Rare disease drug developer Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) has named Guido Oelkers as the companys new President and CEO. Oelkers, who holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the University of South Australia and a Master of Economics from South Bank University, London, joins from BSN Medical GmbH, where he held the position of CEO.
Diabetes: J&J and Seventure Partners launch investment
Latest NewsEuropean venture capitalist Seventure Partners and Johnson & Johnson have invested US$12m in Israel-based DayTwo. Based on HbA1c, lifestyle factors and genetic analysis of the individual microbiome, the companys app analyses the individual microbiome to predict blood sugar responses to thousands of different foods.
€66m Life Sciences Fund focused on Germany and Benelux
Latest NewsVenture Capitalist Biogeneration Ventures has exceeded the target size of its life sciences fund BGV III through investments from the European Investment Banks InnovFin Equity Facility and the Dutch Venture Initiative II.
Ablynx: Chief of business
AppointmentsBelgian biopharmaceutical company Ablynx named Markus L.E. Ewert Chief Business Officer (CBO). Effective from 20 June 2017, Dr Ewert will lead the Company’s business development and corporate strategy activities and become a member of the Executive Committee.
CHMP recommends several biologics
Latest NewsThe European Medicines Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended two antivirals, one biosimilar and two cancer meds for approval at its June meeting.
Update of bioeconomy strategy unsure
BackgroundUncertainty regarding the amount of future funding and political support from the European Commission for the bioeconomy is set to hamper investments into the switch from oil-based industry production to renewable, bio-based manufacture in Europe. The schedule for the review of the bioeconomy strategy has been delayed until the end of 2017. More importantly, it is not yet certain if the strategy will be updated.
Roches lampalizumab halts geographic atrophy
Latest NewsA publication in Science Translational Medicine shows that Roche has a rising star in the 15 million patient market of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In a Phase II trial, US and German researchers showed efficacy in geographic atrophy, an advanced stage of AMD, which has currently no treatment.
SOBI: Business Man
AppointmentsRare disease drug developer Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) has named Guido Oelkers as the companys new President and CEO. Oelkers, who holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the University of South Australia and a Master of Economics from South Bank University, London, joins from BSN Medical GmbH, where he held the position of CEO.
Epigenetic drugs set to boost immunoncology
Latest NewsGerman oncologists have unveiled that market-approved inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DMNTi) and histone deacetylases (HDACi) act through expression of cancer neoantigens. They already have a biomarker test to identify responders.
AMD: Novartis challenges Regeneron
Latest NewsFollowing shrinking sales for its wet AMD drug Lucentis, Novartis is back with convincing Phase III results of its anti-VEGF-A singe chain antibody fragment brolucizumab. In two pivotal studies the drug proved to be non-inferior to Regeneron/Bayers Eylea (aflibercept).
uniQure: Doctors orders
AppointmentsDutch gene therapy developer uniQure has appointed Steven l. Zelenkofske as its Chief Medical Officer.