Good news for EMD Serono, the US arm of German Merck: It’s PD-L1 blocker avelumab is the first drug that received FDA approval to treat the rare skin cancer Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). 

Scientists at EPFL in Lausanne have developed a semi-automated technology that may be a game-changer by making the characterisation of the 2,000 DNA-binding proteins much faster, more accurate, and efficient. 

With around 2,500 attendees, Barcelona hosted the most successful BIO Europe Spring conference in the history of the EBD’s partnering event. Southern Europe demonstrated its growth ambitions in the life sciences.

?? Dentons has announced the cooptation of Julien Le Guyader as partner in the Life Sciences Group of the Paris Office. Le Guyader has been a part of ?? Dentons since 2014.

Scottish and Canadian researchers have identified a protein essential for the toxoplasmosis parasite to be transmitted. Targeting it might give rise to new treatments other parasitic diseases like malaria.

Belgian clinical-stage immunotherapy developer  Asit biotech has appointed Gerd Zettlmeissl as its new Chairman of the Board. Zettlmeissl has been independent director of the company since 2011. 

British inhaled anti-infectives specialist Pulmocide has bagged US$30.4m (€28.8m) from new and existing investors to bring its anti-RSV and anti-aspergillosis compounds into clinical testing.

The investment groups Q-Growth Fund and Biolty purchased the majority of the Valencian biotechnology company Institute of Genomic Medicine (Imegen) for €10m.

British Cell Medica has closed a 60£ (€68,8m) Series C financing to advance its pipeline of virus-specific Natural Killer T (NKT) cells in oncology and viral infection.

According to main investor Sofinnova Partners, the Euronext IPO of Avantium, the front runner in renewable chemistry, was oversubscribed multiple times resulting in a market capitalisation of €277m.