Neural stem cell. Confocal microscopy image illustrating long-range organization for neurons (green) and nuclei (blue) within a developing neural construct. © University of Wisconsin, Photo: Michael Schwartz.

A new analysis comparing the amount of funding invested into stem cell research clearly demonstrates declining investment in Germany. In contrast, the US, the UK, Sweden and Japan have increased their investments into the future field.

Fund+ founder Désiré Collen © KU Leuven - Rob Stevens

Investors are once again flocking to back biotechs in Europe. Belgian Life Sciences fund Fund+ has raised €125m – a quarter more than initially anticipated. 

Part microbe, part machine: cyborg bacteria developed at ETH Zurich could revolutionise the biotechnological production of molecules. The bacteria have been engineered to respond to light signals.

Blood smear showing chronic lymphocytic leukemia © Mary Ann Thompson (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Nordic Nanovector is expanding its foothold in cancer-fighting ADCs. The Oslo-based biotech has inked a leukaemia pact with Wilex subsidiary Heidelberg Pharma.
EMA clinical data open access website
Trial transparency has been a hotly debated topic over the last months, but now, the EMA is turning words into action. The agency will allow public access to clinical trial reports, starting now.

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.