Milan-based Newron Pharmaceuticals has named Dennis Dionne Vice President Commercial Affairs. Previously, Dionne was Executive Director for Commercial Operations. He replaces Anders Haegerstrand.

The Innovative Medicines Initiative is pushing clinical development of a novel compound against Gram-negative bugs that cause urinary tract and intra-abdominal infections. Backed by IMI, Aicuris is launching a clinical programme for an antibiotic.

The London-based immunotherapy specialist Tiziana Life Sciences bagged the license for the human anti-interleukin 6 receptor antagonist NI-1201 from Swiss Novimmune.

French Sanofi is set to become a global market leader in the non-prescription market by acquiring Boehringer Ingelheim’s consumer healthcare (CHC) business in exchange for Sanofi’s animal health arm Merial.

Deborah Waterhouse, currently Senior Vice President Primary Care, GSK US Pharmaceuticals, will take over as CEO of Viiv Healthcare. She succeeds Dominique Limet, who will step down from the post at the end of March 2017. 

Which European Biotechnology news stories topped the charts this year? The European Biotechnology team delved into archives and analysed the click statistics. And here they are: the most wanted news stories of 2016!

Co-founder of immuno-oncology start-up Innate Pharma Hervé Brailly is making room on the chair of the executive board. His successor Mondher Majhoubi transfers from AstraZeneca, where he was Senior Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head-Oncology, Global Product and Portfolio Strategy.

Contaminated blood can transmit prion disease even if the donor does not yet show any symptoms. A new blood test could make the blood supply safer. Two reports show it can correctly diagnose Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease – with 100% certainty.

Electronic submission systems of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) will open for biotech companies and research groups on 4 January 2017 to apply for collaborative projects with pharma partners under the IMI scheme.

Indigo Diabetes NV has been spun-off from University of Ghent and international research institute imec with a series A financing of €7m. The company’s needle-free glucose sensor addresses a €12bn market.