University of Goergia researchers have decribed the shielded versions of the viral S-protein. a. Side view (upper panels) and Top view (lower panels) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein (grey surface) with homogeneous Complex glycosylation (magenta) showing aligned antibody fragments (ribbons) from co-complexes with the S glycoproteins from SARS-CoV-1 (orange) and MERS (cyan) 48,50-61 . b. Glycans present on SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein that are incompatible with known antibody positions due to steric overlap are shown in yellow. a. Side view (upper panels) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein (grey) with homogeneous complex glycosylation (magenta) showing aligned antibody fragments (ribbons) from co-complexes with the S glycoproteins from SARS-CoV-1 (orange) and MERS (cyan). b. Glycans present on SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein that are incompatible with known antibody positions due to steric overlap are shown in yellow. c. Potential antibody poses after elimination of epitopes blocked by S protein glycosylation. © Doi: 10.1101/2020.04.07.030445

British researchers have deciphered the glycosylation pattern of the viral spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 laying the foundation for vaccine development.

© ElisaRiva/pixabay.com

Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A.‘s Sarizotan failed to meet efficacy endpoints in the Phase III STARS study.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn at Roche's Penzberg site. © Roche

Roche Diagnostics has received FDA Emergency use approval for its highly specific Elecsys antibody test.

© Bone Therapeutics SA

Belgian Bone Therapeutics SA has secured €11m to foster development of its late stage pipeline candidates.

© Cevec Pharmaceuticals GmbH

Cevec Pharmaceuticals GmbH has launched a new, scalable production platform for AAV gene therapy vectors.

Model of the duck hepatitis B virus. © Artes Biotechnology GmbH

German vaccine developer ARTES Biotechnology GmbH will develop a COVID-19 subunit vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLP), which include two proteins of SARS-CoV-2.

12-lead ECG of torsades de pointes (TdP). © Jer5150 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19738256

The politically overhyped use of old malaria drugs in combination with COVID-19-specific candidates has been demonstrated to be dangerous, reports Nature Medicine.

Macrophages adhering to the surface of larvae of the nematode parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri (Hpb). The macrophages react to immune regulatory products of the larvae (e.g. the protein Hpb glutamate dehydrogenase) by switching on the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (green) and the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (red).© Dr. Julia Esser-von Bieren, edited with the help of Dr. Arndt von Bieren

German researchers have isolated a substance from parasitic roundworm larvae to alleviate inflammation and treat asthma in a rodent model.

Photo: Erich Westendarp auf Pixabay

Last year, the biotechnology sector in Switzerland has continued its growth and proved to be a magnet for fresh capital and investment. This is revealed by the Swiss Biotech Report 2020.

Model of SARS-CoV-2. © CDC

Up to today, Novartis and Bayer announced donations of several millions of old antimalaria pills based on anecdotical reports of efficacy in COVID-19 patients. Now Novartis has started a study.