The Jackson Laboratory

Humanized NSG and NSG-SGM3 mice as a new preclinical bridge for immune-oncology therapies.

CAR T cell specialist bluebird bio has inked a potential US$1bn partnership with Medigene – to get access to the drug developer’s technology platform.

people.png

Immunotherapy maker TxCell SA has appointed gene therapy expert Olivier Danos to its newly founded Scientific Advisory Board. Danos serves as Senior Vice President of Cell and Gene Therapy at Biogen and has led Biogen’s gene therapy research group for the last two years. Previously, Danos served as Senior VP Molecular Medicine, Synthetic Biology and Gene Regulation at Kadmon Pharmaceuticals.

Ute Kilger

The European Patent Office (EPO) is currently pushing the project Early Certainty in order to speed up examination of patent applications. The aim is to complete examination within 12 months between request for examination and intent to grant the application or refusal.

RightsDirect

How Content Access and Manual Process Hinder Mining Efforts

Immunic COO Dr Manfred Groeppel; © Immunic AG

Martinsried-based autoimmune specialist Immunic AG secured financial support for the next 3.5 years from lead investors Life Sciences Partners and LifeCare Partners (LCP, Switzerland) based on prior autoimmune programmes of 4SC AG.

Backed by MPM Capital and Sofinnova, immuno-oncology specialist iOmx Therapeutics has raised €40m in its first round of financing. The German company had just been founded in spring.
EBM_Autumn_2016-inside3-exosomes.jpg

Disregarded for decades, extracellular vesicles are now understood to be a key element in communication between cells. Discoveries around the nano-sized bubbles are revolutionising not only the field of diagnostics. With their ability to mimic stem cells, EVs could also help open the doors to novel therapeutic concepts. 

EBM_Autumn_2016-inside2-sepsis.jpg

For over three decades, attempts among drug developers to target the inflammatory pathways and symptoms of sepsis have been fruitless. New rapid diagnostics, rigourous patient stratification and drugs with novel modes of action are now on the horizon for treating the most costly cause of death in the industrialised world. Biotechs are pushing new ideas towards clinical testing, but there just isn’t enough funding available in the EU. Will US investors again pick up European innovation on the cheap?

EBM_Autumn_2016-inside1.jpg

Although most people still view carbon dioxide (CO2) as a climate killer, industry is beginning to realise that CO2 could actually provide an abundant, low-cost feedstock for carbon-based processes. A number of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) schemes are evaluating the many different pathways that could play a role in the field in the future.