leisure time -WSS

leisure time

author：knowledge 2025-08-12 09:10:51 - browse：1

A black and white cutout photo of Feng Zhang on the left of a black and white cutout photo of Alex Aravanis. Both photos are placed on top of yellow geometric shapes and a gradient dark blue background. — Researcher Feng Zhang, left, and Alex Aravanis, the CEO of Moonwalk. Illustration: Christine Kao/STAT; Photo: Katherine Taylor for STAT and Business Wire

A new startup co-founded by CRISPR innovator Feng Zhang, a former executive at Grail and Illumina, and others has raised $57 million to develop a defanged form of gene editing that doesn’t cut the DNA strand.

Moonwalk Therapeutics launched Thursday with funding from Alpha Wave Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, Future Ventures, Khosla Ventures, GV, and YK Bioventures. It plans to use that money to develop treatments for a variety of diseases, including chronic and aging-related conditions, using what’s called epigenetic editing.

Most of the gene editing technologies being used today slice or nick the DNA strand and make permanent changes to the biological building blocks of genes. Moonwalk, however, plans to alter the activity of genes by focusing on chemical changes. The company is targeting the surrounding chemicals that influence how genes act. This can be done through chemical processes methylation, which turns genes on, or demethylation, which turns genes off.

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.

Subscribe Log In

Previous article： Trump demands the U.S. pay no more for drugs than other countries … again
Next article： Wegovy, Zepbound and weight loss drugs that preserve muscle

WSS

Does good food count as health care? Study aims to find out

Does good food count as health care? Study aims to find out

Biotech venture capitalists face new demands from investors

U.K. considers world's first use of meningitis vaccine to address gonorrhea

Readout Newsletter: Merck, J&J, and long Covid

Readout Newsletter: BridgeBio, Madrigal, and Silicon Valley Bank

entertainment

leisure time

hotspot

23andMe had bad news about my health. I wish a person had delivered it

Gain of function research would be limited under House proposal

At least 13 dead in Texas as scorching temps continue

Readout Newsletter: Merck, J&J, and long Covid

Novavax promises a turnaround & Lilly roils the obesity market

Weight loss drug costs may need more research, senator suggests

The high cost of giving birth even with insurance

Think you might have Covid

Activists slam private health insurers over coverage restrictions

Readout Newsletter: Merck, J&J, and long Covid

knowledge

AI generated plenty of interest at JPM but not a lot of trust

The tragedy of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine

My yearlong odyssey to get my son’s ADHD medication covered

Dewpoint Therapeutics lays off staff after losing partnerships

Astellas still sees hope in its gene therapy after four deaths

Hospitals look to new technology to keep health care workers safe

hotspot

focus

explore

entertainment