More News! 28 Nov 2019 German Biotech to Develop Next-Generation Gene Therapy for Blindness The German biotech ViGeneron has raised an undisclosed sum in a Series A round to fund the development of an ophthalmic gene therapy that could deliver bigger DNA sequences into a wider range of cells than current technology. The round was led by two Chinese investors, the VC firm Sequoia Capital China and the pharma […] November 28, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 5 Nov 2019 EU Regulations Are Holding Back Gene and Cell Therapy Clinical Trials European regulations might be responsible for lower numbers of advanced therapy clinical trials running in the region when compared to the US and Asia. Europe has historically been a pioneer in advanced therapies, such as cell and gene therapy. Europe was the first region to approve a gene therapy, and it boasts the highest number […] November 5, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 30 Oct 2019 Trial Testing Spinal Application of Zolgensma Put on Hold by FDA The FDA has placed a partial hold on clinical trials testing a new application method for Zolgensma, Novartis’ gene therapy for the genetic disease spinal muscular atrophy, after it showed the potential to cause serious side effects in animal models. Spinal muscular atrophy is a life-threatening condition that usually arises when the patient is between […] October 30, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
More News! 28 Oct 2019 UK Company Synthesizes Long DNA Molecules with 85% Accuracy The UK biotech Camena Bioscience has proven it can synthesize long DNA molecules with more accuracy than traditional chemical synthesis. Camena tested its technology’s ability to accurately synthesize DNA molecules with a length of 300 nucleotides — the building blocks of DNA. Using Camena’s technology, 85% of the synthesized DNA molecules were accurate to the […] October 28, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 9 Sep 2019 4BIO Capital Raises €45M Fund to Invest in Advanced Therapies The London-based life sciences investor 4BIO Capital has raised €45M in the first close of a fund to nurture companies developing advanced therapies such as gene and cell therapies. This is the first closing of 4BIO’s second fund, called 4BIO Ventures II, which is expected to total €136M ($150M) by late 2020. The fund will […] September 9, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 5 Sep 2019 Orchard’s Gene Therapy Improves Children’s Motor Ability Orchard Therapeutics’ gene therapy for metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) resulted in motor ability improvements more than six times over the target endpoint, according to data released at a recent symposium. “Metachromatic leukodystrophy is a rare disease that affects the brain,” explained Mark Rothera, CEO of Orchard Therapeutics. “Kids born with MLD lose motor function very fast […] September 5, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 3 Sep 2019 Gyroscope Targets Age-Related Blindness with €55M Series B UK gene therapy biotech Gyroscope Therapeutics has secured €55.4M in Series B funding to target age-related macular degeneration. Life sciences investor Syncona, which is backed by the UK’s Wellcome Trust, continued its support of the company contributing €52.7M to the round. This brings its total investment in Gyroscope to €90M since the biotech was founded […] September 3, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 13 Aug 2019 AskBio Acquires Scottish Biotech to Make Gene Therapies More Precise The US company AskBio has acquired the Edinburgh-based Synpromics to pool their gene therapy technologies and produce inducible gene therapies that target particular organs or cells. AskBio specializes in developing viral vectors that carry gene therapies into cells, such as adeno-associated virus, whereas Synpromics develops DNA sequences called promoters that drive the expression of gene […] August 13, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 14 Jun 2019 First Gene Therapy for Beta Thalassemia Will Cost Over €1.5M Zynteglo, a gene therapy developed by the US company bluebird bio for the treatment of beta-thalassemia, will cost European healthcare systems more than €1.5M per patient. Following the approval of the treatment earlier this month, bluebird bio has now released the pricing plan of Zynteglo. Healthcare systems in Europe will need to pay €315,000 upfront, […] June 14, 2019 - 1 minutemin - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 4 Jun 2019 First Gene Therapy for Beta Thalassemia Approved in Europe The US biotech company bluebird bio has obtained EU conditional market approval for a gene therapy that could remove the need for blood transfusions for people with the blood disorder beta-thalassemia. Called Zynteglo, the gene therapy is aimed at treating people with beta-thalassemia who are over 12 years of age and have any but the […] June 4, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 29 May 2019 After Unexpected Setback, GenSight Seeks Approval for Blindness Gene Therapy The French biotech GenSight will apply for regulatory approval for its gene therapy despite the treatment unexpectedly resulting in the improvement of the eyes treated with a placebo in a phase III trial. GenSight is developing a gene therapy designed to treat progressive vision loss caused by the rare genetic condition Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. […] May 29, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 29 May 2019 €60M Investment to Boost Oxford Biomedica’s Gene and Cell Therapies The Danish investor Novo Holdings is handing Oxford Biomedica up to €60.6M (£53.5M) to develop gene and cell therapies treating cancer and genetic blindness. The investment will bag Novo Holdings a stake of up to 10.1% in the UK biotech. Oxford Biomedica will use the money to repay a loan totalling €49M ($55M) from the […] May 29, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email