The latest biotech news

News and Trends 1 May 2019

UK Genome Diagnostics Biotech Closes €27M Series B to Support NHS

Cambridge-based Congenica has closed a €27M (£23.3M) series B fundraising round to support the use of its rare disease diagnostics platform by the newly formed NHS Genomic Medicine Service, as well as to allow the company to expand internationally. The genomics diagnostic company received a €15.5M (£13.3M) investment, led by the London-based fund management firm […]

May 1, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

News and Trends 1 May 2019

Next-Generation CAR-T Therapy Shows Promise in Child’s Neuroblastoma

Cell Medica’s next-generation CAR-T cell therapy has resulted in ‘extensive tumor regression’ in a child with high-risk neuroblastoma, one of the deadliest types of childhood cancer. Only available to cancer patients for the last couple of years, CAR-T cell therapy has had impressive results in treating patients for whom other available options do […]

May 1, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández

News and Trends 30 Apr 2019

Orchard’s Gene Therapy Shows Potential in Treating Patients with Beta Thalassemia

Patients with the life-threatening blood disorder beta-thalassemia required fewer blood transfusions after receiving a gene therapy developed by the UK company Orchard Therapeutics, with four out of nine no longer depending on transfusions. Beta thalassemia is a genetic disorder that affects hemoglobin, a protein that blood cells use to carry oxygen. In the most severe […]

April 30, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

liver fibrosis alentis switzerland cirrhosis cancer

News and Trends 30 Apr 2019

Swiss Biotech Raises €11M to Develop Treatments for Liver Fibrosis

Founded in March this year, Alentis Therapeutics has bagged a Series A round of €11.1M (CHF 12.5M) to develop antibody drugs treating liver fibrosis, which currently has no approved treatments. Liver fibrosis is the scarring of liver tissue, which can happen as a consequence of aging, chronic hepatitis or conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). […]

April 30, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 30 Apr 2019

Cosmetics Giant Acquires German Biotech’s Spider Silk Cosmetics Arm

The Swiss Givaudan, one of the largest cosmetics, flavors and fragrances companies in the world, has acquired the cosmetics business of AMSilk, a biotech company that uses genetic engineering to produce spider silk proteins in bacteria. Silk is a valuable material in the cosmetics industry, used to offer protection against pollution and keep cosmetic […]

April 30, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández

Pepsico pepsi nestle carbios plastic recycling

News and Trends 29 Apr 2019

Nestlé and Pepsi Invest in French Plastic Recycling Biotechnology

The food companies Nestlé Waters, Pepsi and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe have joined an industrial consortium to fund the development of Carbios’ enzyme technology for plastic recycling. A garbage truck’s worth of plastic waste enters the oceans every minute, contaminating the environment and damaging ecosystems around the world. This is leading to more pressure […]

April 29, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

crispr cas9 cassava crop virus resistance

News and Trends 29 Apr 2019

Viruses Evolve to Defeat CRISPR-Cas9 in Genetically-Modified Plants

Researchers found that viral pathogens can quickly evolve to overcome transgenic cassava plants expressing the bacterial weapon CRISPR-Cas9, which could have major regulatory implications. Geminiviruses are pathogens that kill off crops such as beans, cotton and cassava plants. Past efforts to breed plants that are resistant to infection have not been successful. One potential method […]

April 29, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 25 Apr 2019

UK Scientists Engineer Cell Membrane for Long-Lasting Cell Therapy

Scientists at the University of Bristol, UK, have made a cell therapy that produces a glue-like hydrogel, which could make stem cells last for longer in the body and help wound healing in conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Cell therapies have a lot of potential for healing wounds and regenerating tissue, but they also […]

April 25, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 25 Apr 2019

Horizon Europe Scheme Gets EU Parliament Approval

The proposed Horizon Europe research funding scheme, the new Horizon 2020, has had approval from the EU parliament to launch in 2021. Since 2014, the EU research initiative Horizon 2020 has been providing funding for European innovation in biotech as well as other areas of research in academia and industry. The successor program of Horizon […]

April 25, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 23 Apr 2019

Combining DNA and RNA Testing Could Improve Precision Medicine for Cancer

An international clinical trial has shown that extending cancer testing beyond genetic mutations has potential to improve the personalized treatment of cancer. In recent years, the field of precision medicine has been rapidly growing and is bringing a lot of hope to both patients and physicians, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of […]

April 23, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández

News and Trends 18 Apr 2019

Hookipa’s €75M IPO to Fund Vaccines for Viral Infection and Cancer

The Austrian biotech Hookipa expects to raise €75M ($84M) in an IPO on the Nasdaq stock exchange to fund the phase II development of a vaccine for the virus cytomegalovirus, and the first clinical trials of its cancer vaccines. Based in Vienna, Hookipa develops vaccines based on engineered viruses called arenavirus. The company programs arenaviruses […]

April 18, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

genetic engineering caterpillar crop pest oxitec

News and Trends 17 Apr 2019

UK Biotech Uses Genetic Engineering to Control Crop Munching Caterpillars

Moth caterpillars attacking crops are the latest target of the UK company Oxitec, which uses genetic engineering to suppress the populations of crop pests and disease-carrying mosquitoes. The caterpillars of the soybean looper moth Chrysodeixis includens eat crops such as soybean, tomato and cotton across North and South America, causing problems for farmers. The caterpillars […]

April 17, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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News and Trends

UK Genome Diagnostics Biotech Closes €27M Series B to Support NHS

Next-Generation CAR-T Therapy Shows Promise in Child’s Neuroblastoma

Orchard’s Gene Therapy Shows Potential in Treating Patients with Beta Thalassemia

Swiss Biotech Raises €11M to Develop Treatments for Liver Fibrosis

Cosmetics Giant Acquires German Biotech’s Spider Silk Cosmetics Arm

Nestlé and Pepsi Invest in French Plastic Recycling Biotechnology

Viruses Evolve to Defeat CRISPR-Cas9 in Genetically-Modified Plants

UK Scientists Engineer Cell Membrane for Long-Lasting Cell Therapy

Horizon Europe Scheme Gets EU Parliament Approval

Combining DNA and RNA Testing Could Improve Precision Medicine for Cancer

Hookipa’s €75M IPO to Fund Vaccines for Viral Infection and Cancer

UK Biotech Uses Genetic Engineering to Control Crop Munching Caterpillars

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The top biotech deals of March 2025

The biggest biotech funding rounds in March 2025

Join the webinar: AI in antibody discovery - from in silico analysis to AI-enabled data management

Beyond amyloid: The search for the next big thing in Alzheimer’s treatment

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

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The top biotech deals of March 2025

The biggest biotech funding rounds in March 2025

Join the webinar: AI in antibody discovery - from in silico analysis to AI-enabled data management

Beyond amyloid: The search for the next big thing in Alzheimer’s treatment

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

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