The renewable energy sector is ramping up in a major way, but a host of infrastructure issues still need to be solved. One is that supply at times now outstrips demand, but there’s no way to store excess power. Turning it into an easy-to-store, energy-rich source like methane could solve the problem. A pivotal aspect of ‘power-to-gas’ technology harnesses some tiny helpers usually found in some of the most extreme regions on the planet. 

French based Advicenne has raised a €27m IPO on Euronext Paris, to develop paediatric-friendly therapeutics for the treatment of orphan renal and neurological diseases.

A European-Australian team of researchers has created a synthetic version of oxytocin that does not show the off-target effects mediated by its chemical analogon vasopressin.

Rapid detection of total bacteria within 2½ h.

Considering the high development costs of medications and the time invested before a drug goes from discovery to market, it is critical to develop not only a solid drug development strategy, but a contemporary manufacturing strategy as well. A parallel development strategy could be one possible approach.

Roche company Foundation Medicine Inc. (FMI) has been granted FDA approval for a diagnostic multiplex tumour profiling assay, which identifies a broad range of tumour markers in one single measurement.

The decision of the vaccine arm of French drug giant Sanofi was based on an independent interim analysis of a pivotal Phase III study enroling up to 16,500 people at risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) for vaccination with the jab that has FDA Fast Track designation.

OPIS   Accelerated approval for orphan drugs and the possibility to have market authorisation
after a successful Phase II trial have made research in rare diseases more attractive to sponsors.
However, challenges and uncertainties remain numerous and designing scientifi cally robust,
patient-centered trials requires proper conceptualisation.

Shire has received FDA Orphan Drug Status for its anti-MAdCAM Antibody SHP647 to treat pediatric ulverative colitis.

845 medical affairs and biopharma industry professionals at Veeva Commercial & Medical Summit Europe in Madrid discussed how digitalisation can speed up the development of new medical solutions while reducing cost.