© 123rf.com/guniita
Evotec SE and Indivumed GmbH have entered into a drug R&D collaboration aimed at developing first-in-class colorectal cancer treatments.
© Theranexus

Lyon-based neurology specialist Theranexus SA has launched a new bioinformatics partnership with systems biology data analysts from Dyliss (Dynamics, Logics and Inference for biological Systems and Sequences).

© uniqure NV

Following the FDA granted AMT-130 fast track designation, uniQure NV announced it will start Phase I/II testing of the Huntington’s Disease gene therapy in Q2/2019.

Sanofi headquarters. © 123rf.com/ricochet64

Sanofi and Alnylam have agreed to end the research and option phase of the companies’ RNAi therapeutics alliance in rare genetic diseases.

Cell sorting at Medigene labs. © MediGene AG
Roivant Sciences and Sinovant Sciences have launched newco Cytovant Sciences, which licenced two T cell-based cancer immune therapies and two development programmes from Medigene AG for commercialisation in the eastern Asian market.
123rf.com/Jarun Ontakrai

Gradientech closes a USD 4.6 million rights issue to progress QuickMIC diagnostic system for ultra-rapid antibiotics susceptibility testing (AST).

AgomAb Therapeutics, a company resulting from a collaboration of argenx SE and growth factor experts from the University of Turin, has completed a €21m Series A financing.
Model of inflammasome function: Stress signals trigger a conformal change in NRLP3 sensor proteins that activate their oligomerisation domain (NACHT). Oligomerisation leads to a wheel-shaped signalling hub with LRR domains outside of the wheel and PYD domains forming a disk at the centre. The PYD domains recruit the inflammasome adaptor ASC. ASC binds to the PYD ring. Recruited ASC molecules polymerise and form long helical filaments. The caspase recruitment domain (CARD) of ASC then recruits an inactive caspase-1 precursor, and cleaves it to generate the fully active protease. Caspase-1 then cleaves the precursor molecules pro-IL18 and pro-IL1b to generate the mature secreted proinflammatory cytokines. Caspase also cleaves pro-gasdermin D, generating N-terminal fragments, which assemble to form gasdermin D pores in the plasma membrane. The pores allow cytokine secretion, and water entering the cell leads to cytolysis.  Released alarmins and inflammasome cytokines attract phagocytes to the site, which advance the inflammatory response. © BIOCOM AG

Novartis has aquired all outstanding capital stock and paid US$310m upfront to Boston-based IFM Tre Inc., which commercialises three inflammasome blockers designed to treat chronic inflammatory diseases.

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The European Medicines Agency has granted conditional approval for bluebird bio NV’s gene therapy Zynteglo (LentiGlobin BB305) to treat the rare disease transfusion-dependent ?-thalassemia at its first meeting in Amsterdam.

Artist's impression of blood cancer. 
© 123rf.com/Artem Oleshko

Krakow-based Selvita S.A. has announced it will spin out its oncology unit this year resulting in two public companies, a CRO and a cancer therapeutics developer.