Networking at the BIO-Europe Spring evening reception at the National Museum of Art Catalonia, in Barcelona' s National Palace of of Montjuïc, Photo: Sandra Wirsching, BIOCOM

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.

Julien Le Guyader, © ?? Dentons
?? 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.

Gerd Zettlmeissl, © TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative
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 Imegen team at the company headquarter in Valencia, ©Imegen

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

Cell Medica makes use of streptamer technology to select cells that express viral antigens, © Cell Medica

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.

Tom van Aken (centre), CEO Avantium, which was selected European Cleantech Company of the Decade by Cleantech Group in 2015, © Cleantech Group

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. 

Vaccinia virus. © wikipedia/commons PHIL

Transgene has started Phase II efficacy testing of its therapeutic cancer vaccine TG4010 and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Cardiomyocytes, © British Heart Foundation, Flickr.com / Dr Renata Gomes, Ana Lima, and Dr Ricardo Neves

Belgian cell therapeutics specialist TiGenix NV announced positive top-line one-year results from its CAREMI stem cell study in acute myocardial infarction.