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 29 Oct 2018

Tree Bark Could be a Sustainable Source of Adhesives and Sugars

Researchers at the Technical Research Centre of Finland are making it easier to process spare tree bark into useful resins and sugars. In Finland, three million tonnes of bark is produced from softwood trees such as firs and pines, and, despite its potential as a source of industrial products, a lot is thrown away. “Bark […]

October 29, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 29 Oct 2018

Plasma Replacement Therapy Promising in Alzheimer’s Patients

A blood plasma replacement therapy from Spanish company Grifols reduced cognitive decline by 61% in patients with moderate Alzheimer’s disease compared with placebo. The researchers monitored the cognitive symptoms of 496 patients with Alzheimer’s disease in the Phase IIb/III trial. Over 14 months, the therapy had no effect in patients with mild Alzheimer’s, but the […]

October 29, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 26 Oct 2018

BASF Will Use CRISPR to Gene-Edit Crops and Microbes

The German chemical giant BASF has obtained a non-exclusive license from the US Broad Institute for the use of CRISPR-Cpf1 gene-editing technology in agricultural and microbiological applications. CRISPR-Cas9 is a fast and easy technique for editing the genome that has gained worldwide fame. It has the potential for use in many applications such as in […]

October 26, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 26 Oct 2018

Danish Biotech Closes €79M Series C to Develop Inhaled Lung Disease Drug

The Danish company Galecto Biotech can breathe a contented sigh. Its Series C funding round has raised €79M to finance a Phase II/III trial of its inhaled drug for a deadly lung disease. The amount raised is 30% higher than the company’s initial €60M goal, Galecto’s CEO, Hans Schambye, told me. “Being able to raise […]

October 26, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 26 Oct 2018

This Biotech Develops Biodegradable Antimicrobial Paint For Your Yacht

It is time to sail to Portugal for our Lisbon-based biotech of the week, BioMimetx. The company is developing biodegradable antimicrobial paint additives to help marine industries keep their surfaces clean of microbe buildup. Mission: Are you an environmentally conscious yacht owner who wants a clean boat bottom? If so, you are in luck, as […]

October 26, 2018 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

axovant parkinsons disease neuron dopamine

News and Trends 25 Oct 2018

Parkinson’s Disease Gene Therapy Clinical Trial Launched in UK

A gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease developed by Swiss biotech Axovant has been used on the first patient in a Phase I/II trial at University College London. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease, caused by a lack of the neurochemical dopamine in regions of the brain handling motor functions causing debilitating symptoms such as rigidity […]

October 25, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 23 Oct 2018

Microbiome Biotech Enterome Signs Deal With Takeda Worth up to €600M

The French biotech Enterome and Takeda are teaming up to fight Crohn’s disease, with a deal worth up to €600M. The two companies will collaborate in the development and commercialization of Enterome’s lead microbiome-targeting treatment currently in Phase I trials. Under the terms of the deal, Takeda will pay Enterome €44M upfront, and up to […]

October 23, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Innate Pharma Cancer immunotherapy header

News and Trends 22 Oct 2018

Innate’s Cancer Immunotherapy Combo Beats Standard Treatment Twofold

A combination cancer immunotherapy from French biotech Innate Pharma was twice as effective at treating recurrent squamous cell carcinoma as standard therapy in a Phase II trial. Squamous cell carcinoma is a head and neck cancer that forms lesions in the mucous membranes of body cavities such as the mouth, nose and throat. “Patients are […]

October 22, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

BOTW silk biomaterials nerve repair lomazzo

Startup Scout 19 Oct 2018

This Biotech Spins Silk That Can Repair Nerves

We fly to Lomazzo, Italy, this week to visit Silk Biomaterials. As the name implies, the company is testing different medical applications of silk, such as in nerve repair. Mission: Founded in 2014, Silk Biomaterials uses silk as a scaffold material for medical applications such as vascular grafts and peripheral nerve repair. In many tissue […]

October 19, 2018 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 18 Oct 2018

Phase III Triumph for Topical Hormonal Acne Treatment

The Italian biotech Cassiopea reports good news for acne sufferers. Its hormonal anti-acne treatment Winlevi significantly helped to reduce acne in two Phase III trials. Winlevi, when applied to the skin, cleared the acne in more than twice as many participants with moderate or severe acne as placebo. The treatment also showed good safety results […]

October 18, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 17 Oct 2018

Belgian Firm Will Develop Antibiotic Alternatives for Industrial Biotech Using CRISPR

Syngulon will be developing antibacterial peptides using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology thanks to an agreement with ERS Genomics, which licenses out CRISPR intellectual property in the EU. CRISPR technology is a hot topic in the biotech industry because it makes gene editing faster and easier than other techniques. This could make it very useful in […]

October 17, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 16 Oct 2018

Drug Combination for Rare Genetic Nerve Disorder Nails Phase III

A treatment developed by French biotech Pharnext has become the first clinically proven therapy for a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. In a Phase III trial, the treatment reduced the level of disability of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a condition that affects peripheral nerves. This disease causes problems with walking, running and […]

October 16, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Webinar: Organoids in cancer research - Paving the way for faster drug development across cancer indications

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

Tree Bark Could be a Sustainable Source of Adhesives and Sugars

Plasma Replacement Therapy Promising in Alzheimer’s Patients

BASF Will Use CRISPR to Gene-Edit Crops and Microbes

Danish Biotech Closes €79M Series C to Develop Inhaled Lung Disease Drug

This Biotech Develops Biodegradable Antimicrobial Paint For Your Yacht

Parkinson’s Disease Gene Therapy Clinical Trial Launched in UK

Microbiome Biotech Enterome Signs Deal With Takeda Worth up to €600M

Innate’s Cancer Immunotherapy Combo Beats Standard Treatment Twofold

This Biotech Spins Silk That Can Repair Nerves

Phase III Triumph for Topical Hormonal Acne Treatment

Belgian Firm Will Develop Antibiotic Alternatives for Industrial Biotech Using CRISPR

Drug Combination for Rare Genetic Nerve Disorder Nails Phase III

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Webinar: Organoids in cancer research - Paving the way for faster drug development across cancer indications

10 biotech companies leading the way in Denmark

Webinar: Advancements in antimalarial drug discovery and development

Six psychedelic drug companies aiming to revolutionize mental health treatment

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

Webinar: Organoids in cancer research - Paving the way for faster drug development across cancer indications

10 biotech companies leading the way in Denmark

Webinar: Advancements in antimalarial drug discovery and development

Six psychedelic drug companies aiming to revolutionize mental health treatment

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

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