Early stage biotech Rubius Therapetics (RUBY) plans to transform red blood cells into therapies that can treat rare diseases caused by enzyme deficiencies and overcome resistance to existing cancer immunotherapies. Backed by blue chip VC Flagship Pioneering, Rubius hopes to begin its first clinical trial for phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare enzyme deficiency that results in brain damage and motor dysfunction, in the 1Q19 and has preclinical candidates for gout and homocystinuria lined up, with cancer therapies soon to follow. (See calendar)
