© Audivisual Services of the EC

In summer the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that crops created by biological mutagenesis techniques fall under EU GMO legislation. Germany’s government and the European Parliament see no need to take action. 

©123rf.com/Watchara Khamphonsaeng

Just in mid-December, antibiotic resistance detection expert Ares Genetics (Vienna, Austria) inked an agreement with Sandoz to use its pathogenome database and bio-IT know-how to develop repurposed and novel antiinfectives that help fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Now, the company baged another financing to expand its diagnostic capabilities.

© FDNA

Experts in artificial intelligence (AI) have created another problem for bioethicists and data protection specialists: their algorithm has learned to identify people with rare genetic syndromes from facial images.

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Sanofi and Regeneron announced they have "restructured" their US$2,17bn immunoncology collaboration. While the companies will continue co-marketing of the FDA approved  (2018) PD1 blocker cemiplimab (REGN2810) as treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, Sanofi will quit development of early stage antibody discovery programmes under the 2015 agreement.  

Microscopic slice through an artery. © 123rf.com/Suliman Razvan

Cells that line the blood vessels do not behave identically but instead exhibit varied responses to the same biochemical signals, British researchers report in Science. 

© Bautzova/Science Translational Medicine

Differences in microbiome composition can help to distinguish inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Dutch and US researchers report.

Cancer Cells © 2017 Cellestia Biotech

Cancer specialist Cellestia Biotech AG has secured CHF20m through a Series A financing led by FC Capital, and PPF / Sotio, and ETP Ventures, Boston & Beijing.

Staten lab. © Staten Biotechnology

Staten Biotechnology has signed a dyslipidaemia licence option deal worth US$430m with Novo Nordisk.

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Paris-based Kurma Partners announced the first closing of its Kurma Biofund III, a life science fund set to raise €150m.

©  EP/Christian Creutz

The European Parliament has voted to add €36.5bn to the budget of Horizon Europe (€94.1bn, in 2018 prices) proposed by the European Commission to foster research and innovation.