In Depth 11 Aug 2022
Biosecurity is synthetic biology’s most crucial ally
Synthetic biology has made it easier than ever to engineer organisms to serve our needs. But as the technology becomes…
About
Kostas Vavitsas, PhD, is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Athens, Greece, and a freelance writer on biotech and synthetic biology topics.
Articles by Kostas Vavitsas
In Depth 25 Aug 2021
After Years of Neglect, Algae Biotechnology Makes a Comeback
Despite their ability to create matter out of thin air, algae and cyanobacteria have long been neglected by the biotech…
News and Trends 23 Feb 2021
European Cancer Deals Increasingly Focus on Natural Killer Cells
Natural killer cells are becoming a hot topic in the booming cancer cell therapy scene, with the field’s latest big…
News and Trends 9 Feb 2021
EMA Green Light Sends Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Into Turbulent Market
As AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine debuts in the EU market this month, supply bottlenecks, viral variants,…
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News and Trends 15 Jan 2021
GSK Acne Deal Heralds Growing Interest in Skin Microbiome
This week, the Paris-based Eligo Bioscience became one of a growing number of biotechs to land a big pharma deal…
News and Trends 14 Dec 2020
Will Europe Follow Singapore in Approving Cultured Meat?
Singapore is the first country to grant approval to meat grown from animal cells, known as cultured meat. Will European…
News and Trends 26 Nov 2020
AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 Vaccine Proves Its Worth in Phase III
A much anticipated Covid-19 vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, achieved 70% efficacy in phase III interim…
News and Trends 20 Nov 2020
Breakthroughs in Decentralized Testing Could Contain Covid-19
Hospital facilities in Europe are being pushed to their limits as the Covid-19 pandemic continues into winter. Coronavirus testing that…
In Depth 2 Nov 2020
Synthetic Biology: The Next Step in the Cannabinoid Revolution
The recent relaxation of cannabis legislation in Canada, many parts of the US, and several European countries has attracted a…
News and Trends 17 Sep 2020
3D Bioprinting Gains a Foothold in Biomedicine
3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing by reducing costs and giving designers and engineers immense flexibility. Could 3D bioprinting do the…
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News and Trends 11 Aug 2020
How European Startups Have Advanced Cancer T-Cell Therapy in 2020
With the help of a huge €66M Series A round last week, the German startup T-knife is developing cancer T-cell…
News and Trends 27 Jul 2020
Biological Fungicide Clears Wheat of Rust Disease in European Field Trial
A fungicide derived from amoeba has proven effective at protecting wheat from rust disease and other major fungal diseases at…
News and Trends 17 Jul 2020
Two UK Startups Raise Seed Funding to Revolutionize Cancer Treatment
Unfazed by the financial turmoil caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Edinburgh-based firm Macomics and University of Cambridge spinout Spirea…
News and Trends 14 Jul 2020
€32M Series B to Fund Bleeding Medication Inspired by Snake Venom
The Dutch biotech VarmX will use the proceedings of a €32M Series B to take a blood clotting protein drug…
News and Trends 8 Jul 2020
Osivax Raises €32M to Develop Universal Coronavirus and Influenza Vaccines
Osivax, a Lyon-based biotechnology company, secured €17.5M from the European Innovation Council and €15.1M from Bpifrance. The funding will be…
News and Trends 1 Jul 2020
UK Startup Bags €3M to Develop Psychedelic Medicines for Mental Health
A €3.3M (£3M) Series A round raised by the Oxford-based biomedicine company Beckley Psytech will allow the company to study…
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News and Trends 25 Jun 2020
Novozymes Launches Eco-Friendly Umami Flavoring Made with Enzymes
As consumers demand more and better plant-based alternatives to meat, the Danish biotech company Novozymes has released an environmentally friendly…