In Depth 31 Jan 2018 Why Does Europe Lag Behind the US and China in the Gene Editing Race? America and China lead the development of new gene editing technologies, producing GMOs and bringing CRISPR-based therapies into the clinic. Could this render European biotechs in this area obsolete? Gene editing technologies have revolutionized genetics and mark a new generation in biomedical and agricultural sciences. There are endless applications for the technology, including gene therapies for […] January 31, 2018 - 6 minutesmins - By Ekaterina Perets Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 30 Jan 2018 Update: Pocket Device makes its Debut in Whole Human Genome Sequencing Update (30/01/2018): Oxford Nanopore has published a study in Nature Biotechnology outlining the first use of its pocket MinION device to sequence a human genome. The device was able to read sequences of DNA that are “hundreds of times larger than usual,” helping scientists better reconstruct the whole genome sequence. MinION costs less than $1,000 and […] January 30, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 29 Jan 2018 This Italian Biotech Will Sequence 10,000 Genomes in 2 Years Dante Labs will use its DNA testing kit to sequence the DNA of 10,000 Europeans in an effort to improve our understanding of the human genome. Dante Labs developed the first DNA test to be made available in Europe, allowing the public to test their health from the comfort of their own homes. It has now […] January 29, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 25 Jan 2018 Novartis Will Bring US Gene Therapy for Blindness to Europe The Swiss pharma has bought into the gene editing therapy game in a deal with Spark worth $170M (€137M) for commercialization rights outside the US. Novartis first marked out its position as a gene therapy leader in 2012 when it threw its hat into the CAR-T ring. Just a few months after the FDA approved […] January 25, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Evelyn Warner Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 10 Jan 2018 French Biotech Starts Trials to Restore Sight in All Types of Retinitis Pigmentosa GenSight will start a clinical trial in the UK testing a combination of gene therapy and a wearable device to restore sight in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. The UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has accepted GenSight’s application to run a first clinical trial in the UK testing a new type of therapy with the […] January 10, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 20 Dec 2017 British Gene Therapy Gets a Huge £85M Boost in Series B Orchard Therapeutics has raised a big round of financing to gene therapy options for many rare diseases for which there are no treatments. London-based Orchard Therapeutics has managed to raise £85M (€96M) in Series B, an amount that will certainly give an important boost to its pipeline of gene therapy treatments for rare diseases. The […] December 20, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 19 Dec 2017 This Gene Therapy for Hemophilia Can Reduce Bleeding by 70% UniQure has published clinical data revealing that its gene therapy for hemophilia B is effective for years and lets patients stop weekly replacement therapy. From its headquarters in Amsterdam, uniQure is developing what could be one of the first gene therapies for hemophilia. A publication in the journal Blood yesterday details the results of a […] December 19, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 18 Dec 2017 British Biotech Takes Over Development of Gene Therapy for Rare Immune Disease Orchard Therapeutics has licensed a gene therapy for the rare genetic disorder X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD) from the non-profit Généthon. London-based Orchard Therapeutics is adding a new program to its pipeline of gene therapies. The company has obtained an exclusive license to a lentiviral vector to treat X-linked chronic granulomatous disease and the clinical trial data […] December 18, 2017 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 13 Dec 2017 CRISPR Therapeutics Plans First CRISPR/Cas9 Clinical Trial in Europe for 2018 CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals are taking action to start a first clinical trial with CRISPR/Cas9 in Europe in 2018. The blood disorder β-thalassemia could soon be the first human disease to be treated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in Europe. CRISPR Therapeutics and its partner Vertex Pharmaceuticals have announced the first candidate from their collaboration that will go […] December 13, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 5 Dec 2017 Update: French Gene Therapy Yields Longer Term Sight Restoration, Eyes Phase III Update (05/12/2017): GenSight has reported a sustained effect of its treatment GS010, which has now been shown to restore sight in patients for at least 2.5 years after administration. Phase III results for the candidate are expected next year. Originally published 14/06/2017 GenSight has announced Phase I/II data revealing that its gene therapy technology can […] December 5, 2017 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Interview 4 Dec 2017 Meet the CEO Leading Italy’s Charge to Become a Major Biotech Player Riccardo Palmisano is CEO of MolMed, the most important Italian biotech, which focuses on gene and cell therapies. We chatted about the company, which hopes to give the cancer therapies field a boost. You may have come across MolMed before, possibly in our recent piece on the top biotechs in Milan. The company was founded […] December 4, 2017 - 7 minutesmins - By Alex Dale 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