Entries by Uta Mommert

Cinfa shows biosimilar equivalence

Cinfa Biotech is shuffling for position on the lucrative biosimilar market. The Spanish-German company has published positive results in a study for a pegfilgrastim copycat with 172 healthy volunteers in Germany. 

Oncolytic viruses: Natural Born Killers

Amgen’s Imlygic was approved last year – a move that finally added onco­lytic viruses (OVs) to the healthcare toolkit. Although the treatment’s scope of application as a stand-alone therapy is limited, many are viewing the event as Ground Zero for an explosive new age in medicine. Evidence is mounting that the full potential of virotherapies can only be realised in combination with other immuno­therapies, chemotherapies or small-molecule therapies. A number of other European drug developers have now jumped on Amgen’s bandwagon.

An X-ray look at GPCR structure

UK’s Heptares Therapeutics and Paul Scherrer Institute spinoff leadXpro will collaborate to find new approaches for the determination of high-res X-ray structures of G protein-coupled receptors to find new drugs.

Partnership targets leukaemia

Nordic Nanovector has teamed up with Areva Med to develop a treatment for leukaemia. The compound in question is a lead-212 conjugated anti-CD37 antibody.

Biotech responds to Brexit vote

After the British people voted in favour of leaving the European Union, the industry is grappling with the profound impact this will likely have on the economy, research and politics. Representatives from biotech industry, research and policits have expressed their concerns and hopes on the upcoming Brexit.

Malin hauls in €70m from EIB

UK investment vehicle Malin has secured another €70m to invest in innovation and research across the European life sciences. The European Investment Bank will provide a debt facility over a period of seven years.

Cat allergy setback for Circassia

Circassia suffered a severe blow when its cat allergy immunotherapy failed to outcompete the placebo in a Phase III trial. The company’s shares, listed in London, plunged to a third of its previous value.

Gilde closes €250m growth fund

European specialist investment firm Gilde Healthcare has closed its €250m fund for later stage and growth capital in medtech, digital health and therapeutics. The oversubscribed fund will invest in both Europe and North America.

EPO celebrates Europe’s top inventors

Exceptional inventors from all over Europe have been honoured with the European Inventor Award 2016. With the award, the European Patent Office recognises the achievements of inventors from Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US.

Stratifying depression treatment

Finding a treatment for depression that is well-tolerated and effective is difficult and time-consuming. UK scientists have now developed a blood test to predict whether common antidepressants will work in a patient.