News and Trends 18 Jun 2019 Dutch Biotech Boosts Hepatitis B Vaccine Effectiveness Phase II results from Dutch biotech CyTuVax show its enhanced hepatitis B vaccine reduces non-responders by 13%. Around 15% of people receiving vaccines for hepatitis B fail to produce antibodies that protect them against the infection. These non-responders are often given more injections of the vaccine in an attempt to trigger the immune system, but […] June 18, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 14 May 2019 First Potential Gene Therapy for Hemophilia B Restores Blood Clotting in Phase II A gene therapy developed by the Dutch biotech uniQure increased the activity of a blood clotting protein enough to stop bleeds in patients with the blood disorder hemophilia B. Hemophilia B is a rare genetic condition in which patients have a mutation in the blood clotting protein factor IX (FIX), reducing its activity below 6% […] May 14, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Startup Scout 3 May 2019 This Biotech Makes Self-Healing Concrete Using Bacteria Imagine walls and buildings that heal themselves just like your skin does. The Dutch biotech Green Basilisk is making this idea a reality by embedding special limestone-producing bacteria into concrete. Mission: To make concrete that can heal cracks and other kinds of damage using bacteria. This self-healing power cuts the maintenance the material requires, and […] May 3, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 31 Jan 2019 CRISPR Gene Editing Could Make Gluten Safe for Celiacs A Dutch research group is using the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to modify wheat gluten, letting people with celiac disease eat gluten without experiencing debilitating symptoms. In celiac disease, the immune system attacks gluten, causing damage to the intestine. This forces sufferers to stick to expensive gluten-free versions of foods such as bread, which […] January 31, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 23 Jan 2019 Update: The FDA Green-lights Clinical Trials for Huntington’s Disease Gene Therapy Update (23/01/2019): The FDA has given uniQure regulatory clearance to begin a phase I/II trial of its gene therapy for Huntington’s disease. uniQure is planning to launch the trial in the US in late 2019. Published on 23/01/2018: The EMA has given uniQure’s gene therapy candidate for Huntington’s disease Orphan Medicinal Product Designation, which the […] January 23, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 6 Dec 2018 Update: Liver Gene Therapy 8 Times Stronger Than Usual Update (06/12/2018): uniQure has incorporated Synpromics’ strong liver promoter into a preclinical gene therapy candidate for treating hemophilia A. Published on 08/10/2018 Synpromics and uniQure have unveiled new technology for precise genetic control that could make gene therapy safer and more precise. The team has developed a gene therapy system that is highly selective for […] December 6, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 5 Dec 2018 Llama-Inspired Antibodies Succeed in Clinical Trials and Financial Deal Autoimmune disease and acute myeloid leukemia may have a llama-inspired antibody treatment one day. The Dutch company argenx’s antibodies have shown positive results in clinical trials, and have attracted Janssen into a collaboration to advance their use in cancer immunotherapy. In a phase II trial, the company’s lead antibody, efgartigimod, reduced the number of bleeding […] December 5, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
Startup Scout 23 Nov 2018 This Biotech Arms Tumor-Busting Cells to Treat Cancer In the medieval city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, Lava Therapeutics is developing a cancer immunotherapy that arms a rare type of immune cell called gamma delta T cells. Mission: Develop antibodies that recruit innate immune cells near tumors and activate them to kill cancer cells. T cells are immune cells that have a strong potential […] November 23, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 1 Oct 2018 Update: Forbion’s Life Science Fund Tops Goal by €90M Update: The European venture capital firm Forbion closed fundraising for it’s fourth life sciences fund at €360M, a much greater amount than the anticipated €250M. The oversubscribed fund is great news for European medical biotech companies, which will be a strong focus for the fund, and shows that there is a strong interest in the […] October 1, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 27 Sep 2018 Update: Series A Boost Pushes Belgian Microbiome Spin-Off Forward Update (27/09/2018): New investment from Dutch venture capital fund Innovation Industries brings A-Mansia’s Series A round up to €18M. The company’s first human study of the effects of A. muciniphila in volunteers is currently underway at the University of Louvain. Published on 27/04/2018 A-Mansia Biotech has raised €13M in Series A financing led by Seventure Partners. The […] September 27, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 5 Sep 2018 RNA Therapy Improves Vision in Patients with Rare Genetic Blindness Dutch company ProQR has released data from a Phase I/II trial showing its RNA therapy can improve the vision of people with a rare form of hereditary blindness. The clinical trial recruited 10 people with the rare disease Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10. Caused by mutations in a gene called CEP290, this condition leads to […] September 5, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 2 Aug 2018 EMA Temporarily Scales Back Activities to Prepare for Brexit As a result of Brexit, the European Medicines Agency will suspend some of its activities to prepare for staff cuts and its move from London to Amsterdam next year. As of October 1st, the EMA will cut back on international collaborations, developing guidelines for regulatory approval, and publishing clinical data in order to maintain its […] August 2, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email