that the U.K. government had not been supportive enough of the industry in recent years.