News and Trends 1 Nov 2018 Llama Antibodies Could Be the Key to Universal Flu Prevention Researchers have developed a new approach to prevent the flu that can protect against all seasonal strains of the virus. It also has potential to be effective for those that cannot get vaccinated. In a paper published in Science today, researchers at Janssen and The Scripps Research Institute have revealed a new approach to prevent […] November 1, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
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 Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
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 Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 31 Oct 2018 Multiple Myeloma Antibody Therapy Achieves Positive Phase III Results An antibody therapy for the blood cancer multiple myeloma achieved positive results at Phase III, decreasing the risk of the disease getting worse and patient death by 45% in a Phase III trial. The blockbuster antibody daratumumab, developed by Janssen using a license from the Danish company Genmab, was given to patients in combination with […] October 31, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 31 Oct 2018 Biotech Investment Strategies: How, When and Where to Invest How, when and where to invest in a biotech company can be essential to the success of both specialized investors and the companies receiving the money. At Refresh Basel, I spoke to Chandra Leo, Partner at the life sciences VC firm HBM Partners, to discuss investment strategies in biotech and his advice for companies seeking […] October 31, 2018 - 6 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
More News! 30 Oct 2018 British Diagnostics Firm Develops More Accurate Fetal Health Screen A lab kit from British diagnostics company Angle could make non-invasive fetal health screens more accurate by analyzing whole fetal cells in the mother’s blood. To screen your unborn baby for genetic conditions, the most accurate current option is invasive techniques such as amniocentesis. These techniques take samples directly from the womb that contain fetal […] October 30, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 30 Oct 2018 Shuttles, Bubbles and Ultrasound: Crossing the Blood–Brain Barrier What do shuttles, bubbles and ultrasound have in common? They are all methods that can all be used to target the blood–brain barrier and make treating brain diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s easier. The blood–brain barrier is the gatekeeper to the brain. This highly selective protective sheath regulates the flow of substances in and […] October 30, 2018 - 7 minutesmins - By External Contributor Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
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 Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
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 Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 27 Oct 2018 How Will Biotech Influence the Technology of the Future? Dutch designer Nicole Spit looks into the future of consumer biotech products with a series of speculative design objects being exhibited at the Dutch Design Week. Biotechnology is already revolutionizing healthcare. Soon, it might also take over our daily lives, but are we ready for it? Designer Nicole Spit wants to make us think about […] October 27, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
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 Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
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 Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email