Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk

Massalia Therapeutics kicks off with seed financing

French biotech firm Massalia Therapeutics SA has been launched, backed by seed funding from Landmark Bioventures, the company founders and their network. The company claims to have an IND-ready, first-in-class drug candidate poised to target both cancer and fibrosis.

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Countdown to SLAS Europe: Instromeda Ltd

With one week remaining before the opening of SLAS Europe 2025—the continent’s largest event dedicated to laboratory automation and drug screening—preparations are nearing completion. The conference, organised by the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), is set to take place in Hamburg from 20–22 May. As part of a dedicated series, European Biotechnology Magazine is profiling twelve innovative SMEs participating in the SLAS Innovation AveNEW programme. One of them is Instromeda Ltd., a finalist for the SLAS Ignite Award.

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Countdown to SLAS Europe: NestEgg Labs BV

Just few days to go until SLAS Europe 2025 takes place in Hamburg from 20–22 May. Organized by the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), the premier automation conference in Europe will showcase the latest technologies and drug discovery enablers. As part of its preview series, European Biotechnology Magazine profiles 12 of Europe’s most innovative AveNew SMEs – this edition features Netherlands-based NestEgg Labs BV.

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Countdown to SLAS Europe: Unicorn Biotechnologies Ltd

Just one week to go until SLAS Europe 2025 takes place in Hamburg from 20–22 May. Organized by the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), the premier automation conference in Europe will showcase the latest technologies and drug discovery enablers. As part of its preview series, European Biotechnology Magazine profiles 12 of Europe’s most innovative AveNew SMEs – this edition features UK-based Unicorn Biotechnologies.

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America’s Drug Price Revolution: A Boon for Patients or a Blow to Innovation?

On May 12, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to drastically reduce U.S. prescription drug prices by aligning them with the lowest prices paid in other developed nations—a policy known as the “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) approach. While the initiative seeks to alleviate the financial burden on American patients, it has sparked intense debate over its potential ramifications on global pharmaceutical trade, investment patterns, and the United States’ leadership in biomedical innovation.

Azafaros BV bags €132m Series B financing

Belgian lysosomal storage disease specialist Azafaros BV has added a new lead investor to its portfolio. In addition to €25m Series A leader Forbion, Jeito Captial co-led a €132m Series B round aimed at advancing two pivotal trials of Azafaros‘ lead compound nizabagloustat (AZ-3102).

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Countdown to SLAS Europe: ORYL Photonics SA

With only one week remaining until Europe’s largest event focused on laboratory automation and drug screening, preparations for SLAS Europe 2025 are well under way. Organised by the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), the conference will be held in Hamburg from 20–22 May. As part of a dedicated series, European Biotechnology Magazine is highlighting twelve of the most innovative SMEs currently operating in the sector. Among them is Switzerland’s ORYL Photonics SA.

ENVLPE improves gene and cell therapy

Scientists at German Helmholtz Centre Munich have presented a new transport system for gene and cell therapy that overcomes the limitations of viral vectors. An in vivo gene therapy for hereditary blindness corrected the defect in the Rpe65 gene ten times more efficiently than was possible with viral vectors.