News and Trends 7 Mar 2017 A New Transatlantic Partnership takes on Antibiotic Resistance The Swiss biotech BioVersys and the US company Aptuit have entered a new collaboration to target antibiotic resistances. BioVersys, based in Basel, is developing small molecules that interfere with bacterial resistance mechanisms. Its current research is focused on nosocomial infections (hospital infections) and tuberculosis. To advance the development of compounds against novel targets identified by BioVersys, the company has […] March 7, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
More News! 1 Mar 2017 German Spin-off Scores Funding to Treat Atrial Fibrillation The Berlin-based startup OMEICOS Therapeutics announced the first closing of a series B financing round of €8.3M and the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. OMEICOS Therapeutics, a spin-off from the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, is taking the next step with its lead compound OMT-28 for […] March 1, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 1 Mar 2017 Swedish Oncology Biotech makes a Large IPO for its Peptides The Swedish company Oncopeptides raised €68M with its IPO on Nasdaq Stockholm, which will allow the company to push their compound into phase III trials. Oncopeptides was founded in 2000 and is focused on the development of its lead compound Ygalo. After the company started a Phase II trial in patients with late stage relapsed and refractory multiple […] March 1, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Feb 2017 Hopes are up: A Second Phase III Trial for Alzheimer’s Disease The Swiss biotech AC Immune announced that its partner Genentech (Roche) will start a second phase III clinical trial for its Alzheimer’s therapy crenezumab. In 2006 AC Immune partnered up with Genentech to bring its amyloid beta (Aβ)-targeting antibody crenezumab into the clinic. Although the compound did not meet its co-primary enpoints in the large phase II ABBY trial, Genentech pushed […] February 28, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Feb 2017 New Antibodies to Target the Respiratory Syncytial Virus The two companies Arsanis and Adimab, both specialized in the development of monoclonal antibodies, have partnered up against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Their license agreement is backed by the Gates Foundation. The clinical-stage biotech Arsanis is developing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment of serious infectious diseases. The company announced that they have gained the exclusive worldwide […] February 28, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Best in Biotech 28 Feb 2017 Stroopwaffels, Krokets and Biotechs – Meet the Top 10 in Leiden! Known for its charming canals and tulip fields, Leiden is a major tourist attraction in the Netherlands. It is also home to the oldest Dutch university and harbours the leading biotech cluster in the country. Let’s have a look at the top 10 biotechs in Leiden! Not only is Leiden the birthplace of the famous painter Rembrandt, but it […] February 28, 2017 - 7 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
More News! 27 Feb 2017 UK Lays Down a Foundation for Physical Science Innovation The UK government announced a €117M (£100M) investment to join the forces in physical sciences, engineering and life sciences through the new Rosalind Franklin research institute (RFI). Rosalind Franklin, the British scientist whose use of X-rays to study biological structures played a crucial role in the discovery of the DNA ‘double helix’, has laid some of the cornerstones in biophysical […] February 27, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 23 Feb 2017 Biosimilars set to take on Oncology after a new Market Authorization The European Commission has approved Truxima, the world’s first biosimilar monoclonal antibody (mAb) with an oncology indication. Based in South Korea, Celltrion Healthcare is setting foot in the European oncology market with the approval of Truxima, a biosimilar to Roche’s Mabthera (rituximab). The European Commission has approved the antibody for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis […] February 23, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 22 Feb 2017 UK’s Joint Venture Bridging Academia and Industry is Ready for Kick Off Apollo Therapeutics is a UK-based joint venture bridging academia and industry to drive the translation of university research. Its first four drug discovery programmes will now be launched. Apollo Therapeutics was founded in early 2016 as a collaborative effort of the three global pharmaceutical companies, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson & Johnson Innovation, and the world-leading UK-universities, Imperial College London, UCL and the University of […] February 22, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 22 Feb 2017 Roche doubles down in Fight against Antibiotic Resistance In 2014, Discuva partnered up with Roche to develop new antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria. The two companies have announced an extension of their collaboration until February 2018. The Cambridge-based company Discuva wants to address the critical need for new antibiotic drugs to treat infections from multidrug-resistant bacteria. Posing a major public health threat, antibiotic resistances cause at least 25,000 deaths per year in […] February 22, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 21 Feb 2017 A New Peptide Vaccine for Multiple Sclerosis Succeeds in Phase IIa Apitope is developing therapeutic peptides to induce suppression of autoimmune responses towards self-antigens. Their recent phase IIa trial has revealed promising results for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a hot topic these days. While a recent long-term study revealed the potential of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of MS, this treatment strategy is […] February 21, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 21 Feb 2017 New Immunotherapy Candidate receives FDA Fast Track Designation Cell Medica’s Orphan Drug CMD-003 has received fast track designation by the FDA to advance immunotherapy of patients with Epstein Bar Virus (EBV)-associated malignancies. The FDA’s fast track designation has been designed to facilitate and accelerate the development of drugs which fill a major unmet medical need. It has now been granted to Cell Medica’s lead EBV immunotherapy […] February 21, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email