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Category: biotech/medical – Page 1,884

Tesla Has Been Working On an RNA Bioreactor

Tesla and CureVac have collaborated on a patent for an RNA bioreactor.

Although there are no human vaccines made with RNA, the technology could break through on COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The bioreactor works by combining chemical agents in an egg-shaped magnetic mixer.

Tesla has taken on the manufacturing role for a biotech startup with a revolutionary new RNA reactor concept. A tipster recently alerted Electrek to this year-old patent application, which lists both Tesla and German startup CureVac.

CureVac has made the news recently because of a misinformed factoid that it was being purchased by President Donald Trump. That’s partly because CureVac is working on the groundwork for a COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine. Today, the European Investment Bank (EIB) reported that it’s awarded an $84 million loan to CureVac to accelerate that vaccine development process.

A cancer mystery more than 40 years old is solved thanks to epigenetics

Before the first oncogene mutations were discovered in human cancer in the early 1980s, the 1970s provided the first data suggesting alterations in the genetic material of tumors. In this context, the prestigious journal Nature published in 1975 the existence of a specific alteration in the transformed cell: an RNA responsible for carrying an amino acid to build proteins (transfer RNA) was missing a piece, the enigmatic nucleotide ‘Y.’

After that outstanding observation, virtually no developments were made for forty-five years on the causes and consequences of not having the correct base in RNA.

In an article published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by the group of Dr. Manel Esteller, Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, ICREA Research Professor and Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona has solved this mystery by observing that in the protein that generates the Y is epigenetically inactivated, causing small but highly aggressive tumors.

Moderna Signs COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Deal with U.S. for $1.525 Billion

As one of the leaders in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna signed a contract worth up to $1.525 billion with the U.S. government to supply 100 million doses of mRNA-1273, the company’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine.

The agreement also includes incentive payments for hitting a production schedule. Moderna had a previous award of up to $955 million from BARDA for the development of the vaccine to licensure, which brings the U.S. government’s commitment for early access to the vaccine up to $2.48 billion. The U.S. government, as part of Operation Warp Speed, also can acquire another 400 million doses.

As part of this deal, the U.S. government says Americans will receive the vaccine at no cost. It is possible that healthcare professionals will charge for the cost of administering it.

SpaceX, ULA win huge defense contracts totaling more than $650 million

The Space Force’s announcement last week that United Launch Alliance and SpaceX will launch expensive spy satellites and other military payloads brings a long and often fierce battle for government funds to an end — at least for now.

Why it matters: This type of government money — particularly in light of the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic — is key for space companies that often work on thin margins.

The state of play: ULA was awarded the bulk of the funds — $337 million — for two missions due to launch in 2022, with SpaceX winning $316 million for one mission launching that year.

Tesla still dominates electric car sales in China, over 11,000 deliveries in July

Tesla’s Model 3 leads the EV sales in China with 11,014 vehicles sold in July. That’s more than the next 3 best-selling EVs combined!

In China this morning, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) held a press conference in Beijing to update the public on the status of the automotive industry’s recovery.

Overall, it is good news for the market, which managed to recover from the global pandemic much quicker than the rest of the world.

In short, July car production and sales were up from last year – therefore back to growth, but year-to-date is still down roughly 5%: