Interview 23 Jan 2019 Tackling the Complexity of the Gut Microbiome for Better Treatments An imbalance in gut microbe species is linked with gastrointestinal disease. Philip talked with the CEO and co-founder of the Swiss startup PharmaBiome, Tomas de Wouters, about the complexity of rebalancing the gut microbiome in these conditions. The microbiome is a hugely complex ecosystem of microbes living all around the body. Different parts of the […] January 23, 2019 - 5 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 23 Jan 2019 Update: The FDA Green-lights Clinical Trials for Huntington’s Disease Gene Therapy Update (23/01/2019): The FDA has given uniQure regulatory clearance to begin a phase I/II trial of its gene therapy for Huntington’s disease. uniQure is planning to launch the trial in the US in late 2019. Published on 23/01/2018: The EMA has given uniQure’s gene therapy candidate for Huntington’s disease Orphan Medicinal Product Designation, which the […] January 23, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 22 Jan 2019 No Guts, No Glory: How Microbiome Research is Changing Medicine Scientists are uncovering many ways that the microorganisms that share our body can influence our health. It appears as though the human microbiome could be the key to treating all sorts of diseases, but how can we make these tiny creatures collaborate with us? Let’s do a gut check. We’ve all been told that our […] January 22, 2019 - 10 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 22 Jan 2019 MinervaX Latest Beneficiary of Novo’s Antimicrobial Resistance Fund The Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund, launched to fight antimicrobial resistance, has invested €4.4M in the Danish company MinervaX to help fund the phase I trial of a vaccine that could protect newborn babies from streptococcal infections. The Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund aims to combat the growing menace of pathogens resistant to antimicrobial drugs, such as […] January 22, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
More News! 21 Jan 2019 Danish Biotech Turns Bacteria into Fermentation Workaholics The Danish biotech Enduro Genetics has shown it can improve the yield of fermentation by engineering bacteria to become ‘addicted’ to being productive. Fermentation vats full of bacteria or yeast are the workhorses for industries such as the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. They are used to mass-produce products including detergents, drugs and biofuels. The cells […] January 21, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 18 Jan 2019 Biotech Partnership Raises €7.5M to Recycle Plastics With Enzymes The French biotechs Carbios and Toulouse White Biotechnology have been awarded €7.5M to industrialize their plastic recycling programme, which uses enzymes to break down waste. The funding comes from the public initiative Investments for the Future Program, which is aimed to foster innovation in French industries. The €7.5M is to be paid in installments over […] January 18, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Startup Scout 18 Jan 2019 This Biotech Turns Rejected Organs Into Drug Testing Models Engitix, a spinout from University College London, makes accurate disease models from human tissue that include the extracellular matrix from outside of the cells, an often overlooked but essential factor in the way cells behave inside our bodies. Mission: To make disease models in the lab that include the extracellular matrix, making them more […] January 18, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 17 Jan 2019 Scientists Create Prosthetic Ears Using 3D Bioprinting Swiss researchers are developing cellulose-based materials for 3D bioprinting, which could lead to implants such as prosthetic ears. 3D-printed implants have big potential in the field of regenerative medicine. Although still at an early stage, this technology is enabling the development of customized prosthetics, such as skin and joint cartilage. One big focus in […] January 17, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 16 Jan 2019 The Coming of Age of Biotechnology Since its beginnings in the 1970s, the biotech industry has grown massively and made huge advances. At our recent Labiotech Refresh in London, Tim Haines, Managing Partner at the life science VC Abingworth, shared his views on how biotechnology has finally come of age. Haines knows the biotech industry well. After leading and helping sell […] January 16, 2019 - 5 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 15 Jan 2019 Sanofi Obtains License for French Company’s Antibody Engineering Platform Sanofi has signed a licensing deal with French biotech Biomunex, whose antibody technology has the potential to develop new immunotherapy treatments for cancer and infectious diseases. Sanofi will give Biomunex an upfront payment, along with further installments upon achieving key development milestones. The amounts have not been disclosed. Biomunex is able to make a wide variety […] January 15, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 15 Jan 2019 Huntington’s Could Be Diagnosed in Five Minutes With This Lab-on-a-Chip Using a lab-on-a-chip device, Swiss scientists have found a way to diagnose the neurodegenerative condition Huntington’s disease from DNA in the blood in just five minutes, rather than the five hours currently required. When carrying out the diagnosis of Huntington’s patients, the patient’s DNA is typically extracted from white blood cells. Regions of the […] January 15, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
More News! 14 Jan 2019 Inhaled Lung Disease Treatment Encounters Mixed Results in Phase II Trial An inhaled drug from British company Verona Pharma has failed to significantly improve lung function in patients with the lung disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, though it did produce some benefits. The 79 patients in the phase II trial suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition where inflammation in the lungs restricts the airways […] January 14, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email