News and Trends 2 Jun 2023 Scientists develop probe to push for new drug discoveries A study by Loughborough University and the University of Oxford in the U.K. has led to the development of a small molecule probe that could deepen the understanding of a crucial cellular messenger and lead to the development of new therapeutic drugs. The research paper showcases the researchers’ innovative probe that binds to inositol pyrophosphate […] June 2, 2023 - 3 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 2 Jun 2023 New approach improves cancer treatment and minimizes side effects Scientists at Tohoku University in Japan have discovered a new approach to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) – a novel form of cancer treatment utilizing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) – while minimizing the associated side effects. They demonstrated that using ICIs to target tumor-positive lymph nodes generates a robust anti-tumor response against […] June 2, 2023 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 2 Jun 2023 von Willebrand disease treatment gets FDA orphan drug designation The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Vega Therapeutics, Inc. orphan drug designation for its antibody therapy, VGA039, for the treatment of the rare bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disease (VWD). Vega Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies for rare blood disorders. VGA039 is a first-in-class antibody therapy with a […] June 2, 2023 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 2 Jun 2023 Anocca raises $36.6M for large-scale development of cancer cell therapies Anocca AB has raised SEK 400 million ($36.6 million) to further develop the discovery and manufacture of next generation cell therapies for cancer on an industrial scale. It will also allow Anocca to progress its first products into clinical trials. The financing brings together a group of existing and new investors, including Mellby Gård, AMF, […] June 2, 2023 - 4 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Best in Biotech 1 Jun 2023 Five ophthalmology biotech companies to look out for There are hundreds of different eye diseases, with some of the most common major eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – an age-related eye disease that can blur central vision – glaucoma – a condition where the optic nerve becomes damaged – and diabetic retinopathy (DR) – a complication of diabetes in which high […] June 1, 2023 - 6 minutesmins - By Willow Shah-Neville Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 1 Jun 2023 Swiss researchers develop new class of antibiotics to fight resistant bacteria Health professionals are in urgent need of new antibiotics to tackle resistant bacteria. Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH), in Switzerland, and the company Spexis, have now modified the chemical structure of naturally occurring peptides to develop antimicrobial molecules that bind to novel targets in the bacteria’s metabolism. Each year, more than five million […] June 1, 2023 - 3 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 1 Jun 2023 Sanofi drug reduces disease activity in relapsing MS New data, being presented in a late-breaking session at the 2023 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) annual meeting, demonstrate that frexalimab, Sanofi’s novel second-generation investigational anti-CD40L antibody, with a unique mechanism of action, significantly reduced disease activity in a phase 2 trial of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Following 12 weeks of therapy, […] June 1, 2023 - 4 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 1 Jun 2023 ElevateBio raises $401M for cell and gene therapies ElevateBio, LLC (ElevateBio), a technology-driven company focused on cell and gene therapies, has closed its $401 million Series D financing. “We have made significant strides in scaling our technologies and end-to-end capabilities in our pursuit to become the world’s most indispensable cell and gene therapy technology company. We are thrilled to welcome Khalil to our […] June 1, 2023 - 3 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 1 Jun 2023 Fighting obesity with gene therapy Scientists from the University of Barcelona in Spain and the Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERobn) have designed a strategy to fight obesity and diabetes in mice through ex vivo gene therapy. The technique consists of implanting cells that have been manipulated and transformed in order to treat a disease. This […] June 1, 2023 - 3 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 1 Jun 2023 Lonza boosts ADC portfolio with Synaffix acquisition Lonza has acquired Synaffix B.V., a biotech company focused on commercializing its clinical-stage technology platform for the development of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). While ADCs offer widespread and targeted treatment potential against cancer, they present a range of complex development and manufacturing challenges. Supported by a team of scientific experts, the Synaffix technology platform, which […] June 1, 2023 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 1 Jun 2023 SNIPR Biome sees positive results for first-in-human CRISPR microbial gene therapy CRISPR-based microbial gene therapy company SNIPR Biome ApS has announced positive interim clinical results from its phase 1 clinical trial with SNIPR001. SNIPR Biome’s SNIPR001 is the first CRISPR-armed phage therapeutic developed to specifically target and remove E. coli, including antibiotic-resistant strains, from the human gastrointestinal tract. The work was supported by CARB-X, a global […] June 1, 2023 - 3 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
In Depth 31 May 2023 Biotechnology in developing countries: challenges and opportunities Choosing to grow their biotechnology sectors can offer developing countries vast opportunities, helping them to grow economically, providing new jobs, and supporting sustainable development, public health, and environmental protection. In recent times, significant growth has been achieved by the developing world in biotechnology fields, mainly tied to food production, healthcare, and other dimensions of human […] May 31, 2023 - 7 minutesmins - By Willow Shah-Neville Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email