A month after China publicly revealed its bioeconomy priorities under its 15th Five Year Plan, the European Commission released an updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy — and the contrast could hardly be sharper. While China bets on a bold mix of AI, bioengineering and synthetic biology to replace fossil based industrial products with recombinant and cell free systems, the EU remains anchored in a more traditional vision focused on the valorisation of agricultural output and industrial waste. By contrast, the UK has taken a more modern approach, heavily investing in engineering biology — the use of reprogrammed microorganisms to produce industrial goods — as a key pillar of its biotech and bioeconomy strategy.
UK hikes drug prices after pharma exodus
Latest NewsAfter the withdrawal of investment pledges totalling £2bn by pharmaceutical companies — seeking to offset lower US revenue by raising UK prices — the British government has now caved in and signed a deal with the US administration that will lift UK drug prices by 25%
Angelini Ventures and EIB launch joint start-up financing
Latest NewsThe European Investment Bank (EIB) and Angelini Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Angelini Industries, have signed an agreement to jointly provide €150m over the next six years to support European biotechnology and digital health start-ups through seven to ten funding rounds. This marks the EIB’s first partnership with a corporate venture capital firm in Europe’s health sector under its TechEU programme.
EU Commission presents new bioeconomy strategy
Latest NewsA month after China publicly revealed its bioeconomy priorities under its 15th Five Year Plan, the European Commission released an updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy — and the contrast could hardly be sharper. While China bets on a bold mix of AI, bioengineering and synthetic biology to replace fossil based industrial products with recombinant and cell free systems, the EU remains anchored in a more traditional vision focused on the valorisation of agricultural output and industrial waste. By contrast, the UK has taken a more modern approach, heavily investing in engineering biology — the use of reprogrammed microorganisms to produce industrial goods — as a key pillar of its biotech and bioeconomy strategy.
€ 23 Mio: Afyren successful in capital increase
Latest NewsFrench Afyren secures €23m to accelerate biorefinery expansion as first plant enters full industrial ramp-up. Most of the money comes from US company Kemin Industries.
Ventuno Biotech Secures €3m to Power Next-Gen Cancer Immunotherapies
Latest NewsLyon-based Ventuno Biotech secures fresh backing to accelerate its preclinical pipeline of first-in-class immuno-oncology assets.
Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide fails in Alzheimer’s
Latest NewsNovo Nordisk’s semaglutide has failed to reduce the cognition deficit in two Phase III Alzheimer’s trials, dimming GLP-1 hopes. Anti-amyloid and combination therapies remain key for slowing decline.
Gilead acquires Sprint Bioscience TREX1 programme
Latest NewsSprint Bioscience AB has sold its preclinical TREX1 first-in-class cancer program to Gilead for up to US$414m, validating its fragment-driven small-molecule out-licensing business model.
AGC Biologics to manufacture dual AAV therapies for AAVantgarde
Latest NewsAccording to a new deal, AGC Biologics wil manufacture AAVantgarde’s dual AAV gene therapies for inherited retinal diseases using the high-yield BravoAAV™ suspension platform.
Melatonin: a promising new approach in Alzheimer’s treatment
Latest NewsMelatonin shows promise in Alzheimer’s treatment by restoring circadian rhythms and reducing neurodegenerative symptoms, researchers have demonstrated in a groundbreaking study.
Giredestrant demonstrates efficacy in early-stage breast cancer
Latest NewsRoche has reported that its selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), giredestrant, has demonstrated significant clinical benefit in pivotal Phase III trials for adjuvant early-stage ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, as well as strong efficacy in advanced breast cancer settings. These results position giredestrant as the first oral SERD to show meaningful clinical benefit in this indication. The announcement sparked a notable 7% jump in Roche’s share price in a single day.