More big biotech deals on the docket this week. First, Merck KGaA is buying Bio-Techne for $11.3 billion to expand its presence in high-growth life science markets. We dive into the details of this deal and then turn our attention to a $2.5 million collaboration to use artificial intelligence to find drug candidates for neuroimmune disorders. That deal involves Insilico Medicine and SK Biopharmaceuticals. Still on the theme of AI, we discuss Anthropic’s Claude Science, the latest entrant to the growing ecosystem of tech platforms specialized for biology, and a set of models for antibiotic design and vaccine target prediction. Lastly, we dig into two recent publications that discuss vaccines for Nipah virus and one of its relatives, and for treating schistosomiasis.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, PhD, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

Merck KGaA to Acquire Bio-Techne for $11.3B, Expanding Life Science Tools Presence

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, June 25, 2026

Insilico, SK Launch Up-to-$2.5B Neuroimmune AI Drug Collaboration

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, June 28, 2026

Claude Science Is Here, Antibiotics Designed by Text Prompt Among Applications

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, June 30, 2026

Schistosomiasis Vaccine Shows Strong Immune Memory in Early Clinical Trials

GEN, June 29, 2026

Nipah and Hendra Viruses: Antibody Cocktail Provides Complete Protection in Hamster Model

GEN, June 26, 2026

Touching Base Podcast

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Behind the Breakthroughs

Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD

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We are still talking about big pharma deals and biotech fundraising in this episode. The big news this week was Parabilis Medicines’s history-making IPO. We dive into the drug developer’s plans for the eye-popping $770.5 million that it raised. Next, we discuss the details of a collaboration between Merck and Protillion Biosciences to use artificial intelligence to discover multiple therapeutic candidates. Turning to some newly published research, we discuss the early results of a first-in-human clinical trial that is testing a dual vaccine against Lassa fever and rabies, a CRISPR system engineered to selectively trigger cancer cell death by chromatin shredding, and a novel mRNA delivery platform for delivering gene therapies starting with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Uduak Thomas, and Fay Lin, PhD, for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

StockWatch: Parabilis Medicines Makes Wall Street History with $770.5M IPO

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, June 14, 2026

Merck, Protillion Launch AI Drug Discovery Collaboration with Up-to-$510M in Milestone Payments

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, June 16, 2026

First-in-Human Trial Reports Promising Dual Lassa–Rabies Vaccine Data

GEN, June 9, 2026

CRISPR Shreds Undruggable Cancer Cells with Precision

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, June 8, 2026

New mRNA Delivery Platform Restores Muscle Function in DMD Models

GEN, June 11, 2026

Touching Base Podcast

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Behind the Breakthroughs

Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we start with news that Fulcrum Therapeutics is scrapping its lead pipeline program for sickle cell disease following concerns from the FDA about the drug’s risks and benefits. Also on the docket, news of Eli Lilly’s latest spending. The pharma giant has added its genetic medicines pipeline and capabilities by signing a $1.9 billion agreement with Ascidian Therapeutics to develop RNA exon editors for treating inherited kidney diseases. Next up, updates to an open-source model for binder design and protein function mapping. Finally, on the peer-review front, we dive into some of the latest vaccine research including insights into the mechanisms that cross-reactive T cells use to target multiple viral species in a single family and an improvement to standard polio vaccines.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, PhD, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

Fulcrum Halts Development of SCD Candidate Pociredir, Sets Strategic Review

By Alex Philippidis and Kevin Davies, PhD, GEN Edge, June 2, 2026

Lilly, Ascidian Launch Up-to-$1.9B RNA Exon Editor Collaboration Targeting Inherited Kidney Diseases

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, June 3, 2026

Biohub Releases Protein Biology World Model to Address Disease

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, May 27, 2026

Cross-Reactive T Cells Could Point to Broad Vaccines or Treatments for Measles, Nipah Virus

GEN, June 2, 2026

Experimental Adjuvant Could Strengthen Mucosal Immunity with Injectable Polio Vaccines

GEN, June 4, 2026

Touching Base Podcast

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Agentic AI is growing in its applications. Google DeepMind and Edison are leveraging the growing capabilities by developing AI Scientists. These platforms are poised to streamline the scientific process, aiding human scientists with a variety of tasks. Meanwhile, despite positive data in its Phase III DMD therapy trial, Regenxbio’s stock fell for a variety of reasons. 10X Genomics and Harvard University are suing Element Biosciences over patents for a multiomics platform. Finally, Bristol Meyers Squibb is partnering with Hengrui Pharma to develop 13 early-stage programs with the potential to grow their investment to a predicted $15 billion in sales.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, PhD, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

Google DeepMind and Edison Are Building the AI Scientist

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, May 19, 2026

StockWatch: Regenxbio Tumbles Despite Positive Pivotal Data for DMD Gene Therapy Candidate

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, May 17, 2026

10x Genomics, Harvard Target Element’s Multiomics Platform in Patent Lawsuit

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, May 12, 2026

BMS, Hengrui Pharma Partner on 13 Programs in Up-to-$15.2B Collaboration

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, May 13, 2026

Touching Base Podcast

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Behind the Breakthroughs

Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD

The State of Precision Medicine Summit

Join us June 3, 2026

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Craig Venter recently passed away at the age of 79 from complications following a cancer diagnosis. He was well known in both science and industry and was an integral part of sequencing the human genome in the late 90s, competing with the government organized Human Genome Project. Through his career, he made many other important contributions in microbiology, with the “minimal cell”, in synthetic biology, and in personalized medicine. GEN editors share anecdotes of their experiences with him, reflect on the impact that his work has had on various fields in biology, in biotech, and in how the world has responded to the disruptions caused by Venter.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, John Sterling, Kevin Davies, PhD, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

