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

More News! 12 Nov 2018

This UK Biotech Wants to Make Antibodies Easy to Swallow

Say goodbye to painful antibody injections. The UK biotech Intract Pharma has received a €1.6M grant to advance oral immunotherapy based on approved antibodies, causing less discomfort for patients. The grant, awarded by public agency Innovate UK, will help Intract develop oral versions of existing antibody therapies. This could make the treatments easier for patients […]

November 12, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 9 Nov 2018

This Biotech Uses Radioactive Chemicals to Diagnose Brain Cancer

In Athens, Greece, we find pro-Actina. This biotech is working on a method to diagnose brain cancer by measuring how ‘leaky’ the brain is. Mission: Founded in 2006, the company is working to improve glioma diagnosis by using a combination of CT scans and an injectable radioactive chemical tracer. Gliomas are the most common forms […]

November 9, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

huntingtons epigenetics oxford biodynamics

News and Trends 8 Nov 2018

Epigenetics Test Can Distinguish Between Huntington’s Disease Stages

A study run by Oxford BioDynamics suggests that we could predict Huntington’s more easily by analyzing epigenetic changes in the patient’s DNA. Epigenetics describes the way that the expression of our genes is regulated, often influenced by environmental exposure, without changing the genetic code. Ways of modifying gene expression include attaching chemical groups to DNA […]

November 8, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

bone therapeutics bone disease hip header

News and Trends 7 Nov 2018

Belgian Biotech to Abandon Phase III Cell Therapy Trial for Bone Disease

Bone Therapeutics is going to discontinue its cell therapy Phase III trial after finding little hope of success for patients with the bone disease osteonecrosis. If all had gone as planned, the full trial would have monitored 118 patients over 24 months. However, an interim analysis on 44 patients after 12 months found little evidence […]

November 7, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

autoimmune liver disease Genkyotex organ

News and Trends 7 Nov 2018

Solid Phase II Performance for French Autoimmune Liver Disease Drug

Genkyotex’s small molecule therapy had encouraging short-term effects on patients with the autoimmune liver disease primary biliary cholangitis in a Phase II trial. Over six weeks, the drug reduced the blood levels of a liver disease biomarker molecule by up to 23% in 92 participants. In patients with late-stage disease, who have few treatments available, […]

November 7, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

chikungunya virus mosquito Themis bioscience

News and Trends 6 Nov 2018

First Potential Vaccine for Chikungunya Virus Flies Through Phase II

The mosquito-borne chikungunya virus may one day have a vaccine, as an Austrian biotech’s lead candidate gets positive results in Phase II. Themis Bioscience measured the blood levels of antibodies against the company’s vaccine in 263 healthy volunteers. Four weeks after injections of its lead candidate vaccine, the participants had produced antibodies to protect themselves […]

November 6, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 6 Nov 2018

Potential HIV Treatment Shows Early Stage Promise

According to Phase I/IIa trial results from an Israeli biotech, an HIV drug reduced patients’ HIV levels by up to 99%, and might one day become a new treatment for the infection. The trial, run by Zion Medical, found that the synthetic peptide drug reduced the level of viral RNA in patients’ blood by up to […]

November 6, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 5 Nov 2018

Series C Bags German Company €17M for Irregular Heartbeat Treatment

Omeicos Therapeutics has secured €17M in a Series C round to fund clinical development of its lead treatment for irregular heartbeat. Robert Fischer, CEO of the German biopharmaceutical company, told me that getting the attention of investors such as the Dutch company Forbion, which led the round, was just as helpful as the money itself. […]

November 5, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 2 Nov 2018

Gut Bacteria Treatment Shows Promise for Rare Genetic Kidney Condition

The Swedish biotech Oxthera reported positive preliminary Phase II results using its gut bacteria treatment, Oxabact, in patients with a rare genetic condition that causes kidney failure. The results came from an interim analysis one year into a three-year trial, where Oxthera is testing its gut microbiome treatment on patients with primary hyperoxaluria type […]

November 2, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 2 Nov 2018

This Biotech Uses Metal Alloys to Reshape Your Bones

We venture up to the North European climes of Finland this week. In the city of Espoo, Synoste is developing bone lengthening devices made of smart malleable materials. Mission: To modernize bone lengthening devices with new techniques such as using malleable metals with wireless control. People born with discrepancies in limb length often suffer from […]

November 2, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Orchard therapeutics gene therapy header

News and Trends 1 Nov 2018

Gene Therapy Company’s IPO Shoots it to Billion-Euro Biotech List

Orchard Therapeutics, a British company developing gene therapy for rare genetic diseases, has launched its Nasdaq IPO and is now reportedly worth $1.25B (€1B). This IPO propels Orchard to the handful of European biotechs worth €1B or more. The new money might help with the marketing and manufacture of Strimvelis, an EMA-approved gene therapy for […]

November 1, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 31 Oct 2018

Forget Daily Pills: HIV Could Be Treated With Monthly Injections

A monthly antiviral injection may be as good as daily HIV drugs for suppressing infections, reports the British biotech ViiV Healthcare. This could make the treatment of HIV easier for patients and improve compliance. In the first five months of a Phase IIb trial, the company gave 274 HIV-infected adults three daily oral antiretrovirals. After […]

October 31, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

This UK Biotech Wants to Make Antibodies Easy to Swallow

This Biotech Uses Radioactive Chemicals to Diagnose Brain Cancer

Epigenetics Test Can Distinguish Between Huntington’s Disease Stages

Belgian Biotech to Abandon Phase III Cell Therapy Trial for Bone Disease

Solid Phase II Performance for French Autoimmune Liver Disease Drug

First Potential Vaccine for Chikungunya Virus Flies Through Phase II

Potential HIV Treatment Shows Early Stage Promise

Series C Bags German Company €17M for Irregular Heartbeat Treatment

Gut Bacteria Treatment Shows Promise for Rare Genetic Kidney Condition

This Biotech Uses Metal Alloys to Reshape Your Bones

Gene Therapy Company’s IPO Shoots it to Billion-Euro Biotech List

Forget Daily Pills: HIV Could Be Treated With Monthly Injections

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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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