Alex Aravanis is the CEO and co-founder of Moonwalk Biosciences, a biotechnology company pioneering precision epigenetic medicines. In this episode, Chris and Alex discuss Moonwalk's innovative approach to developing a new class of medicines aimed at treating complex diseases and potentially extending human healthspan.
The Finer Details:
The concept of epigenetics as the "source code" for cell states
Moonwalk's technology for analyzing and modifying the epigenome
The company's focus on cardiometabolic diseases and adiposity
Comparison of Moonwalk's approach to other epigenetic reprogramming strategies
Potential applications in treating obesity and metabolic disorders
The use of AI and machine learning in epigenetic research
Future directions and challenges for Moonwalk Biosciences
Quotes:
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity.
"In the past, I've heard people refer to the DNA as the blueprint of biology, and I don't quite like that analogy. I think of it as more like the hardware, and the epigenome is the source code — the epigenome is responsible for the complex coordination of different genes that lead to proteins, and the temporal aspects of those so it's really how the hardware is used to make and maintain and change different cell types."
"We're opening up the epigenome as a platform for drug discovery. The vast majority of the genome is not the coding regions, but it's incredibly important in controlling gene expression. So there's a lot of biology in there to inform our selection of targets, and we think that could dramatically improve both the number of interesting targets and our ability to select targets. The data that we're creating, our expertise, and our computational tools make us amongst the best in the world at using the epigenome for drug discovery."
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