In Depth 21 Jul 2021 What the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Ban Means for the Bioplastics Industry A European directive banning a range of single-use plastics came into law this month. How are the new regulations impacting industrial biotech companies developing bioplastics? In an attempt to reduce staggeringly high levels of plastic pollution seen around the world, particularly in marine environments, the 27 EU member states and Norway agreed in 2019 to […] July 21, 2021 - 10 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 23 Jun 2021 How Blockchain Companies Are Helping Us Protect Our Genomic Data Using genomic data and the blockchain network, it is now possible to send anonymous genetic information around the world in the blink of an eye. Meet the companies that want to help us protect and control our own genetic data. As the cost of sequencing an individual genome falls and more people have access to […] June 23, 2021 - 7 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 21 Apr 2021 Changing Attitudes on Vaccine and Public Health Investment The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed investment and research into vaccines and public health, but will such interest continue in the long term? Glenn Rockman, founder and Managing Partner of Adjuvant Capital, a VC firm investing in the infectious disease area, believes it will. Rockman did not plan to get into life science investment. With a […] April 21, 2021 - 5 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 20 Jan 2021 Biotech Drives the Water Purification Industry Towards a Circular Economy Water purification has never been more important, but antiquated methods and a lack of innovation have held the sector back. Biotechnology proposes solutions that bring us one step closer to a true circular economy. Rising populations and pollution levels mean that water purification is now more crucial than ever before. However, much of the industry […] January 20, 2021 - 10 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 9 Dec 2020 The Manufacturing Challenge to Meet Covid-19 Vaccine Demands Companies developing vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics for Covid-19 are being forced to scale up manufacturing at high speed in order to meet the enormous demand. There has been an unprecedented amount of research carried out over the last year to develop vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tests to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Before Canada gave the […] December 9, 2020 - 5 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 23 Nov 2020 CDMOs Are the Unsung Heroes of the Gene and Cell Therapy Revolution Cell and gene therapy is booming amid the ongoing pandemic, and this is driving up demand for synthetic DNA products, often produced and delivered by CDMOs. Karen Fallen started her career at Celltech Biologics in the UK, which was acquired in 1996 by Swiss giant Lonza, a world leader in the pharmaceutical manufacturing space. She […] November 23, 2020 - 5 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 11 Nov 2020 GMO Regulations in Europe Are “Not Fit for Purpose” The controversial decision by the European courts in 2018 to regulate gene-edited organisms as GMOs has had a damaging effect on biotech companies working in this area. The current GMO regulations were established in Europe in 2001 and were designed to strictly regulate the introduction of DNA from other species into animals and plants. These […] November 11, 2020 - 8 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 9 Nov 2020 Gene Drives: A Controversial Tool to Fight Malaria The advent of CRISPR gene editing has enabled the creation of gene drives, a technology that can increase the odds of a certain gene being inherited. While the technology could help us tackle malaria and control invasive species, the scientific community is divided on whether it is ethical. The possibility of creating gene drives was […] November 9, 2020 - 12 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 30 Oct 2020 Bayer’s AskBio Acquisition Strong Statement For Gene Therapy in Europe This week, German big pharma Bayer announced a €3.5B takeover of Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, a well known US gene therapy specialist. This is only one of many examples of the funding windfall experienced by the gene therapy field in 2020. Despite the difficulties posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 has been a good year for gene […] October 30, 2020 - 6 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Best in Biotech 19 Oct 2020 Top 10 Companies Combining AI and Drug Discovery in Europe Rapid advances in artificial intelligence over the last decade have the potential to revolutionize how drugs are developed. These are the top 10 companies in Europe that are working to make AI drug discovery a reality. Drug development is a slow and increasingly expensive process. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to make the drug […] October 19, 2020 - 8 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 15 Oct 2020 Swiss Biotech Launches Amidst Hot Streak for Rare Autoimmune Disease Swiss biotech Chord Therapeutics launched this week with a €13.7M Series A, becoming the latest company to tackle the rare condition neuromyelitis optica, for which three therapies have been approved in less than a year. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, previously also known as Devic disease, affect up to 2 in 100,000 people around the world. […] October 15, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 7 Oct 2020 Investment Is Pouring Into Neuromodulation Treatments The last month has seen several big investments in European neuromodulation and neurostimulation companies, which aim to treat neurological conditions by zapping nerve cells. What’s the reason for this funding peak? Last week, the Italian firm WISE announced the closing of a €15M Series C round to fund the development of a device that blocks […] October 7, 2020 - 6 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email