A pancreatic islet from a mouse in a typical position, close to a blood vessel; insulin in red, nuclei in blue. Generated in the Solimena lab, Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden © Jakob Suckale

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. 

© Nature_Blossom/Pixabay.com

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.

Copyright Eurasante

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.

© 3D Animation Production Company/Pixabay.com

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

© Stilla Technologies

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

© BIH

Targeted genome editing using the CRISPR-Cas9 system is easy to use but far from being perfect. Computer calculated modification of CRISPR activity can reduce "off-target effects".

Very high magnification micrograph of Gaucher disease and necrotic bone. H&E stain. Necrotic bone is characterized, histomorphologically, by a lack of osteocytes in the lacunae. © nephron, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15306996

Dutch biotech Azafaros B.V. has closed a €25m Series A financing round.

Neutrophil granulocyte. © Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436

Infants who show defective immune responses to microbial components are more likely to acquire asthma later in childhood, according to a study of 541 children.

© MaaT Pharma

MaaT Pharma SA has announced €18m Series B financing to boost its microbiome biotherapeutics pipeline.

Ex-Sandoz Head of Global Franchises Rex Clements is taking over as CEO of Centrient Pharmaceuticals. Erstwhile Centrient CEO Karl Rotthier has decided to step down, the company said.