{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/65736d39d32e730012c98919/69c58bfa88f1e891321569c6?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Agentic AI, Virtual Cell, LNP Vaccine Boosters, Engineered Organs, and Mergers","description":"<p>This week,&nbsp;agentic AI&nbsp;steps&nbsp;into the limelight buoyed by the momentum from generative AI. And&nbsp;there’s&nbsp;a new virtual cell model in town courtesy of AI-drug developer Xaira Therapeutics. From the frontiers of AI, our discussion&nbsp;turned&nbsp;to&nbsp;feats of engineering in regenerative medicine&nbsp;and&nbsp;lipid nanoparticles.&nbsp;In one study, scientists redesigned LNPs to avoid the liver and accumulate in the lymph nodes. In the other, efforts to develop&nbsp;and implant&nbsp;a lab grown esophagus&nbsp;from donor pigs bear fruit. Finally,&nbsp;Novartis plans to spend up&nbsp;to&nbsp;$3&nbsp;billion&nbsp;to expand its cancer pipeline with the acquisition of Pikavation Therapeutics. And Merck is&nbsp;acquiring&nbsp;Terns Pharmaceuticals for approximately&nbsp;$6.7 billion&nbsp;also with an eye towards boosting its cancer portfolio.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Join <em>GEN</em> editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD, Uduak Thomas and Alex Philippidis for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Listed below are links to the <em>GEN</em> stories referenced in this episode of <em>Touching Base</em>:&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.genengnews.com/topics/artificial-intelligence/nvidia-gtc-2026-agentic-ai-inflection-hits-healthcare-and-life-sciences/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">NVIDIA GTC 2026: Agentic AI Inflection Hits Healthcare and Life Sciences</a></p><p>By Fay Lin, PhD, <em>GEN Edge</em>, March 18, 2026</p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.genengnews.com/topics/artificial-intelligence/xairas-first-virtual-cell-model-is-largest-to-date-toward-complex-biology/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Xaira’s First Virtual Cell Model Is Largest To-Date, Toward Complex Biology </a></p><p>By Fay Lin, PhD, <em>GEN Edge</em>, March 25, 2026</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/modified-lipid-nanoparticles-boost-mrna-vaccine-delivery-to-lymph-nodes/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Modified Lipid Nanoparticles Boost mRNA Vaccine Delivery to Lymph Nodes </a></p><p><em>GEN</em>, March 24, 2026</p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.genengnews.com/topics/translational-medicine/engineered-esophagus-rebuilds-missing-organ-segment-in-pig-models/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Engineered Esophagus Rebuilds Missing Organ Segment in Pig Models </a></p><p><em>GEN</em>, March 20, 2026</p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.genengnews.com/topics/cancer/novartis-acquires-pikavation-for-up-to-3b-expanding-cancer-pipeline/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Novartis Acquires Pikavation for Up to $3B, Expanding Cancer Pipeline </a></p><p><em>GEN</em>, March 22, 2026</p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.genengnews.com/topics/cancer/merck-bolsters-cancer-pipeline-with-6-7b-terns-buyout/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Merck Bolsters Cancer Pipeline with $6.7B Terns Buyout</a></p><p>By Alex Philippidis, <em>GEN Edge</em>, March 25, 2026</p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.genengnews.com/category/multimedia/podcasts/touching-base/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Touching Base Podcast</a>&nbsp;</p><p>Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/category/multimedia/podcasts/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Behind the Breakthroughs</a>&nbsp;</p><p>Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD&nbsp;</p>","author_name":"Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN)"}