In December 2016, US biotech company Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ drug Spinraza received regulatory approval in the US. No doubt: the antisense technology behind Spinraza could be the next big thing

Irish Allergan and Swiss Novartis have agreed to start a proof-of-concept study of a combination of their NASH candidates cenicriviroc (Allergan) and FXR agonist LJN452 (Novartis).

Domainex has a new Executive Chairman: Timo Veromaa has been appointed to the Board of the British drug discovery services company.

sphingotec GmbH and bestbion dx GmbH have signed an agreement to market sphingotec’s innovative sepsis and congestive heart failure test (sphingotest bio-ADM) and acute kidney function monitoring assay (sphingotest penKid) in Germany and Austria.

German and Swedish researchers have presented a strategy to predict and improve chemotherapy outcomes in patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). Currently, the five-year overall survival rate of AML patients treated with cytarabine (ara-C) standard chemotherapy ranges from 20-70%. 

Following its CHF1.901bn IPO at SIX Swiss Exchange on 7 April, Galenica Santé has announced full excercise of the over-allotment option worth CHF248m.

Police investigators today begin searches for perpetrators with conventional DNA profiling – comparing a genetic signature from sperm or hair left at a crime scene with a database of identified offenders. But that doesn’t finger culprits who have never been registered. A growing technology called ‘DNA phenotyping’ is now aimed at interpreting genomic clues about a suspect’s possible external appearance. The science behind it is new, and investigators have to navigate the statistical uncertainties – as well as ethical and legal questions – the technology is raising all over Europe.  
Hansa Medical, Lund-based developer of novel immunomodulatory enzymes, has recruited Sam Agus as Chief Medical Officer. Agus joins from H. Lundbeck AS, where he was Chief Specialist, Medical Affairs Neurology. 

Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos and EMBL Director-General Iain Mattaj have inked an agreement to host a world-class tissue imaging facility in Barcelona. The EMBL’s 6th site in Europe will start work in September. 

Cambridge-based immuno-oncology developer Crescendo Biologics had named Philip Bland-Ward as its Chief Scientific Officer. He joins Crescendo from Kymab where he was responsible for leading its most advanced development programme.