Human Interferon Alpha, © Nevit Dilmen / NCBI

French immunotherapy expert Neovacs has teamed up with CDMO 3P Biopharmaceuticals for the manufacture of interferon alpha with recently licensed technology.

© Kymab

UK-based biopharma group Kymab has brought a new backer from China on board. With the help from ORI Healthcare Fund, Kymab secured a US$100m Series C financing.

Jørgen Vestbo - University of Manchester

The randomised clinical trial (RCT) is the gold standard for drug evaluation. RCTs provide the core for drug development and subsequent drug approval often in the form of rigorously designed efficacy trials in carefully selected subjects. In fact, in- and exclusion criteria are often so restrictive that only 17% of patients from outpatient clinics would be eligible for trials in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

claire-skentelbery.jpg

Well, that was a weight off my chest, better out than in, as they say. After Brexit, at least the world will be pulled back into its axis with the election of America’s first woman president and wait a minute, what are you saying? No, that can’t be right he won? Really? REALLY?

Proteros has expanded its epigenetic drug discovery services for MSD. Just one year after having signed a first R&D pact, the computational chemistry firm inked a second contract in oncology.

adidas' prototype shoe made from spider silk, @ Amsilk

Adidas has presented the world’s first lightweight racing shoe made by recombinantly produced silk fibers. 

Jakob Dynnes Hansen, © Acesion Pharma
Danish biotech Acesion Pharma has hired Jakob Dynnes Hansen as its Chief Financial Officer. He joins from Evolva, a Swiss biotech company, where he has been CFO since 2007.
Pascal Besman, © PharmaMar
PharmaMar is driving the expansion of its US operations. To this end, the company has appointed Pascal Besman to the newly created role of Chief Operation Officer of the marine-derived oncology drug developers US subsidiary, PharmaMar US. 
Brenda Reynolds, ©iQur
The BIA has added three new members to the Board of Directors. Calchan CEO Brenda Reynolds (pictured), Immunocore Chief Business Officer Eva-Lotta Allan and Polar Capital’s Partner – Healthcare Dan Mahony will join the board of the British BioIndustry Association from January 2017.
Researcher at Martinsried-headquarters of Medigene, © Medigene

Until mid-October, cancer immunotherapy play Medigene AG was a pure drug developer. With a potential US$1bn TCR-contract manufacturing deal with Bluebird Bio, it widened its business focus. Now, the company presented a process that delivers neospecific anti-tumour TCRs.