New name, new outlook: blood disorder specialist Dilaforette will be known as Modus Therapeutics Holding from here on out. The Swedish company also announced an intention to float in the near future.

Ysios Capital Directors: Josep Sanfeliu (top left), Joël Jean-Mairet, Karen Wagner, Julia Salaverria (left to right), and Cristina Garmendia (bottom right)

Spanish start-ups, take heed: One of the biggest biotech funds in Southern Europe has just been closed by Ysios Capital. The Spanish venture firm raised €126.4m to be reinvested in European biotech, medtech and diagnostics companies. 

Berliner Klima Schulen 2015

Apitope said it has regained global rights to its IL-10-bolstering vaccination ATX-MS-1467 for remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis from Merck KGaA. A 2009 contract forsaw that Merck will take over commercialisation cost following Phase II testing. Phase II data are due to be published in Q4/2016.

The European Patent Office’s decision to speed up examination of patent applications to 12 months without any transition period is set to ruin biotech SMEs financially and may send a blocking signal to innovators. 

Expression of PD-L1, atezolizumab's target on immune and cancer cells. © Roche

Roche is making up lost ground in immuno-oncology. The Swiss company’s PD-L1 directed immunotherapy atezolizumab is more effective in combatting lung cancer than standard chemotherapy.

Avantium has already gained financial support by Coca Cola for further developing a sustainable bio-based bottle. © Avantium

The new joint venture Synvina is positioned in the market for drop-in bioplastics with advanced product characteristics.

Meet management, investors, service companies etc.  © Boris Mannhardt, BIOCOM AG

With  about 38,000 attendees and 2,500 exhibitors, CPhI worldwide in Barcelona has broken another record. Personalised 3D printed pills and hypothesis generation using big data were only two trends reported.

Bioreactors in Kalundborg, Denmark, © Novozymes

The fate of the bioeconomy in Europe remains undecided. The evaluation of the European Commission’s bioeconomy strategy plus action plan has been delayed.

Apeiron Biologics CEO Hans Loibner © Inwien.at

Austrian Apeiron Biologics has outlicensed the global marketing rights for its neuroblastoma antibody dinutuximab beta to British Eusa Pharma.

Novo Nordisk headquarters in Bagsværd, Denmark © Novo Nordisk

Danish insulin maker Novo Nordisk tries to relieve financial pressure by laying off 1,000 staff. The step was necessary due to challenges on the US market, the company said.