The possibilities offered by CRISPR/Cas9, TALENs and other new genome editing technologies are making the mouths of plant breeders water – and not just because the methods give seed developers new options when it comes to optimising traits such as yield, resistance to environmental stress, diseases or pests. Gene-edited plants could soon make inroads even with Europe’s strict regulators, and throw open the door to tastier, healthier food.
Smartwatch for patient monitoring
Latest NewsResearchers at the University of Sussex have invented a new algorithm that could revolutionise patient monitoring and activity tracking.
EFSA okays GM bacteria as feed supplement
Latest NewsFrench Ajinomoto Eurolysine SAS, part of the world leading producer of amino acids by fermentation, has received a positive safety assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for use of freeze-dried genetically modified E. coli bacteria as a feedstuff supplement.
CAR-T: Novartis prices CTL019 at US$475,000
Latest NewsSwiss Novartis AG has received US market authorisation for its first-in-class CAR-T cell therapy Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel-T). As severe cytokine storms seemed to be generally linked to CAR-T therapies such as Kymriah, the FDA also authorised Roche’s anti-IL-6R antibody Actemra (tocilizumab) as first-in-class treatment to manage them.
FDA approves Boehringer’s biosimilar adalimumab
Latest NewsThe US Food and Drug Administration has granted US market authorisation to Boehringer Ingelheim’s biosimilar anti-TNFa-antibody adalimumab.
Apeiron bags €25m from EIB
Latest NewsSupported by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a €25m loan to the Austrian pediatric cancer specialist Apeiron Biologics AG to boost its pipeline of antibodies, fusion proteins and low molecular weight checkpoint inhibitors.
CRISPR & Co.: Brave new food
BackgroundThe possibilities offered by CRISPR/Cas9, TALENs and other new genome editing technologies are making the mouths of plant breeders water – and not just because the methods give seed developers new options when it comes to optimising traits such as yield, resistance to environmental stress, diseases or pests. Gene-edited plants could soon make inroads even with Europe’s strict regulators, and throw open the door to tastier, healthier food.
Implementation of EU Unitary Patent Court delaying
Latest NewsIn mid-June, the German Federal Constitutional Court asked the German President not to sign legislation designed to implement the EU Unified Patent Court (UPC, EU Agreement 16351/12) and Unitary Patent (EU Regulation 1257/12). Now, there are hints for a further delay. The constitutional complaint behind the delay, rumoured to be brought up by a German life sciences IP expert, has led to a stop of hiring German judges for the UPC.
Daratumumab meets endpoint as first-line multiple myeloma therapy
Latest NewsDanish Genmab A/S’ anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab has met the endpoint of progression-free survival in an interim analysis of Genmab’s pivotal Phase III study aimed at receiving FDA approval as first-line therapy in multiple myeloma.
Macrophage Pharma backed by Merck Ventures
Latest NewsMerck Ventures has joined the Series A investor syndicate of the British immuno-oncology specialist Macrophage Pharma Ltd.
Parkinson’s: factor protects from neuron decay
Latest NewsScientists at Swedish Karolinska Institute have identified a factor that supports growth of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons, the nerve cells that degenerate during of Parkinson’s disease.