The US has opened the floodgates to cheaper versions of biologic medicines, and analysts predict that by 2020, biosimilar protein meds could seize a significant share of a projected €390bn market. That’s good news for national health services and insurers, which stand to save billions in payouts. As expensive biologics begin to go off-patent, competitors with knockoffs are planning their onslaughts. But for biosimilars to have a future, both physicians and patients have to be sold on the idea – and many of them remain uninformed and unconvinced. The field is at a crucial juncture.
Trading up
AppointmentsEduardo Bravo takes over as President of the Board of Directors of European Biopharmaceutical Enterprises (EBE). Bravo is CEO of Belgian stem cell-based drug developer TiGenix NV.
Funds for MDx manufacture
Latest NewsBelgian molecular diagnostics company Biocartis Group NV has raised €55m and will use the funds mainly to expand manufacturing capacities for its PCR-based molecular diagnostics system Idylla.
IPO pay off for French biotechs
Latest NewsEurope’s first gene therapy company has floated on Euronext: Gensight raised €40m in its IPO. And it is not the only French company that has taken the leap in an uncertain market climate – Alzheimer’s expert Pharnext also went public.
Elix High-Throughput water purification system
ProductsMerck’s advanced water purification system with new high-throughput line delivers up to 9,000 liters of pure water daily with real-time monitoring and ensures constant water quality with low and predictable running costs.
Neurological disorder specialist
AppointmentsUwe Meya is taking over as Chief Medical Officer at Barcelona-based orphan drug developer Minoryx Therapeutics. Meya will advance the clinical development of Minoryx’ lead candidate MIN-102 for adrenoleukodystrophy.
Out of this world: UK tech in space
Latest NewsWhen NASA blasted off to the International Space Station on Monday morning, it had UK tech on board. A miniature DNA sequencer from Oxford Nanopore will be used to keep an eye on the ISS atmosphere – and may even analyse alien DNA one day.
Moving on up
AppointmentsIn July, British research service provider Envigo appointed Adrian Hardy as President and CEO. Hardy will also join Envigo’s Board of Directors.
Cell Medica picks up antibody tech
Latest NewsCell Medica has acquired Swiss antibody specialist Delenex Therapeutics. The deal nets the British cellular therapeutics developer Delenex’ proprietory antibody fragment platform Pentrabody.
Biosimilars: A crippling lack of information
BackgroundThe US has opened the floodgates to cheaper versions of biologic medicines, and analysts predict that by 2020, biosimilar protein meds could seize a significant share of a projected €390bn market. That’s good news for national health services and insurers, which stand to save billions in payouts. As expensive biologics begin to go off-patent, competitors with knockoffs are planning their onslaughts. But for biosimilars to have a future, both physicians and patients have to be sold on the idea – and many of them remain uninformed and unconvinced. The field is at a crucial juncture.
Themis bags vaccine license
Latest NewsVienna-based vaccine specialist Themis Bioscience GmbH has secured broad access to a promising virus vaccine vector tech by extending its license agreement with French Institut Pasteur. Its goal: to develop a Zika vaccine.