News and Trends 26 Nov 2018 First Gene Therapy for Inherited Blindness Approved in Europe Novartis has received approval for Luxturna, a gene therapy that can restore vision in people with a specific genetic mutation that causes progressive vision loss. The therapy is indicated for people with mutations in the two copies of a gene, called RPE65, that cause retinal cells to die over time, resulting in progressive loss of […] November 26, 2018 - 2 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 25 Oct 2018 Parkinson’s Disease Gene Therapy Clinical Trial Launched in UK A gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease developed by Swiss biotech Axovant has been used on the first patient in a Phase I/II trial at University College London. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease, caused by a lack of the neurochemical dopamine in regions of the brain handling motor functions causing debilitating symptoms such as rigidity […] October 25, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 23 Oct 2018 Bridging the Academia-Industry Divide: Lessons from a Serial Biotech Entrepreneur What does it take to be a successful biotech entrepreneur? I put this and other similar questions to Dinko Valerio, a highly experienced Dutch geneticist turned serial entrepreneur and investor. While there are many great scientists, it takes a certain something to be able to cross over into industry and build a profitable business. Dinko […] October 23, 2018 - 8 minutesmins - By Helen Albert Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 24 Sep 2018 Gene Therapy Improves Eyesight of Patients With Inherited Blindness UK startup Nightstar Therapeutics has reported good safety and early signs of visual improvements in a Phase I/II trial with a gene therapy for a rare form of inherited blindness. One month after being treated with Nightstar’s gene therapy, five of the 18 patients enrolled in the trial have already shown improvements in their vision. […] September 24, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 18 Sep 2018 Update: French Biotech Raises €22M for a Gene Therapy Trial in Retinitis Pigmentosa Update (18/09/2018): Horama has increased the total raised in its Series B fundraising to €22.5M, with the Belgian fund V-Bio Ventures joining the team of investors backing the company. The funds will be mainly directed at developing Horama’s gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa. Published on 08/10/2017 Horama has raised a second fundraising round that will support […] September 18, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 13 Aug 2018 Orchard Therapeutics Raises €132M to Develop Gene Therapies Orchard Therapeutics raised $150M (€132M) in Series C financing to bring its gene therapies from clinical testing to regulatory approval. The British biotech will use the funding to develop its most advanced clinical programs, which aim to treat rare inherited metabolic and immune system diseases. The news follows Orchard’s acquisition of GSK’s entire gene therapy […] August 13, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 10 Aug 2018 UK Biotech Raises €73M to Target DNA Repair in Treating Cancer Artios Pharma completed a €73M (£65M) Series B financing round to develop cancer treatments that target DNA repair mechanisms. Cancer occurs when cells in part of the body start dividing uncontrollably as a result of damaged or mutated DNA. In collaboration with Cancer Research UK, Artios Pharma is developing cancer treatments that inhibit proteins involved […] August 10, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 6 Aug 2018 New Gene Therapy Could Treat Cystic Fibrosis With One Dose A new partnership in the UK will develop a gene therapy for cystic fibrosis that could treat the disease with a single dose. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes mucus to build up in a patient’s lungs. As a result, patients suffer from blocked airways and bacterial infections. While treatment advances have increased […] August 6, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
More News! 2 Aug 2018 Tomato DNA Could Help Uncover Counterfeit Breast Implants Counterfeit breast implants can harm patients’ health and even threaten their lives. A German research team is using tomato DNA tags to tell the ‘real thing’ apart from frauds. The silicone used in implants need to have a high-quality to prevent silicone from leaking out of the implant. As a result, the silicone used in […] August 2, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 17 Jul 2018 Gene Therapy Could Prevent Deadly Brain Disease An international research team used gene therapy to prevent Gaucher disease, a potentially deadly neurodegenerative condition, in mice. The approach could eventually be used to treat human diseases in the womb. A research team from the UK and Singapore showed that a neurodegenerative condition called Gaucher disease, which can be fatal, can be prevented in […] July 17, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 11 Jul 2018 Gene Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa Tested in Humans for the First Time French biotech Horama has treated the first patients with a gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa that could prevent the progressive loss of vision caused by this genetic condition. A Phase I/II trial with Horama’s gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa is running at the Nantes University Hospital. The therapy is aimed at fixing genetic defects in a […] July 11, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email