California condors are critically endangered, but the Los Angeles Zoo just hatched 10 healthy chicks
Earlier this month, wildlife enthusiasts were excited over a pair of young bald eagles that flew out of their nest for the first time, hovering high above Big Bear Lake.
This week, the focus is on 10 condor chicks that were hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo, making them eligible to be released into the wild to help restore the state's depleted condor population.
'This year's chicks will eventually help increase the genetic diversity of the wild population of condors,' Denise Verret, chief executive and director of the Los Angeles Zoo, said in a news release. 'This iconic species represents a conservation win for Los Angeles and for California.'
Four of the chicks are being raised under a double-brooding method, which means two chicks are being raised at the same time by two surrogate California condors, according to the release. The Los Angeles Zoo was the first zoo to use this breeding technique.
'The L.A. Zoo's leadership in breeding California condors clearly demonstrates the marriage between conservation and animal husbandry,' Misha Body, deputy director of animal programs for the Los Angeles Zoo, said in the release. 'The care and well being that our animal care team provides continues to be innovative and advances the success of the condor program every year.'
All of the chicks bred at the zoo are eligible to be released into the wild as part of the zoo's California Condor Recovery Program, although some of them may be held back for future breeding, the release states.
Condors are under threat from lead poisonings and other toxins. According to a 2022 study, there were 40 DDT-related compounds — or chemicals that had made their way to the top of the food chain from contaminated marine life — found in the blood of wild California condors.
There were only 22 California condors left on Earth when the California Condor Recovery Program started four decades ago. As of 2024, there were 561 condors, with 344 living in the wild. The species remains critically endangered.
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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
California condors are critically endangered, but the Los Angeles Zoo just hatched 10 healthy chicks
Earlier this month, wildlife enthusiasts were excited over a pair of young bald eagles that flew out of their nest for the first time, hovering high above Big Bear Lake. This week, the focus is on 10 condor chicks that were hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo, making them eligible to be released into the wild to help restore the state's depleted condor population. 'This year's chicks will eventually help increase the genetic diversity of the wild population of condors,' Denise Verret, chief executive and director of the Los Angeles Zoo, said in a news release. 'This iconic species represents a conservation win for Los Angeles and for California.' Four of the chicks are being raised under a double-brooding method, which means two chicks are being raised at the same time by two surrogate California condors, according to the release. The Los Angeles Zoo was the first zoo to use this breeding technique. 'The L.A. Zoo's leadership in breeding California condors clearly demonstrates the marriage between conservation and animal husbandry,' Misha Body, deputy director of animal programs for the Los Angeles Zoo, said in the release. 'The care and well being that our animal care team provides continues to be innovative and advances the success of the condor program every year.' All of the chicks bred at the zoo are eligible to be released into the wild as part of the zoo's California Condor Recovery Program, although some of them may be held back for future breeding, the release states. Condors are under threat from lead poisonings and other toxins. According to a 2022 study, there were 40 DDT-related compounds — or chemicals that had made their way to the top of the food chain from contaminated marine life — found in the blood of wild California condors. There were only 22 California condors left on Earth when the California Condor Recovery Program started four decades ago. As of 2024, there were 561 condors, with 344 living in the wild. The species remains critically endangered.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business Wire
Actio Biosciences Secures $66 Million Series B Financing to Advance Genetics-Driven Pipeline of Small Molecule Therapeutics for Rare and Common Diseases
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Actio Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging a novel approach to genetics and precision medicine to develop new therapeutics that target shared underlying biology in both rare and common diseases, today announced the closing of a $66 million Series B financing. New investor Regeneron Ventures and current investor Deerfield Management co-led the financing, with participation from existing investors Canaan, Droia Ventures and Euclidean Capital. Actio's pipeline is led by ABS-1230, a KCNT1 inhibitor for the treatment of KCNT1-related epilepsy and other genetic epilepsies, and ABS-0871, a TRPV4 inhibitor currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 healthy volunteer clinical trial for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2C (CMT2C) and overactive bladder. 'We have made tremendous progress across our pipeline – executing a precision medicine strategy that targets the root causes of disease through genetically informed drug development,' said David Goldstein, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Actio. 'ABS-1230 and ABS-0871 have the potential to be transformative disease-modifying therapies in their respective rare indications and growing evidence supports expansion into broader indications. This new funding from industry-leading investors speaks to the value of our approach and provides us with important resources to continue advancing our programs.' The Series B financing will support the advancement of Actio's lead programs, ABS-1230 and ABS-0871. ABS-1230 is a potential first-in-class oral, selective small molecule KCNT1 inhibitor for the treatment of KCNT1-related epilepsy, a rare and often fatal pediatric epileptic encephalopathy with a United States (U.S.) prevalence of approximately 2,500 individuals. In preclinical studies, ABS-1230 has been shown to inhibit all recurrently observed pathogenic mutations in the KCNT1 gene, making ABS-1230 broadly applicable to patients with KCNT1-positive epilepsy. Actio plans to initiate the healthy volunteer portion of a Phase 1 clinical trial of ABS-1230 in the second half of 2025 with plans to expand into a proof-of-concept Phase 1b study in KCNT1-related epilepsy patients in early 2026. ABS-1230 was recently granted both rare pediatric and orphan drug designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ABS-0871 is a potential first-in-class oral, small molecule TRPV4 inhibitor for the treatment of CMT2C, a rare inherited disorder that affects both motor and sensory functions with a U.S. prevalence of approximately 2,500 individuals. Preclinical evaluation of this program in novel construct valid CMT2C rare disease models has demonstrated marked improvements in motor function and mobility, compared to untreated controls. Given its mechanism of action targeting TRPV4, ABS-0871 may also have therapeutic potential for the treatment of overactive bladder. Actio is currently advancing ABS-0871 in the healthy volunteer portion of a Phase 1 clinical trial with plans to expand into a Phase 1b study in patients with TRPV4+ CMT2C in 2026. ABS-0871 was granted rare pediatric drug, orphan drug and fast track designations from the FDA. 