Jonathan Smith, Author at Labiotech.eu

About

Reporter for Labiotech. I hail from the UK. I was born in Bristol, studied Neuroscience in the University of Bristol, and trained mice in Eisai, Hertfordshire, for one year. I then tickled locusts for my Ph.D. at the University of Leicester, before eventually ending up here!
Out of the office, I travel, play video games and board games, drink beer and play the piano.

Articles by Jonathan Smith

pdcLine Pharma dendritic cell cancer vaccine

News and Trends 22 Jan 2020

Off-The-Shelf Lung Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial Gets €20M Boost

The French-Belgian company PDC*Line Pharma has raised a €20M Series B round to fund an ongoing phase I/II trial of its off-the-shelf therapeutic vaccine for lung cancer. The total €20M consists of €13.9M in equity investments and €6.1M in loans and subsidies from the Walloon Region of Belgium. PDC*Line’s current investors took part in the […]

January 22, 2020 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 21 Jan 2020

T-Cell Discovery Could Herald Universal Cancer Immunotherapy

An international research team has found a new type of T-cell that could lead to cell immunotherapies able to treat cancers beyond the reach of current CAR T-cell therapies. Market-approved CAR T-cell therapies including Yescarta and Kymriah have revolutionized cancer treatment by modifying immune T-cells to hunt down cancer cells. However, these treatments are only […]

January 21, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Interview 21 Jan 2020

How Biotech Startups Can Have a Stronger Position When Scaling Up

Scaling up the manufacturing process can be a daunting task for any biotech startup. Evelina Vågesjö, CEO of Swedish gene therapy biotech Ilya Pharma, and Jesper Hedberg, Director of the Testa Center facility, explained how testing at innovation facilities such as incubators and biotech accelerators can help avoid big pitfalls in the scaling process later […]

January 21, 2020 - 6 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 20 Jan 2020

Medical Gel Prepares to Enter Clinical Trials for Replacing Corneal Transplants

An international collaboration involving researchers in Europe, Asia, and North America has begun preparations for testing in humans a therapeutic gel that could replace the need for corneal transplants for the treatment of blindness. Corneal transplants are the most common treatment for blindness caused by corneal injury. However, donor shortages and high costs make it […]

January 20, 2020 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

rhino northern white embryo conservation

News and Trends 17 Jan 2020

International Collaboration on Brink of Resurrecting Northern White Rhinos

An international collaboration called BioRescue has taken a step forward in bringing back the Northern White Rhino with the creation of three embryos, which it hopes to bring to term in a surrogate in the coming months. The BioRescue team, including researchers based at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Germany, extracted egg […]

January 17, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 17 Jan 2020

This Biotech Is Developing a Pill to Rival Antibiotics in Vaginal Infections

Gedea Biotech is nestled in the historic city of Lund, Sweden. The company is developing a pill that could tackle recurrent bacterial vaginosis infections without harming the vaginal microbiome like current antibiotics do. Mission: To develop a pill that can clear bacterial vaginosis by restoring normal acidity levels in the vagina, which helps good bacteria […]

January 17, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 15 Jan 2020

Adaptimmune to Take Off-The-Shelf CAR-T to Phase I with Astellas

The UK biotech Adaptimmune Therapeutics has inked a deal worth up to €806M with Japanese Astellas Pharma to complete phase I trials of candidate off-the-shelf T-cell therapies for cancer including CAR T-cell and TCR therapies. According to the deal, Adaptimmune will collaborate with Universal Cells, a subsidiary of Astellas. The partners will aim to identify […]

January 15, 2020 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 14 Jan 2020

Update: Horizon Discovery to Offer Partners Precise CRISPR Gene Editing

Update (14/01/20): Horizon Discovery will offer partners access to a precise version of CRISPR gene editing technology it has licensed from researchers at Rutgers University in the US. After a year of research and development, the UK biotech has incorporated the base-editing technique into its drug discovery platform and will use it to develop better […]

January 14, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 14 Jan 2020

Bluebird Bio Launches First Gene Therapy for Beta Thalassemia in Germany

The US company bluebird bio has launched the first gene therapy for the blood disorder transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia in the EU, with a hospital in Germany becoming its first qualified treatment center. Bluebird bio’s gene therapy, branded as Zynteglo, was given conditional market approval by the EU in June 2019. It was the first gene […]

January 14, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

kandy therapeutics menopause treatment brain

News and Trends 13 Jan 2020

KaNDy’s Menopause Treatment Tackles Hot Flashes in Phase II

A non-hormonal menopause treatment that targets the brain’s ‘thermostat’, developed by the UK company KaNDy Therapeutics, has significantly reduced hot flashes and improved quality of life in postmenopausal women in a phase IIb trial. The 199 women recruited into the study were experiencing a minimum of seven hot flashes per day. After 12 weeks of […]

January 13, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 10 Jan 2020

Eyevensys’ Gene Therapy for Blindness Boosted with €27M Series B

The French company Eyevensys has raised €27M to fund the launch of a phase II trial for its lead candidate, a non-viral gene therapy for an eye condition called uveitis that can lead to blindness. The Series B round was led by the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund. New investors to Eyevensys in this round included […]

January 10, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 10 Jan 2020

This Biotech Makes Easily Implantable Artificial Cornea Transplants

CorNeat Vision, based in Israel, is developing an easily-implantable and affordable artificial cornea that could one day replace donor corneas in people needing transplants and therefore address the shortage of donor tissue. Mission: To develop a cornea made from plastic that is easier to supply and implant than donor corneas. The implant is also designed […]

January 10, 2020 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

Off-The-Shelf Lung Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial Gets €20M Boost

T-Cell Discovery Could Herald Universal Cancer Immunotherapy

How Biotech Startups Can Have a Stronger Position When Scaling Up

Medical Gel Prepares to Enter Clinical Trials for Replacing Corneal Transplants

International Collaboration on Brink of Resurrecting Northern White Rhinos

This Biotech Is Developing a Pill to Rival Antibiotics in Vaginal Infections

Adaptimmune to Take Off-The-Shelf CAR-T to Phase I with Astellas

Update: Horizon Discovery to Offer Partners Precise CRISPR Gene Editing

Bluebird Bio Launches First Gene Therapy for Beta Thalassemia in Germany

KaNDy’s Menopause Treatment Tackles Hot Flashes in Phase II

Eyevensys’ Gene Therapy for Blindness Boosted with €27M Series B

This Biotech Makes Easily Implantable Artificial Cornea Transplants

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Catalonia: A biotech hub going from strength to strength, with Barcelona at its core

Top biotech deals of February 2025

Grab your free report on 3D organoids and explore their future potential

These 7 biotechs are shaping the next generation of endometriosis care

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

Catalonia: A biotech hub going from strength to strength, with Barcelona at its core

Top biotech deals of February 2025

Grab your free report on 3D organoids and explore their future potential

These 7 biotechs are shaping the next generation of endometriosis care

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

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