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 5 Mar 2019

Seventure Continues Microbiome Investment Success with Second Fund

After the success of the world’s first fund dedicated to companies in nutrition, digital health, and the microbiome, the French venture capital firm Seventure Partners has completed the first closing of a second microbiome fund, which is expected to total €200M. The fund is the successor to Seventure’s Health for Life Capital fund, which was […]

March 5, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 4 Mar 2019

Swiss Biotech Raises €8.8M to Progress Regenerative Stroke Treatment

The Swiss company NovaGo has raised €8.8M (CHF 10M) in Series A funding to develop one of the first therapies to help the nervous system regenerate after a stroke. Novago develops antibodies that inhibit Nogo-A, a key molecule that stops nerve cells from growing new connections in the adult brain and spinal cord. This lets […]

March 4, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

biogen nightstar therapeutics gene therapy ophthalmology

News and Trends 4 Mar 2019

Biogen Acquires UK Biotech Developing Gene Therapy for Blindness

The big US biotech Biogen has agreed to acquire Nightstar Therapeutics for €773M ($877M), including Nightstar’s candidate gene therapies for inherited blindness. Expected to be complete by mid-2019, Biogen’s acquisition of Nightstar bags it the UK company’s most advanced program. Currently in phase III, the therapy targets choroidemia, an incurable genetic condition which causes progressive […]

March 4, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 1 Mar 2019

Rapid Response mRNA Vaccine Facility Gets €30M Funding

An mRNA vaccine facility, run by the German biotech CureVac, has received a €30M development grant to rapidly manufacture vaccines for regions hit by outbreaks of rabies, yellow fever and emerging diseases. CureVac is a company that develops vaccines made of mRNA, a molecule that lets cells translate genes into proteins. The company’s drug candidates […]

March 1, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 1 Mar 2019

Update: Hansa Biopharma Applies for EMA Market Approval for Kidney Transplant Drug

Update (01/03/2019): Hansa Biopharma (previously named Hansa Medical) has filed an application for marketing authorization for imlifidase with the EMA also for use in patients undergoing kidney transplants. Update (18/10/2018): Imlifidase has just been given Fast Track Designation by the FDA for application in transplantation. The designation should accelerate the treatment through the FDA’s regulatory process, with […]

March 1, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

aquaporin water purification membrane copenhagen skyline

Startup Scout 1 Mar 2019

This Biotech Uses Bacterial Proteins to Purify Water Faster

Aquaporin is a company named after a protein that transports water molecules across a cell membrane. With these water channels, the Danish biotech is able to purify water 50% faster than conventional technology. Mission: To use water channel proteins to purify water in applications such as cleaning drinking water, desalination and industrial wastewater treatment. As […]

March 1, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

hookipa cancer vaccine hiv cytomegalovirus

News and Trends 28 Feb 2019

Austrian Biotech Raises €33.2M to Fund Cancer Vaccines

A Series D round of €33.2M ($37.4M) is to help the biotech Hookipa advance the clinical development of therapeutic vaccines for virus-based cancers, as well as a prophylactic vaccine for cytomegalovirus, which can infect patients undergoing organ transplants. Currently at the preclinical stage, Hookipa’s therapeutic vaccines are designed to tackle cancers that are caused […]

February 28, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 27 Feb 2019

UK Biotech Gets Huge Grant to Launch Off-the-Shelf CAR-T Cancer Therapy to Clinic

The UK biotech Cell Medica has received a €7.6M ($8.7M) grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to advance an off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy that can work not only in blood cancer but also in solid tumors. The funding will help the company to develop a special type of CAR-T cell therapy […]

February 27, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Interview 27 Feb 2019

How to Make Cancer Drug Resistance Futile

For many solid tumors, treatments undergo a cycle: the drugs initially work well, the tumor shrinks, but then becomes resistant again. Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual, CEO of the Swiss biotech Tolremo, believes that this cycle can be stopped. Solid tumors often act like a recurring villain in a TV series. Whatever drug you throw at them, however […]

February 27, 2019 - 5 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

CRISPR Cas9 antimicrobial peptide antibiotic resistance

News and Trends 26 Feb 2019

Swiss Scientists Find ‘Silver Bullet’ Against Bacterial Infections

Using the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, researchers in Lausanne have uncovered antimicrobial molecules in the fruit fly that can selectively kill certain bacteria. This could lead to new therapeutics combatting antimicrobial resistance, and even preventing infections before they start. The research shows the antimicrobial molecules, or peptides, have the potential to treat infections of pathogens […]

February 26, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

gene therapy ada scid orchard therapeutics

News and Trends 25 Feb 2019

Orchard Achieves Good Survival with Cell Therapy for Rare Immune Deficiency

All 20 patients with a rare immunodeficiency disease survived for at least two years after receiving a cell therapy developed by Orchard Therapeutics. The patients had a genetic disease called adenosine deaminase–deficient severe combined immune deficiency (ADA-SCID) — also known as bubble boy syndrome. Caused by a mutation on a vital gene, the disease weakens […]

February 25, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

stem cell therapy mogrify disley heart disease

Startup Scout 22 Feb 2019

This Biotech’s Algorithm Accelerates Cell Therapy Development

Mogrify is the new kid on the block for cell therapy. Based in Cambridge, UK, it boasts technology that could speed up the development of cell therapies by predicting the best chemical recipe to transform mature adult cells into other cell types. Mission: To use next-generation sequencing and gene expression data to develop more cost-effective […]

February 22, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

Seventure Continues Microbiome Investment Success with Second Fund

Swiss Biotech Raises €8.8M to Progress Regenerative Stroke Treatment

Biogen Acquires UK Biotech Developing Gene Therapy for Blindness

Rapid Response mRNA Vaccine Facility Gets €30M Funding

Update: Hansa Biopharma Applies for EMA Market Approval for Kidney Transplant Drug

This Biotech Uses Bacterial Proteins to Purify Water Faster

Austrian Biotech Raises €33.2M to Fund Cancer Vaccines

UK Biotech Gets Huge Grant to Launch Off-the-Shelf CAR-T Cancer Therapy to Clinic

How to Make Cancer Drug Resistance Futile

Swiss Scientists Find ‘Silver Bullet’ Against Bacterial Infections

Orchard Achieves Good Survival with Cell Therapy for Rare Immune Deficiency

This Biotech’s Algorithm Accelerates Cell Therapy Development

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The top biotech deals of March 2025

The biggest biotech funding rounds in March 2025

Join the webinar: AI in antibody discovery - from in silico analysis to AI-enabled data management

Beyond amyloid: The search for the next big thing in Alzheimer’s treatment

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

The top biotech deals of March 2025

The biggest biotech funding rounds in March 2025

Join the webinar: AI in antibody discovery - from in silico analysis to AI-enabled data management

Beyond amyloid: The search for the next big thing in Alzheimer’s treatment

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

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