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

News and Trends 18 Apr 2019

Hookipa’s €75M IPO to Fund Vaccines for Viral Infection and Cancer

The Austrian biotech Hookipa expects to raise €75M ($84M) in an IPO on the Nasdaq stock exchange to fund the phase II development of a vaccine for the virus cytomegalovirus, and the first clinical trials of its cancer vaccines. Based in Vienna, Hookipa develops vaccines based on engineered viruses called arenavirus. The company programs arenaviruses […]

April 18, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

genetic engineering caterpillar crop pest oxitec

News and Trends 17 Apr 2019

UK Biotech Uses Genetic Engineering to Control Crop Munching Caterpillars

Moth caterpillars attacking crops are the latest target of the UK company Oxitec, which uses genetic engineering to suppress the populations of crop pests and disease-carrying mosquitoes. The caterpillars of the soybean looper moth Chrysodeixis includens eat crops such as soybean, tomato and cotton across North and South America, causing problems for farmers. The caterpillars […]

April 17, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 16 Apr 2019

Researchers in Israel 3D Print a Personalized Heart from Donor’s Tissue

A group of scientists in Israel is the first to 3D print a vascularized heart using reprogrammed cells and biological material from a donor. The technology could one day provide printed hearts for transplants with low risks of rejection by a patient’s immune system. Organ bioprinting is a technique similar to 3D printing where you […]

April 16, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 16 Apr 2019

Male-Pattern Baldness Could See First New Treatment in over 10 Years

A skin cream developed by the Italian company Cassiopea has reduced male-pattern baldness for up to 12 months in a phase II trial. Androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male-pattern baldness in men, is a very common condition where excess male hormones (androgens) in hair follicles stop hair growing on the scalp. There are only two […]

April 16, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

promethera liver failure stem cell therapy

News and Trends 15 Apr 2019

First Stem Cell Therapy for Liver Failure Shows Promise in First Human Trials

A stem cell therapy developed by the Belgian company Promethera has improved symptoms, such as jaundice, in patients with acute liver failure, a condition with no effective treatments. A phase I/IIa trial of the therapy recruited 19 patients with chronic liver disease. Of these,12 patients had developed acute-on-chronic liver failure, a life-threatening syndrome where the […]

April 15, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 12 Apr 2019

This Biotech Writes Long DNA Molecules From Scratch

Writing long stretches of DNA is difficult and expensive. The Austrian biotech Ribbon Biolabs is combining automation with enzymes to make the process easier, with the prospect of improving synthetic biology applications. Mission: To synthesize DNA molecules with a length of up to 10,000 base pairs (the building blocks of DNA). This target is five […]

April 12, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

meningitis antibiotic resistance lund university

More News! 11 Apr 2019

Scientists Develop Treatment to Combat Antibiotic Resistance in Meningitis

Researchers based in Sweden and Denmark are developing a meningitis treatment that could overcome antibiotic resistance by targeting white blood cells called neutrophils. Antibiotic resistance has become a pressing issue, as many easily treatable infections become harder to fight with traditional antibiotics. Bacterial meningitis is particularly concerning, as its already considerable mortality rate of 10-30% […]

April 11, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

sophia genetics ai genomics cancer diagnostic

News and Trends 11 Apr 2019

Swiss Multi-Cancer Diagnostic Test Approved in Europe

A cancer test developed by the Swiss company SOPHiA GENETICS has been approved for diagnosing multiple types of solid tumors by looking at genetic variations in 42 genes. SOPHiA GENETICS works in data-driven medicine, using huge amounts of genomic data to diagnose and personalize treatments to a patient. This new technology is being adopted by […]

April 11, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

bubonic plague y pestis enesi pharma university of Oxford feal

News and Trends 10 Apr 2019

Needle-Free Vaccine for Bubonic Plague to be Developed in the UK

The UK biotech Enesi Pharma has joined forces with researchers from the University of Oxford to develop a vaccine for the bubonic plague that is simple to use and doesn’t require needles. Caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, the bubonic plague is infamous for having killed over 50 million Europeans in the Middle Ages. While […]

April 10, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 9 Apr 2019

French First-in-Class Diabetes Drug Nails Phase III Trial

An oral first-in-class drug targeting the mitochondria, developed by the French biotech Poxel, has shown big potential for treating type 2 diabetes in a phase III trial in Japan. Poxel’s lead candidate drug imeglimin has taken a step closer to entering the huge market for diabetes type 2 treatments. In a phase III trial in […]

April 9, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 8 Apr 2019

AACR 2019: European Biotech Progresses in Fighting Cancer

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) met up in Atlanta, USA, to showcase the newest advances in cancer treatment from around the world. Sit back as we give you a quick rundown of the most interesting presentations from European organizations working to improve the treatment of cancer. Clinical trials In the conference last […]

April 8, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 5 Apr 2019

This Biotech Is Making Tissue Bioprinting Child’s Play

3D printing living tissues is complex and technically tricky. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, Cellink is developing bioprinting technology with a focus on making it easy to use for non-experts. Mission: To make bioprinting technology simpler to use for researchers. This could be used to make cancer disease models for drug testing, and even printing […]

April 5, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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