The funding pot of the Innovation Medicines Initiative has been boosted to €117m. IMI has also selected eight projects to fund.

Manufacturers are keen to get involved in the alternative meat market. Investors and incubators are pushing forward start-ups.

A first wave of cultured meat companies is pushing forward. European start-ups such as Mosa Meat and Peace of Meat are part of the game.

Montpellier-based Deinove has named a new Chief Executive Officer. Alexis Rideau took over the helm of the company in the beginning of May.

British researchers have deciphered the glycosylation pattern of the viral spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 laying the foundation for vaccine development.

Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A.‘s Sarizotan failed to meet efficacy endpoints in the Phase III STARS study.

Roche Diagnostics has received FDA Emergency use approval for its highly specific Elecsys antibody test.

BioEcho develops single-spin and 96/384-well kits based on the proprietary single-step EchoLUTION nucleic acid extraction process. Highly superior to the commonly used Silica-based solutions (bind-wash-elute), the whole procedure is extremely fast. Washing steps are not required and the isolated inhibitor-free RNA/DNA is detected with increased sensitivity. Due to the expertise of its founders and employees, BioEcho also uses their know-how to support companies with limited research capacities or specialized scientific knowledge. Especially in times like these, BioEcho helps to accelerate accurate tests on certain RNA/DNA viruses or pathogens.

Additional to the print edition the European Biotechnology Science & Industry Guide 2020 is available digital in the App Store and at Google Play. Download the free BIOCOM app on smartphone, tablet or laptop and have the complete edition in one hand.

Austrian Phagomed wants to close a Series A financing in 2020. The start-up is working on phage-based treatments as a new alternative to antibiotics.