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Eighteen years after its inception, the international Genetically Engineered Machine competition has catalyzed the infusion of synthetic biology with interdisciplinary fundamental and translational research, as well as with inspired young scientists.
As pharmaceutical companies seek patent protection for combinations of cancer therapeutics, it is worthwhile to assess what constitutes an ‘unexpected result’ for the purpose of an appropriate patent and whether randomized, controlled trials of drug combinations have the ability to generate them.
Promising clinical data for two small molecules targeting SARS-CoV-2 usher in era of antiviral drug that can be taken in outpatient and low-income settings.
Whether pan-vaccines or antibodies, SARS-CoV-2 is adding impetus to the race for broad-spectrum countermeasures against the world’s next infectious scourges.