Fred Hutch, Univ. of Washington biotech spinout Ensoma launches with $70M in funding
February 11, 2021 at 9:15 am
Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. (Fred Hutch Photo)
New spinout: Boston-based biotech startup Ensoma launched Thursday and announced a $70 million Series A funding round. The company is built on technology developed over two decades by Seattle researchers Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Dr. André Lieber of the University of Washington School of Medicine.
The company will be based in Boston because the city “is the epicenter of biotech and Ensoma could quickly draw the talent, not only for research but as the company scales in manufacturing and clinical development,” said Paula Soteropoulos, the company’s executive chairman. The company’s lead investor and top leadership are also in Boston.
Seattle’s permissive drug policies ravaged the city and devastated an already vulnerable homeless population. It led to more crime and killed an alarming number of people. But now it may go statewide if Democrats get their way.
Updated spina bifida guidelines cover care across the entire lifespan
Globally, nearly 300,000 babies are born with neural tube defects including spina bifida (SB) each year. This openly available special issue of the
Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (
JPRM) provides 20 important evidence- and consensus-based updates to key sections of the 2018 Guidelines for the Care of People with Spina Bifida issued by the Spina Bifida Association (SBA). These reflect current recommendations for the care of patients with SB across the entire lifespan, from prenatal counseling to adult care.
As a result of research advancements and improved team-based patient care, approximately 80%-90% of children with SB now live to adulthood in the United States. The Guidelines were written with this idea in mind and present the best evidence for what care should be delivered, regardless of the model or types of practitioners available.