Belgian liquid biopsy specialist Biocartis Group NV has pocketed €80m through an equity placement by offering 6.4 million new shares.

French green chemistry specialist Global Bioenergies announced the delivery of a first batch of sustainable cosmetic ingredients to cosmetics heavyweight L’Oréal. It was produced as part of the ISOPROD project, supported by the French State’s Investissements for the Future Program.

©Rentschler

In the past, the role of customised and tailored formulations have been largely underestimated in the field of biopharmaceutical product development. An advanced formulation strategy can strongly improve the product, leading to significant customer benefits. The growing and increasingly competitive biopharmaceutical market requires individual solutions, particularly for better product stability and prolonged shelf life.

Awarded teams with John Brennan, Secretary General of EuropeBio, and MEP Paul Rübig. From left to right: John Brennan (EuropaBio Secretary General), Carlo Incerti (EuropaBio Chairman), Philipp Bürling (Co-Founder and CFO, Numaferm), Teemu Suna (CEO, Nightingale Health), Deborah A. O'Neil (CEO, NovaBiotics), Martin Stephan (Deputy CEO, Carbios), Nora Alonso (CEO, Iden Biotechnology) and MEP Paul Rübig (Jury Member and Event Host). © EuropaBio

Three innovative biotech companies have baged the prestigious EuropaBio SME Awards for their innovative business models.

The same bacteria present in primary tumours of patients with colorectal cancer are also present in liver metastases, according to a new study. What’s more, presence of the bacteria was found to correlate with tumour growth.

GARDP:?Six European states, together with the British Wellcome Trust and South Africa, have pledged €56.5m to help develop new antibiotics that break resistance. The ambitious goal of the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) is to develop and deliver up to four new treatments that enter clinical development within the next six years.

The EU is investing another €6.3m into the blood diagnosis of  primary breast cancer and rectal cancer. In the 4-year LIMA project, Royal Philips will lead a SME consortium that combines liquid biospy of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

© Heidelberg Pharma AG

Antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) specialist Heidelberg Pharma AG has raised €34.4m through the issuance of 7,484,190 new shares at €2.60 and 14,968,380 convertible bonds with a nominal value of €1 each. Baader Bank AG acted as global coordinator and sole bookrunner.

The EMA's new headquarters, the Vivaldi building, in Amsterdam will be equipped to fully serve the Agency's needs. © FACE

Amsterdam has beaten Milan and Copenhagen in the race to become the European Medicines Agency’s new home. Pharma and biotech stakeholders applauded the vote as Amsterdam achieved the hightest rate of acceptance of the EMA staff for relocatation, according to a survey.

© Roche

A Phase III study (IMpower150) sponsored by Roche has shown that a combo of the company’s PD-L1 blocker atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and VEGF blocking antibody bevacizumab (Avastin) plus paclitaxel + carboplatin vs Avastim plus chemotherapy significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death in patients with advanced lung cancer.