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Expanding the DNA ‘Alphabet’ Could Spell Success for Biotech

You’re going to want to put on your high school bio thinking caps for this one: A new biotech, called Synthorx Inc., just launched in San Diego, and its proposition is pretty groundbreaking in terms of the basic structure of, well, life.

But the business stuff first: Court Turner, a partner at San Diego’s Avalon Ventures, will be its president. Funding information isn’t yet available. And that’s about it. But the implications are pretty cool, at least for the science buff.

There are traditionally four building blocks to DNA structure — adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine — abbreviated as A, C, G and T. These are coupled together to form base pairs, either consisting of A with T or G with C, which in turn make up genes, chromosomes, DNA strands and ultimately code for life.

A team led by two scientists at The Scripps Research Institute, Floyd Romesberg and Denis Malyshev, have developed a completely synthetic base pair, abbreviated X-Y. The incorporation of X-Y into DNA expands the genetic alphabet, Turner said, allowing for the creation of brand new proteins that haven’t been possible before with the limited DNA alphabet. This could lead to the development of new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines, the company said.

“We have already begun to further develop Dr. Romesberg’s breakthrough technology at Synthorx,” Turner said, adding that the biotech will partner with other companies and institutions to explore the use of this “expanded vocabulary” in genetics.

• • •

Tri-City Medical Center will effectively begin a new chapter June 23, when veteran health executive Tim Moran will take the helm as CEO. Interim CEO Casey Fatch, who had thrown his hat into the ring months ago to run the hospital himself, will resume his role as chief operating officer.

The health system has been searching for a new chief executive ever since it fired CEO Larry Anderson last fall, conducting a nationwide talent search. During the past 35 years, Moran has served as CEO, president and as an administrator for several health systems in California and around the country.

Most recently, Moran was CEO of Valley Hospital in Spokane, Wash., but he didn’t spend much time there. Moran became CEO of Valley Hospital last August, according to the Spokane Journal of Business, after being appointed interim CEO in June 2013.

Before that, he was the interim CEO of CHS Mountain West Medical Center in Tooele, Utah, as well as at a number of California health systems in Sacramento, Bakersfield and San Ramon. Moran and his wife, Vicki, have three daughters who all live in the California area.

“Tim brings extensive strategy and operations experience leading hospitals,” Larry Schallock, chairman of Tri-City’s board of directors, said in a statement. He continued that Moran’s “collaborative leadership approach and strong focus on developing a close relationship with the community” will be key to Tri-City’s future successes — and if Moran succeeds on that count, kudos to him.

Tri-City was once plagued with mistrust from its community, Fatch told me in an interview earlier this year, with patients opting out of care at the hospital based on its reputation and not its actual service capabilities. Tri-City is already undergoing a bit of a turnaround ever since the hospital’s board fired Anderson. It’ll be interesting to see Moran’s performance come June.

• • •

There’s been a leadership shakeup at Alphatec Spine Inc. The company has named James Corbett its new president and CEO, replacing Leslie Cross, who retired May 1.

The company also eliminated its senior vice president of U.S. commercial operations job, held by Thomas McLeer, and a member of its board of directors, Luke Faulstick, stepped down.

Alphatec Spine (Nasdaq: ATEC) develops implantable devices that correct spine disorders.

Corbett, 56, is a seasoned life sciences executive, having held senior leadership positions at Baxter International Inc. and Boston Scientific Corp., among others. He joins Alphatec Spine after more than five years at Aliso Viejo-based Vertos Medical, which also develops medical products for the spine.

Send news about locally based health care organizations, biotech and clean-tech to Meghana Keshavan at mkeshavan@sdbj.com. She can be reached at 858-277-6359.

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