The evaluation of the European bioeconomy strategy will take longer than initially planned. According to information given at the Biostep Forum in Brussels, results won’t be available before next year and it is still unclear if there will be an update of the strategy adopted in 2012. Several upcoming expert and stakeholder meetings in 2017 will pave the way for a decision in early 2018.
Polish drug developer Selvita has out-licenced its first lead compound to Berlin-Chemie Menarini, a company of the Menarini Group. Ongoing clinical trails with SEL 24 will be conducted the company listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange and taken over later this year by Menarini.
The EU’s opt-out clause for GM cultivation has missed its goal to accelerate EU market approval of safety-assessed genetically modified crops whilst giving member states the option to opt out from cultivation for political reasons.
Three of six new meds to be approved in Europe are orphan drugs and have been backed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) this month.
Good news for EMD Serono, the US arm of German Merck: It’s PD-L1 blocker avelumab is the first drug that received FDA approval to treat the rare skin cancer Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC).
With around 2,500 attendees, Barcelona hosted the most successful BIO Europe Spring conference in the history of the EBD’s partnering event. Southern Europe demonstrated its growth ambitions in the life sciences.
Scottish and Canadian researchers have identified a protein essential for the toxoplasmosis parasite to be transmitted. Targeting it might give rise to new treatments other parasitic diseases like malaria.
British inhaled anti-infectives specialist Pulmocide has bagged US$30.4m (€28.8m) from new and existing investors to bring its anti-RSV and anti-aspergillosis compounds into clinical testing.
The investment groups Q-Growth Fund and Biolty purchased the majority of the Valencian biotechnology company Institute of Genomic Medicine (Imegen) for €10m.
British Cell Medica has closed a 60£ (€68,8m) Series C financing to advance its pipeline of virus-specific Natural Killer T (NKT) cells in oncology and viral infection.