News and Trends 5 May 2017 Forget Chemical Synthesis, Yeast can Now Synthesize Complex Antibiotics A new study presents a novel synthetic biology approach for antibiotic synthesis in yeast that could tackle the huge challenge of antibiotic resistance. Scientists at Imperial College London have hacked their way into introducing complex biosynthesis pathways in the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In particular, they focused on the production of non-ribosomal peptides (Nrp), a group of […] May 5, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 4 May 2017 Video Interview: This Biotech Wants to Take Over the NOTCH Space Cellestia, based in Basel, is a biotech spin-off from EPFL, developing new compounds targeting the NOTCH pathway for the treatment of cancer. Its CEO, Michael Bauer, talked to Philip at our recent meetup in Basel and explained what sets Cellestia apart from other players in the field. Cellestia was founded in 2014, based on the […] May 4, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 4 May 2017 Solid First-in-Human Results from Vaccine against Birth Defects Hookipa has presented positive data from its first Phase I trial testing its vaccine technology against human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) infections. Hookipa, one of the top 10 biotechs we’re closely following this year, is developing a viral vaccine platform that has attracted big investments from both the private and the public sector. The company just announced […] May 4, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 4 May 2017 French Gene Therapy Biotech Raises a Huge €37.5M in Series A Vivet Therapeutics has raised a huge €37.5M in Series A to help bring a new gene therapy technology for rare liver diseases to the clinic. Vivet Therapeutics has managed to attract some of the hottest biotech investors in Europe in its Series A. Led by Novartis Venture Fund and Columbus Venture Partners, and also counting […] May 4, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 4 May 2017 Parent Bacteria Resist Antibiotics Better than their Offspring According to a new study, a phenomenon known as biased inheritance protects older bacteria from the wrath of antibiotics in low concentrations. Older bacteria in a mixed population of dividing E. coli cells inherit a larger number of drug-expelling membrane proteins and pump out antibiotics better than their younger counterparts in the presence of low […] May 4, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By External Contributor Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 4 May 2017 This Belgian Startup is building the Next Generation of Diagnostic Tests DNAlytics changes the diagnosing game. The company builds in vitro diagnosis tests that save many years for patients! I met with Thibault, the founder, to know more about the company. Based in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, DNAlytics develops revolutionary disease diagnostic processes that complement conventional methods. Their main product is RheumaKit, a test that analyzes biological and clinical […] May 4, 2017 - 5 minutesmins - By External Contributor Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 3 May 2017 Immuno-oncology Pioneer Enters the Clinic with its RNA-based Therapy Rigontec has announced the start if its first-in-human Phase I/II study with its pioneering RNA-based candidate, RGT100, in solid tumors and lymphoma. Rigontec, based in Munich, is exploring RNA’s applications in immuno-oncology. Since the company was founded in 2014, it has raked in an impressive €30M in series A funding. Now, only 3 years later, the biotech is […] May 3, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
More News! 3 May 2017 German Pharma Investigates Genetics of Pain to Personalize Treatment At the height of the opioid epidemic, Grünenthal has partnered up with 23andMe to explore the genetic factors associated with pain. Though opioid abuse has not been as rampant in Europe as it has in the United States, German pharma Grünenthal, which focuses on pain, inflammation and gout, has staked out a position in the fight. Today, […] May 3, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Evelyn Warner Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 3 May 2017 E-GUIDE: This is how you bring a molecule to the clinic May 3, 2017 - 0 minutesmins - By External Contributor Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 3 May 2017 New Immuno-oncology Biotech Gets a €20M Series A Funding Boost Imcheck Therapeutics from Marseille has just completed a €20M Series A funding round, backed by big investors like the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF). The French biotech Imcheck Therapeutics was founded in 2015 as a spin-off from the Paoli-Calmettes Cancer Institute (IPC) in Marseille and is developing next-generation immunomodulatory antibodies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. […] May 3, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 3 May 2017 French Biotech gets a Second Opportunity to Fight Liver Fibrosis Genkyotex, a French biotech with an eye on NASH, has received FDA approval to initiate a Phase II trial in primary biliary cholangitis. Genkyotex’s lead candidate, GKT831, failed to prove its efficacy in a Phase II trial for diabetic nephropathy a couple of years ago. Now, the company is taking a second shot by targeting liver […] May 3, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 3 May 2017 Unexpected Side Effects: Are we Ready for the Rise of Immunotherapies? As immunotherapies are moving from large academic centers to clinics across the world, doctors are realizing that releasing the breaks of the immune system comes with serious risks – and that research on its adverse effects is lagging behind. This week, AstraZeneca’s anti-PD-L1 antibody durvalumab received FDA approval to treat patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma, making […] May 3, 2017 - 4 minutesmins - By Melanie De Almeida Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email