Â鶹ŮÓÅ

A study from the consumer genetic-testing company 23andMe and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has found 15 new DNA regions associated with mutations that could predispose individuals to major depression. The study was huge: Researchers took the DNA of over 75,000 people who reported being clinically diagnosed with depression and compared it with more than 230,000 customers who reported no such diagnosis.The 15 regions in the scrutinized DNA are the first to be linked to major depression in people of European descent. A previous study looking at over 10,000 people of Han Chinese ancestry found two such regions, but those are insignificant in people whose ancestors are from Europe. (Starr, 8/18)

Eight months after striking a $335 million partnership deal, startup CRISPR Therapeutics and Germany’s Bayer AG are taking the wraps off the new company formed to develop drugs using CRISPR’s gene editing technology. The partners are set to announce Friday that they have christened the joint venture Casebia Therapeutics, and plan to move the company early next year into new offices and labs at 610 Main St. in Cambridge, subleasing 33,000 square feet of space at a Pfizer Inc. research complex outside Kendall Square. Casebia’s interim chief executive, Axel Bouchon, said the company will focus on treatments for blood disorders, blindness, and congenital heart disease. (Weisman, 8/19)