'Actio has done an exceptional job of identifying serious unmet needs in rare disease and advancing solutions that may also be applicable to patients with more common diseases,' said Jason Fuller, Ph.D., Partner, Deerfield Management. 'We're pleased to support the company, encouraged by its progress, and excited by the team's potential to make a difference for patients.' About Actio Biosciences Actio Biosciences is a clinical-stage company leveraging advances in precision medicine to develop new therapeutics that target shared genetics in rare and common diseases—bringing meaningful medicines from one to many. Applying its expertise in genetics, drug discovery and data sciences, Actio seeks to identify programs where both biological and technical risk can be minimized to streamline the drug development process and bring forward exceptionally potent and precisely targeted therapeutics. Actio is advancing two lead rare disease programs – ABS-0871 and ABS-1230 – with first-in-class potential for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, type 2C (CMT2C) and KCNT1-related epilepsy, respectively. Founded in October 2021, the San Diego-based company is guided by leaders in genetics and drug development and backed by top healthcare investors. For more information, please visit and follow the company on LinkedIn and X.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Researchers Spotlight Adults with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) Thriving Without Transplants
Study Highlights Largest Single-Center Cohort of Adults with HLHS with Longest Follow-up PHILADELPHIA, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) reported long-term clinical outcomes for the largest single center cohort of individuals who underwent complex reconstructive surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome as newborns. In this cohort, more than 30% survived without a transplant to at least 35 years of age. Among these individuals, there was a significant group of adults who reported good to excellent clinical outcomes and quality-of-life (QOL), consistent with a "high-performing" Fontan phenotype. The findings were published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Prior to this study, limited data existed concerning longer-term outcomes for patients with HLHS. To bridge this gap, researchers examined long-term survival and the impact of patient factors on survival for newborns with HLHS, as well as functional and health outcomes, including QOL in adulthood. "Our study highlights the impact of CHOP's pioneering surgical approaches to pediatric heart disease," said J. William Gaynor, MD, a lead study author and surgeon in the Cardiac Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "While more research is needed, our findings offer hope for a future where high-functioning adult patients with CHD are the norm." In this retrospective study, researchers analyzed patients with HLHS and associated variants who underwent complex open-heart surgeries between January 1984 and December 2023. The authors noted that while survival has plateaued over the past two decades, they are encouraged by the adult individuals reporting good to excellent health and few Fontan-related complications without a transplant. The study findings also underscore the importance of maintaining cardiac care for adults with congenital heart disease. CHOP's Philadelphia Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center and Fontan Rehabilitation, Wellness, Activity and Resilience Development program (FORWARD) are designed to provide specialized care, evaluation and ongoing monitoring of individuals with single ventricle heart defects and Fontan circulation. In the past, research has primarily focused on identifying "risk factors" associated with worse survival and outcomes for patients with HLHS. However, in the future, CHOP's innovative programs addressing adults with CHD will be instrumental in helping researchers better understand what is driving patient success. "Moving forward, based on these study findings, we plan to focus more research on adults with CHD, looking at why they are doing well without a transplant," said Jack Rychik, MD, Director of the FORWARD program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "For us, success is seeing our patients thrive as adults. We are committed to finding new, personalized ways to help them heal, grow stronger and live their best lives." Dr. Gaynor said they will continue to follow the cohort of adult individuals to better understand their lives in greater depth, including health and wellness, approach to exercise, emotional and cognitive abilities, as well as careers and relationships. This study was funded by a grant from Big Hearts to Little Hearts, an organization aimed at improving the lives of children and adults with CHD through research, programs, and advocacy. Additional funding includes the Mortimer J. Buckley Jr. M.D. Endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery, the Thomas L. Spray, MD Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Daniel M. Tabas Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at CHOP. Gaynor et al. "Long-term Survival and Patient Reported Outcomes after Staged Reconstructive Surgery for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome." JACC. Online June 16, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/ About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia:A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. CHOP also operates the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia, the Behavioral Health and Crisis Center (including a 24/7 Crisis Response Center) and the Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare, a mental health outpatient facility. Its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit Contact: Natalie SolimeoChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia267-426-6246solimeon@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Sign in to access your portfolio
