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Hello reader,
Did anything good come out of the Covid-19 pandemic?
On a personal level, I got a whole lot better at cooking, while on a broader scale, we all greatly improved at washing our hands. Jokes aside, it can be hard to remember positive innovations and changes that came about due to the pandemic but come about they did.
Take for example the increased focus on genomic sequencing brought about by the need to rapidly study the virus. Now, companies that got a major boost from the pandemic are using that same technology to improve healthcare.
Today’s featured story explores one Temasek-backed firm doing just that, and it’s also bringing smaller startups along for the ride.
Today we look at:
- The biotech firm helping startups get into genomics
- Genesis Alternative Ventures closing its US$125 million fund
- Other newsy highlights such as Indian EV firm Ather Energy charging toward an IPO and two Singapore-based dating services hooking up.
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Genome jams
Image credit: Timmy Loen
The Covid-19 pandemic may be (mercifully) over, but some of the fields that came to the forefront of public consciousness at the time continue to benefit the world, like genomics.
Oxford Nanopore Technologies is one firm that works in that field, and it’s helping startups with fewer resources get into the sector.
- It’s not rocket science, but almost: Genomics is a field of molecular biology involving the structure and function of the genome, which has the genetic information of an organism. During the pandemic, Oxford Nanopore’s tech was used to characterize the genome of the virus that caused Covid-19, allowing scientists to identify and track variants. The company is now using its technology to boost precision medicine, which tailors treatment to people who have a similar genetic makeup.
- The more you know: The firm is working on a project with Singapore’s National Precision Medicine program, which is led by Precision Health Research, Singapore. The program aims to develop a genetic catalog representing three major ethnic groups in the country – Chinese, Malay, and Indian. Characterizing these genomes would help people understand what mutations may exist as well as the risks within them.
- Better together: Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore, says startups and SMEs can use his firm’s technology to enter the genomic research space. Partner companies can create clinical applications out of Oxford Nanopore’s tech, designing a diagnostic test, for example.
Read more: Temasek-backed biotech firm helps startups enter genomics space
The genesis of a new fund
The guest list speaks for itself
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