Univercells S.A. cashes in up to €50m from the KKR subsidiary Gamma Bioscience to advance its gene and cell therapy manufacturing platform.

Shortly before a EU health ministers discuss the spread of the Chinese coronavirus, EU diagnostic labs have considered themselves prepared for a possible Sars-CoV-2 epidemic.

Co-founder Fiona Withey is the new Chief Executive Officer of TrakCel, a software developer of orchestration systems for advanced therapies. Co-founder Ravi Nalliah was appointed to the role of Chief Strategy Officer.

Applied Photophysics Limited, active in biophysical characterization of biomolecules, has appointed Tim Flanagan as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors.

PharmaMar and Jazz Pharmaceuticals have received FDA Priority Review of a NDA for lurbinectedin in relapsed SCLC (Small Cell Lung Cancer).

Using a combination of approved diabetes drugs, a Swiss-US research team was able to support the regeneration of insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas. 

Researchers report that JAK inhibitors – a class of approved anti-inflammatory drugs – prevented bone loss in mice with osteoporosis and two patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

For its first phocean edition, BioFIT confirms its status as the leading European partnering event for early-stage deals and investment rounds in the Life Sciences field. Over 1,150 attendees from over 35 countries attended BioFIT’s 8th edition: 120+ exhibitors, 70 speakers, 16 conferences and 4 projects elected as the most innovative in their categories were gathered in Marseille at “Parc Chanot” on December 10th and 11th.

Mereo BioPharma has entered into a $5m convertible equity financing with Novartis and a $28m securities purchase agreement with Aspire Capital Fund.

French Stilla Technologies SA raised €20m in a Series B funding to boost digital PCR-based genetic testing.