Latest news with #PAQ
Time of India
19-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Gujaratis make BEEline to adopt beehives
Ahmedabad: The next time you stir a spoonful of honey into your tea, take a moment to think about the bee that worked tirelessly to produce it. Beyond the furry, four-legged creatures we often think of, these tiny insects — buzzing through orchards or nesting in the corners of building parapets — hold a key to human survival. As global efforts intensify to halt the rapid decline of nature's most hard-working pollinators, an increasing number of people in Gujarat are joining the movement by 'adopting' beehives. Over the years, honeybee farm owners and conservationists have witnessed a steady rise in individuals approaching them to support this cause through hive adoption. What's more, participants are not only contributing to a critical ecological mission but also enjoying health benefits. They receive natural honey and nutrition-rich grains — lovingly pollinated by bees — delivered right to their doorsteps. "I realized bees are not just about honey. They're about food security, biodiversity, and the future of farming," says Meet Joshi, 35, promoter of Sah Astitva Pvt. Ltd., a grassroots conservation company that launched Project Adopt a Queen (PAQ). In just the past three months, 120 to 130 individuals have adopted beehives, which are now being maintained across various beefarms. Another entrepreneur, Asif Tyagi of Livasa Natural Pvt. Ltd., has been promoting beehive adoption across the country since 2019. "Initially, we had only seven to eight adoptions a year. Now, we see 100 to 150 annually. There is clearly growing awareness about the importance of bee conservation ." Salman Dodiya, promoter of Apera Honey in Maherpura village near Himmatnagar, adds, "People are becoming far more aware of the difference between pure and impure honey. We currently manage 3,000 honeybee colonies. Each hive, just 1.5 ft by 1.5 ft in size, houses one queen bee and around 65,000 worker bees, producing 5 to 10 kg of honey daily." Rupal Shah, an Ahmedabad resident who recently adopted a hive, said, "It's not just about health. A spoonful of the natural honey I receive daily has helped me manage my allergies, and I feel good knowing I'm supporting bee conservation." Neha Bhatt, a microbiologist, adds, "We grow our own food. Adopting a hive felt meaningful — it was placed on a farmer's field, which improved his yield and provided us with honey in return."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PAQ Therapeutics Announces $39 Million Series B Financing and Initiates Phase 1 Trial to Advance Novel Approach Addressing KRAS-Driven Cancers with High Unmet Need
--Series B co-led by MRL Ventures Fund (MRLV) and Bayland Capital, with participation from Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC Inc., LAV Fund, BioTrack Capital, and Sherpa Health Partners-- --First patient dosed in Phase 1 clinical study of lead candidate PT0253, a potent, selective KRAS G12D degrader-- BURLINGTON, Mass., May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PAQ Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing best- and first-in-class KRAS degraders for patients with lethal cancers lacking effective treatment options, today announced the completion of its $39 million Series B funding. The Series B round was co-led by Bayland Capital and MRL Ventures Fund (MRLV), with participation from Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc. (JJDC), LAV Fund, BioTrack Capital, and existing investor Sherpa Health Partners. PAQ Therapeutics Logo (PRNewsfoto/PAQ Therapeutics) The capital raised will fund PAQ's next stage of clinical development for the company's lead asset PT0253, a potent and selective degrader of KRAS G12D, a known driver for a range of solid tumors. PT0253 has demonstrated best-in-class potential based on preclinical comparison to existing agents currently in clinical development targeting the same KRAS mutant. In Q1 2025, the first patient was dosed in a Phase 1 study to assess its safety and tolerability. "The successful completion of our Series B funding and rapid enrollment of our Phase 1 trial in the US for PT0253 mark significant steps forward in our clinical development efforts," said Nan Ji, PhD, PAQ's co-founder, President, and CEO. "The strong support from our investors validates the potential of our innovative approach. We now turn our focus to executing a robust clinical development plan while continuing to develop a differentiated pipeline of KRAS degraders." The funds will also support the advancement of the company's second asset through IND-enabling studies. "PAQ represents a compelling opportunity to develop transformative therapies for oncology populations with high unmet need," said Olga Danilchanka, Partner, MRLV, the therapeutics-focused corporate venture arm of Merck & Co. "Their innovative efforts advancing the targeted protein degradation modality aligns with our commitment to backing scientifically rigorous teams that tackle pressing medical challenges. We're confident in PAQ's ability to unlock the full potential of KRAS degraders and are proud to support their journey toward achieving clinical impact." "The team at PAQ is at the forefront of an innovative approach to treat some of the most underserved patient populations in oncology," said Yuexing Su, Founding Partner, Bayland Capital. "We were attracted to PAQ based on its scientific approach, preclinical data, and experienced leadership team. We believe there is tremendous potential for KRAS degraders and are excited to be part of PAQ's next stage of growth."