Genomics Pioneer and Life Sciences Entrepreneur J. Craig Venter Dies at 79

GEN, April 30, 2026

J. Craig Venter Describes a Human Genomics Revolution Still In Progress

By J. Craig Venter, PhD, GEN, June 13, 2025

Lessons from the Minimal Cell

By Hana El-Samad, PhD, GEN, August 21, 2023

From Sequencing to Sailing: Three Decades of Adventure with Craig Venter

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN, March 8, 2023

“Cracking the Genome”

By Kevin Davies, PhD

Touching Base Podcast

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Behind the Breakthroughs

Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD

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Some GEN editors were in sunny San Diego covering the hottest research, trends, and products from the American Association for Cancer Research meeting. We kick things off with news from America’s Finest City, particularly around the growing role of AI in oncology. Then we dive into two new research studies. In the first, scientists used CRISPR to identify genes in primary CD4+ T cells that promote or restrict HIV infection. The second study described engineered implantable liver constructs that could eventually serve as a stopgap for patients waiting for donor transplants. Finally, the acquisitions keep coming as Eli Lilly scoops up CAR T cell therapy developer Kelonia for $7B. Also, Revolution Medicines has shared some impressive data from a Phase III trial of its pancreatic cancer drug.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD, Alex Philippidis, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

AACR 2026: A Video Update from San Diego

By Julianna LeMieux, PhD, and Damian Doherty, GEN, April 21, 2026

AACR 2026 Video Update: Cancer Research Edges Toward an AI-Driven Era

By Fay Lin, PhD, and Jonathan Grinstein, PhD, GEN, April 22, 2026

Using AI in Healthcare Ethically by Considering Humanity

By Corinna Singleman, PhD, IPM, November 18, 2025

10x Genomics Unveils Atera Spatial Platform at AACR Meeting

By Julianna LeMieux, PhD, GEN, April 19, 2026

CRISPR Screens Map Human T‑Cell Genes That Promote or Block HIV Infection

GEN, April 20, 2026

Synthetic Biology and Tissue Engineering Grow Liver Tissue In‑Body

GEN, April 20, 2026

StockWatch: Revolution’s Phase III Pancreatic Cancer Data Dazzles Investors, Analysts

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, April 19, 2026

Lilly to Acquire Kelonia for Up to $7B, Expanding Cancer Cell Therapy Pipeline

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, April 20, 2026

Touching Base Podcast

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Behind the Breakthroughs

Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From designing drugs with a simple text prompt to running experiments guided by extended reality, a new wave of agentic AI is transforming the modern lab. Our editors discuss the latest autonomous systems accelerating biological discovery. In business deals, Gilead Sciences has acquired Tubulis in a transaction worth up to $5 billion, strengthening the buyer’s position in antibody–drug conjugates for cancer. Correspondingly, Eli Lilly and Biogen are each making billion-dollar-plus bets, acquiring Centessa, a sleep disorder drug developer, and Apellis, known for its work in immunology and rare diseases. Our episode rounds out by unpacking the dynamic obesity drug market, where intensifying competition from Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill is prompting Lilly to temper the 2026 sales outlook for its oral obesity drug, Foundayo.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD and Alex Philippidis for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

Can AI Agents Automate Scientific Discovery?

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, April 1, 2026

Gilead to Acquire Tubulis for Up to $5B, Expanding Cancer ADC Capabilities

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, April 7, 2026

Lilly Acquires Centessa for Up to $7.8B; Biogen Buys Apellis for Up to $6.1B

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, March 31, 2026

StockWatch: Price War Dampens Lilly Surge After Oral GLP-1 Wins FDA Nod

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, April 5, 2026

Touching Base Podcast

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Behind the Breakthroughs

Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, agentic AI steps into the limelight buoyed by the momentum from generative AI. And there’s a new virtual cell model in town courtesy of AI-drug developer Xaira Therapeutics. From the frontiers of AI, our discussion turned to feats of engineering in regenerative medicine and lipid nanoparticles. In one study, scientists redesigned LNPs to avoid the liver and accumulate in the lymph nodes. In the other, efforts to develop and implant a lab grown esophagus from donor pigs bear fruit. Finally, Novartis plans to spend up to $3 billion to expand its cancer pipeline with the acquisition of Pikavation Therapeutics. And Merck is acquiring Terns Pharmaceuticals for approximately $6.7 billion also with an eye towards boosting its cancer portfolio.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD, Uduak Thomas and Alex Philippidis for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

NVIDIA GTC 2026: Agentic AI Inflection Hits Healthcare and Life Sciences

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, March 18, 2026

Xaira’s First Virtual Cell Model Is Largest To-Date, Toward Complex Biology

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, March 25, 2026

Modified Lipid Nanoparticles Boost mRNA Vaccine Delivery to Lymph Nodes

GEN, March 24, 2026

Engineered Esophagus Rebuilds Missing Organ Segment in Pig Models

GEN, March 20, 2026

Novartis Acquires Pikavation for Up to $3B, Expanding Cancer Pipeline

GEN, March 22, 2026

Merck Bolsters Cancer Pipeline with $6.7B Terns Buyout

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, March 25, 2026

Touching Base Podcast

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Behind the Breakthroughs

Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.