Which European Biotechnology news stories topped the charts this year? The European Biotechnology team delved into archives and analysed the click statistics. And here they are: the most wanted news stories of 2016!
Contaminated blood can transmit prion disease even if the donor does not yet show any symptoms. A new blood test could make the blood supply safer. Two reports show it can correctly diagnose Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease – with 100% certainty.
Electronic submission systems of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) will open for biotech companies and research groups on 4 January 2017 to apply for collaborative projects with pharma partners under the IMI scheme.
Indigo Diabetes NV has been spun-off from University of Ghent and international research institute imec with a series A financing of €7m. The companys needle-free glucose sensor addresses a €12bn market.
The Europan Medicines Agencys (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended four biologics, among them three biosimilars, one monoclonal antibody as well as two targeted therapies for EU market authorisation.
Neurology specialist Celgene has nailed down access to Evotecs induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform for screening of compounds against neurodegenerative diseases.
Spanish world market leader for nucleic acid-based virus screening in blood banks, Grifols, has confirmed the purchase price for US-based Hologic’s NAT donor screening unit.
Finnish theranostics specialist Orion Corporation is set to fill its oncology pipeline through a drug development alliance.
Dutch-German molecular diagostics specialist Curetis has bagged debt finanancing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to expand its automated multiplex PCR platform Univero. The company will receive €10m immediately. Further €15m are milestone-dependent.
While competitor Eli Lilly has abandoned commercialisation of its Alzheimer’s therapy solanezumab due to lack of efficacy in a pivotal Phase III study, Genentech has tabled data supporting further development of its Phase III drug crenezumab. The anti-Abeta antibody is highly homologous to solanezumab.