More than 400 experts came together at the World Bio Market Conference in Amsterdam to discuss the challenges of successfully implementing bio-based business strategies.

Belgian nanobody maker Ablynx’ IL-6 receptor blocker vobarilizumab didn’t met the primary endpoint of  dose response at 24 weeks in a Phase II study enroling 312 patients with severe, active seropositive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Antibody specialist MorphoSys AG has filed a Registration Statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a proposed Nasdaq offering of American Depositary Shares (ADS)

While bio-based polymers have been a hot topic for some years now, it’s grown increasingly clear that where plastics end up is at least as important as how they’re made. Current recycling technologies are limited, bringing either low-quality recyclates or high processing costs. But enzymes now offer a glimmer of hope. Working with the common plastic PET, a French firm is trying to prove biotech approaches can close the loop in the material’s life cycle. They hope they’ll soon be able to recycle the plastic endlessly and affordably. 

French antibiotics player Deinove has inked a licence option agreement with Redx Pharma plc concerning a new class of synthetic preclinical topoisomerase blockers to treat infections caused by Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens.

The German Bioeconomy Council said policymakers would risk Germany’s leadership in bioeconomy if they don’t capitalise on new technology options resulting from the ongoing merger of digital and bio-technologies. 

Hansa Medical AB, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel immunomodulatory enzymes, today announced that the board of directors have appointed Søren Tulstrup as new President and CEO of Hansa Medical effective today March 20, 2018.

VEGF blocker Eylea (aflibercept), which is co-developed for eye diseases by Bayer HealthCare and Regeneron under a deal signed in 2006, has met the 24-week primary endpoint of the pivotal Panorama Phase III trial.

H. Lundbeck A/S has announced it will acquire Dutch Prexton Therapeutics B.V., a one-programme company developing the allosteric metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4) modulator foliglurax (PXT002331) in Parkinson’s Disease.