Colossal Biosciences, the startup working to bring back the woolly mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian tiger, has raised $200M at a $10.2B valuation—more than six times its value just two years ago.

Gene editing could one day cure hereditary diseases like sickle cell and cystic fibrosis, and eventually eradicate them from the human gene pool.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-15/colossal-biosciences-raises-200-million-to-bring-back-the-woolly-mammoth?embedded-checkout=true

 #Science is awesome 🧬🦾🚀🤯

Woolly Mammoth, Dodo Get Another Shot as Startup Raises $200 Million

Science is awesome 🧬🦾🚀🤯

Colossal Biosciences, the startup working to bring back the woolly mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian tiger, has raised $200M at a $10.2B valuation—more than six times its value just two years ago.  Gene editing could one day cure hereditary diseases like sickle cell and cystic fibrosis, and eventually eradicate them from the human gene pool.  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-15/colossal-biosciences-raises-200-million-to-bring-back-the-woolly-mammoth?embedded-checkout=true   #Science is awesome 🧬🦾🚀🤯

Cyril

Colossal isn’t alone in its high hopes for gene-editing’s potential applications. CRISPR and similar tools are being used for everything from agriculture (making sweeter tomatoes) to medicine (fighting antibiotic resistance). In 2023 the FDA approved Casgevy (the first CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease) and patients began receiving it last year. The therapy, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Crispr Therapeutics, is now authorized in 45 treatment centers.

Big potential: The market for CRISPR genome editing is expected to reach nearly $29B by the end of the decade.
Big costs: Vertex last reported $2M in quarterly revenue from its first patient for Casgevy, which reflects the massive cost of the therapy in the US.

Colossal isn’t alone in its high hopes for gene-editing’s potential applications. CRISPR and similar tools are being used for everything from agriculture (making sweeter tomatoes) to medicine (fighting antibiotic resistance). In 2023 the FDA approved Casgevy (the first CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease) and patients began receiving it last year. The therapy, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Crispr Therapeutics, is now authorized in 45 treatment centers.  Big potential: The market for CRISPR genome editing is expected to reach nearly $29B by the end of the decade. Big costs: Vertex last reported $2M in quarterly revenue from its first patient for Casgevy, which reflects the massive cost of the therapy in the US.

Todd Smith

the tech has raised ethical concerns, from worries of “designer babies” to illegal experiments on humans (see: gene-edited twins).

https://www.npr.org/2023/06/08/1178695152/china-scientist-he-jiankui-crispr-baby-gene-editing

the tech has raised ethical concerns, from worries of “designer babies” to illegal experiments on humans (see: gene-edited twins).  https://www.npr.org/2023/06/08/1178695152/china-scientist-he-jiankui-crispr-baby-gene-editing

He Jiankui, who shocked the world in 2018 by announcing the creation of the first gene-edited babies, tells NPR he's now working on a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

His baby gene editing shocked ethicists. Now he's in the lab again

Sam Mendoza

Colossal’s de-extinction efforts have led to advancements like an elephant vaccine and cellular work that could genetically improve threatened animals’ resistance to toxins.

Cyril

A group of likeminded people in Biohackers Connect are talking about this.