News and Trends 29 Nov 2017 What Exactly Happens in the Cells of People with Down’s Syndrome? Researchers in Switzerland have taken a closer look at the cells of Down’s syndrome patients, with widespread changes in protein expression observed. Down’s syndrome, or trisomy 21, is the most common genetic disease, characterized by facial dysmorphism, learning disabilities, poor muscle tone and heart problems. Research carried out at the University of Geneva and ETH […] November 29, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 29 Nov 2017 Belgian Firm Raises €80M for Rapid Infection and Cancer Tests Biocartis is aiming to raise funds through a private placement of shares in order to support sales and further development of its rapid cancer tests. Based in Mechelen, Belgium, Biocartis focuses on developing fast, easy-to-use diagnostics. In order to boost its molecular diagnostics technology, the company launched a private equity placement of shares on Euronext […] November 29, 2017 - 1 minutemin - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 29 Nov 2017 Merck and Pfizer’s Checkpoint Inhibitor Fails to Treat Gastric Cancer Avelumab, marketed as Bavencio by Pfizer and Merck, has failed to show better efficacy than chemotherapy in a Phase III trial with gastric cancer patients. Merck (the German one) and Pfizer joined the checkpoint inhibitor club earlier this year with the approval of Bavencio (avelumab) in both the US and Europe. Looking to keep expanding the […] November 29, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 29 Nov 2017 Guilt-free and Odour-free: French Biotech Fights for Green Cosmetics Global Bioenergies has produced the first batch of its sustainable isobutene, which L’Oréal will use to produce environmentally friendly hairspray and deodorant. Global Bioenergies has produced the first batch of its sustainable biochemical for L’Oréal. The French biotech hopes to support the shift away from fossil fuels that could change the world. It has taken its first step […] November 29, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 29 Nov 2017 One Mouse with All-Human Antibodies Monoclonal antibodies have long been the focus of research surrounding drug development against inflammatory diseases and cancer. For decades, researchers have had to travel along a strenuous path to get to where we are now. After monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were discovered in the first half of the 20th century, researchers quickly understood that animals, such […] November 29, 2017 - 6 minutesmins - By External Contributor Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 29 Nov 2017 What’s Going on in the Biotech Ecosystem of Portugal? The biotech ecosystem in Portugal is rapidly growing. Ricardo Perdigao, Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures, discusses the country’s potential in this field. Portugal has seen the number of life sciences startups triple between 2008 to 2015. A study by Portugal Ventures links this growth to a better funding environment and to researchers being more aware that […] November 29, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By External Contributor Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Nov 2017 A Treatment for Sudden Deafness Fails in Phase III Auris Medical’s treatment for sudden deafness has failed to meet its efficacy endpoint, leading the company to terminate a second trial early. Based in Zug, Switzerland, Auris Medical is developing what could be the first treatments for inner ear disorders such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. But today, the company suffered a setback. Its lead […] November 28, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Nov 2017 Cheap DNA Tests for Everyone! Italian Biotech Launches €149 Kit Dante Labs has developed the first DNA tests available in Europe, which will allow the public to test their health and wellbeing from the comfort of their own homes. Dante Labs hopes to transform genetics. The biotech wants to develop accessible genomic testing, giving people the knowledge and information they need to live long, healthy lives. Yesterday, the […] November 28, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Nov 2017 New Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s will be Developed in the UK Synpromics and UCL will collaborate to develop a gene therapy to treat Parkinson’s disease that only targets specific neurons involved in the disease. Synpromics, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a company focusing on gene control. The biotech has decided to put its technology to use for the development of a gene therapy for Parkinson’s in […] November 28, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Nov 2017 The Link Between Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity may have Finally been Uncovered Researchers at the Université de Genève have unravelled the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking obesity and insulin resistance. We have long known about a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, but discovering the underlying mechanisms has proved difficult. A group of researchers at the Université de Genève, Switzerland, may have found a protein that links changes […] November 28, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 28 Nov 2017 Dutch Cancer Nanoparticles Get €2.5M from the EU to Enter Phase II The EU has awarded Cristal Therapeutics a grant from its Horizon 2020 program. This will support the development of its cancer nanoparticles through Phase II. Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation program with close to €80B already handed out to help exciting science towards the market. Cristal Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing targeted nanomedicines for cancer and […] November 28, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 28 Nov 2017 Reviewing Gene Therapy: How Close is Biotech to Genetic Cures? Over 10,000 human diseases are caused by exactly one faulty gene. Gene therapy promises to fix each of them. Here’s a review of biotech’s progress. Biotech is arguably built on genetic medicine. When Genentech‘s insulin produced by genetically engineered bacteria kicked off biotech fever in the 1980s, the concept of directly repairing defective human DNA wasn’t […] November 28, 2017 - 8 minutesmins - By Evelyn Warner Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email