Roche’s US subsidiary Genentech has acquired an exclusive option to commercialise Novimmune’s TLR4 antibody NI-0101, the very first personalised approach to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The compound has already proved safety and drugability in a Phase I dose escalation trail.

Epidarex Capital-backed respiratory disease start-up Enterprise Therapeutics has named biotech entrepreneur John Ford as its new CEO. Ford previously co-founded Xention, Ario Pharma, and Metrion Biosciences.

Viennese Apeptico Forschung und Entwicklung GmbH and Milan-based Mediolanum Farmaceutici S.p.A. have signed a research & development cooperation and license agreement for Apeptico’s compound solnatide.

For the second time, biotech communication start-up Labiotech hosted its event LBRefresh, this year in Paris, France. Participants enjoyed panel discussions, a start-up battle and intimate fireside chats…

Over the last decade, therapeutic antibodies have fundamentally changed approaches in different areas of medicine, providing the impetus for a big leap forward in the treatment of cancers and autoimmune diseases. But could they also soon have a lasting impact on agriculture? Some pioneers predict that – in the near future – peptides, proteins and RNA will be driving markets in the fast-growing biopesticide and biostimulant sectors.

Confo Therapeutics wants to metamorphose from a tech company to a drug discovery company, and it has hired Cedric Ververken to guide the transition. 

Diagnostics company Arquer Diagnostics Ltd (Sunderland, UK) has appointed Nadia Whittley as CEO, replacing Ian Campbell with immediate effect. Whittley will be responsible for launching the company’s MCM5-ELISA diagnostic test and the expanding the technology beyond bladder and prostate cancer. 

Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, currently executive vice president and head of Corporate Development at Novo Nordisk, will take over the helm of the Danish diabetes major. He takes over from long-time CEO Lars Rebien Sørensen.

EU consumers have minor knowledge on bioplastics but unrealistically high expectations that can not be fulfilled, researchers said at 11th European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin.

Only a small fraction of carefully selected patients are allowed to enroll in randomised controlled trials involving new compounds – the gold standard of drug assessment. But trying to acquire the most significant efficacy and safety results for a new drug is one goal, treating patients every day in hospitals or practices with it is something else entirely. Discrepancies are inevitable. Now real-world data that’s been gathered in large observational studies is attempting to close the gap between experimental, artificial study settings and clinical realities.