Binding of MP420 to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Binding to human serum albumin (HSA) supports a longer half-life of the drug candidate. © Molecular Partners AG

After Molecular Partners AG reported an 78% reduction of hospitalisation by a single ensovibep dose in infected COVID-19 patients, Novartis AG is to pay a CHF150m milestone.

© Neurimmune AG (Schlieren, Switzerland)

Neurimmune has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with AstraZeneca subsidiary Alexion Pharmaceuticals to commercialise its antibody NI006.

Histopathological image of a cross-section from the calf muscle  of a patient who died of Duchenne muscular dystrophy . The image illustrates the extent to which the (red coloured) muscle fibres have been replaced by fat cells (optically empty = white). © CDC

Swiss Santhera Pharmaceuticals has entered into a $124m licence deal with Chinese Sperogenix Therapeuticis to market its DMD drug vamorolone.

Syntax prototype © DNA Script

Moderna’s US-French partner DNA Script has raised additional $35m as a second tranche of a Series C financing to advance its Enzymatic DNA Synthesis platform, Syntax.

© Pixabay.com

Novo Holdings, together with Saminvest, Vækstfonden, the European Investment Fund and its three co-founders have put €110m in the first fund of Sound Bioventures AB.

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Sino Biological, Inc., a biotechnology company listed on ChiNext (SZSE: 301047), provides biological research reagents and related technical contract research services, is pleased to announce its physical geographic expansion, adding a new location in Houston, Texas.

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Sino Biological, Inc. has recently deposited reagents for the Omicron variant, including recombinant proteins to Spike and Nucleocapsid, and antibody products to a central repository for reagents to support infectious disease research. With the addition of the Omicron products to previously deposited array of SARS-CoV-2 reagents, researchers can readily get access to them by registering with BEI Resources.

Structure of the viral spike protein with omicron mutations shown in red colour. © Markus Hoffmann, Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Göttingen

The new year begins with good news.

PlasmidFactory's 2-plasmid-system for AAV production Picture: Plasmid Factory

With the rapid developments in the field of gene therapy, the use of viral vectors, especially AAV, to treat various monogenic, inherited diseases in human patients is gaining momentum. Nonetheless, there are still options to optimise the production of such vectors in mammalian cells.

Picture: iStock/Motortion

This year, Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany has acquired AmpTec, an internationally active
contract manufacturing company (CMO) with comprehensive services for manufacturing of synthetic RNAs and mRNAs and more than 15 years of experience, with cGMP compliant manufacturing capabilities in development. This marks an exciting new chapter, where our combined expertise will allow us to offer our customers innovative technologies and products to help advance life-enhancing therapeutics.