Li Zhou © TxCell

TxCell: Cell engineering virtuoso

French cellular immunotherapy company TxCell has hired ex-Novartis Lab Head Li Zhou to lead its CAR-Treg programmes. Zhou was appointed Vice President Cell Engineering in October.

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AZ withdraws lung cancer drug from EU lead market

After AstraZeneca removed its NSCLC drug osimertinib from the German market following a benefit assessment of German health technology assessor G-BA negatively impacting price negotiations, the German oncologist association DGHO accuses the G-BA not to act in the best interest of lung cancer patients.

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Ex-DG Research Director Dr. Christian Patermann, who co-authored the Lodz Declaration, at the European Bioeconomy Congress Lodz 2016. © Marshal's Office of the Lodzkie Region

Bioregions deliver action plan blueprint

While DG Research has delayed its update on the European Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan until next June, the Central and Eastern Bioregions presented a blueprint that proposes key actions aimed at integrating the goals of the European Commission’s circular economy and the bioeconomy strategies.

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Targovax

Targovax: CFO turned CEO

Norwegion immuno-oncology play Targovax has promoted Øystein Soug, previously the company’s Chief Financial Officer, to the role of Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Gunnar Gårdemyr, who has stepped down.

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Jürgen Dressel and Helmut Buschmann

Early Certainty: Quality first!

When the European Patent Office created the Early Certainty Initiative, it looked at the needs of its customers to obtain its IP quickly. However, 25% of all patents granted in Europe come from the life sciences sector where products have long development periods and high failure rates before proof of concept. European Biotechnology spoke with stakeholders from Big Pharma and biotech on how the obligation to examine and grant a patent within 12 months could impact them. 
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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.

Germany lagging behind in stem cell research

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.

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Holmen Group

Stora Enso: Consumer Board leader

Finnish-Swedish biomaterial expert Stora Enso has appointed Annica Bresky as Executive Vice President, Consumer Board division and member of the Group Leadership Team. Bresky joins from Iggesund Paperboard AB, part of the Swedish Holmen Group, where she held the position of President and CEO. 
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Fund+ founder Désiré Collen © KU Leuven - Rob Stevens

Belgian Fund+ raises €125m for biotechs

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

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Icon plc

Icon plc: Rising through the ranks

Irish drug developer Icon plc has announced that, come March 2017, Steve Cutler will take over the leadership of the company. He succeeds Ciaran Murray, who will in turn transition to the role of Chairman of the Board. 
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ETH builds cyborg bacteria

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.

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