News and Trends 21 Mar 2018 A Personalized Genetic Test for Breast Cancer Arrives in Europe Agendia will launch a next-generation sequencing test in the EU to determine the chances of metastasis in breast cancer patients. Agendia, a US-Dutch biotech specializing in personalized medicine and molecular diagnostics, has obtained CE marking for the MammaPrint BluePrint Kit, a diagnostic device for breast cancer that uses next-generation sequencing technology. The kit can help clinicians identify […] March 21, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 20 Mar 2018 DNA Sequencing Unicorn Oxford Nanopore Raises £100M Round at £1.5Bn Valuation Undeterred by competitors, Oxford Nanopore, one of the few unicorns in the biotech space, has secured £100M (€113M) to continue growing its unique next-generation sequencing platform. Oxford Nanopore is one of the best-funded biotechs in Europe, having raised £507.3M (€578M) in total, and famous for its “DNA-reading gadget the size of a Mars bar that sells for $1,000.” The company plans to […] March 20, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 20 Mar 2018 Oxford Firm Develops Better Test for ALS Diagnosis Oxford BioDynamics has presented data from a new diagnostic test that could help not just diagnose ALS but also help patients get a personalized treatment. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease whose diagnosis comes with the hard news that most patients die merely within 3 to 5 years of diagnosis. One of […] March 20, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 19 Mar 2018 Early Research in Bone Marrow Transplants Could Treat ALS Early stage research from Spain could lead to a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using adult stem cells from bone marrow to stop progressive muscle paralysis. Researchers from the Neuroscience Institute at the Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH) in Elche, Alicante, and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) aim to test a stem cell treatment for […] March 19, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 19 Mar 2018 This French Device Could Repair Holes in the Heart HoliStick Medical, a Paris-based startup, is developing a novel catheter device that can repair holes in the heart without the use of sutures. HoliStick Medical, has gained the exclusive rights to develop a catheter device created by Harvard University and MIT. The catheter is designed to repair holes and tissue defects in the heart and other […] March 19, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 16 Mar 2018 Lundbeck Signs Near €1Bn Acquisition of Swiss Parkinson’s Biotech Lundbeck is acquiring Prexton Therapeutics in a deal that could reach up to €905M if the Swiss company’s Parkinson’s treatment proves successful. Danish pharma Lundbeck has decided to boost its pipeline with the acquisition of Prexton Therapeutics. The deal grants Lundbeck with global rights to foliglurax, a drug to reduce the “off” time periods when Parkinson’s motor […] March 16, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 15 Mar 2018 French VC Raises the Biggest Green Biotech Fund in the World Update (15/03/2018): Sofinnova Partners has closed its fund Industrial Biotech I at €125M, making it the largest fund dedicated to driving the transition towards a more sustainable fund. 03/03/2017 Sofinnova Partners has announced the first closing of a new fund, dedicated to renewable chemistry in industrial biotech, at €106 million. The largest biotech VC in […] March 15, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 15 Mar 2018 This Swedish Discovery Could Change the Way We Treat Diabetes Swedish researchers have found that insulin-producing cells alone are not enough to fine-tune blood sugar levels. This could change the way diabetes treatments are designed. While it is known that certain clusters of cells in the pancreas called pancreatic islets influence the set point for blood sugar, the exact mechanisms are still unknown. The control of […] March 15, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 15 Mar 2018 Can MorphoSys’ Alzheimer’s Treatment Work Where Big Pharma has Failed? Roche has positive clinical data in support of starting a Phase III trial in Alzheimer’s with an antibody initially developed by MorphoSys. However, the field is full of similar approaches that have failed. Roche plans to start a Phase III study to test MorphoSys’ Alzheimer’s treatment gantenerumab later this year, after encouraging preliminary clinical results. The drug […] March 15, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 15 Mar 2018 New Antibiotic for MRSA Infections is Ready for US Clinical Trials Update (15/03/2018): The FDA has granted Fast Track Designation to XF-73, an antibody being developed by Destiny Pharma against post-surgical MRSA infections. Originally published on 26/02/2018 Destiny Pharma’s antibiotic for post-surgical infections will begin its clinical development after the FDA accepted its Investigational New Drug application. Destiny Pharma wants to combat the growing antibiotic resistance […] March 15, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Alex Dale Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 14 Mar 2018 A New Drug for Atrial Fibrillation Starts Human Testing in Europe Update (14/03/2018): Acesion Pharma has started a Phase I clinical trial at the Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) in the Netherlands. The trial will test AP30663, a treatment for atrial fibrillation that the company believes has the potential to work better than every option currently available. Originally published on 2/8/2018 The Danish biotech Acesion Pharma […] March 14, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email
News and Trends 13 Mar 2018 French Biotech Restores Vision in Humans with Subretinal Implant Pixium Vision has successfully restored vision in three patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using an implanted wireless device, offering significant improvements to their quality of life. Pixium Vision has restored vision in three patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), using a wireless microchip, named PRIMA, that is implanted under a patient’s retina. The technology marks a […] March 13, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Alexander Burik Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email