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Biomedical/pharma

Biomedical/pharma

Predictions for Belgian Biotech in 2020

With the Belgian biotech landscape blooming, BioVox reached out to some of the investors in our network to see what their predictions are for the coming year. From trends to companies to keep an eye on, here’s their take on 2020!

Battling antibiotic resistance: new strategy targets bacterial slime

Researchers have developed a new antibacterial strategy that weakens bacteria by preventing them from cooperating. The method involves attacking the protective biofilm produced by the whole bacterial colony, rather than the individual bacteria themselves. Because this results in non-resistant bacteria outcompeting their antibiotic resistant neighbors, the strategy does not promote the development of further resistance.

How business models shaped our current drug development trends

With the soaring cost of drugs for rare indications, many biotech and pharmaceutical companies are focusing R&D efforts on orphan diseases. Will the pendulum swing back towards more common maladies? When will the price of drugs start to fall? In this month’s VC views, V-Bio Ventures examines the current business model for rare diseases.

V-Bio Ventures invests in Augustine Therapeutics, a VIB and KU Leuven spin-off to fight neuromuscular diseases

Ghent, Belgium, December 16 2019 – Today V-Bio Ventures announces its investment in Augustine Therapeutics, a new venture developing innovative therapeutics for patients suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. A spin-off of VIB and KU Leuven, Augustine raises a seed-round of 4.2 million euro with V-Bio Ventures, PMV, Advent France Biotechnology, Gemma Frisius Fund and VIB.

New immune system gene discovered in a Flemish boy

Researchers studying a rare disease have identified a new gene responsible for human immune system regulation. An international collaboration combined information from both mouse models and a single human patient in an effort to find the underlying genetic cause of hemophagocytic syndrome. This discovery could potentially inspire a treatment for the deadly disease and provides new insights into the immune system.

Magic mushrooms in modern medicine

More than 75 years after the initial discovery of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin and other natural psychoactive drugs, and their initial exploitation by the western pharma industry, these substances have seen a recent revival in clinical research. Although banned in the notorious “War on Drugs” initiated by US President Nixon, the potential medicinal applications of these substances are finally being explored again, particularly for treating depressive disorders and other mental diseases. This article aims to shed light on a topic we highlighted before in this series - anti-science in biotech - to illustrate the consequences of research being abandoned, as well as the opportunities and additional challenges to making these substances finally available for patients in need.

Caelus Health and Nestlé Health Science sign exclusive global development & option agreement on Caelus’ microbiome-based food supplements

PRESS RELEASE Amsterdam/Beerse, November 25, 2019 – Caelus Health, which develops food supplements and pharmaceutical products for the prevention, early treatment and management of cardio-metabolic diseases, is entering into a strategic collaboration with Nestlé Health Science (NHSc). The aim is to further develop and ultimately commercialize food supplements based on specific microbiota for the purpose of early intervention and nutritional management of diabetes and certain liver disorders.

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine: How do cells adapt to changing oxygen levels?

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to William G. Kaelin Jr, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza. Their discoveries have paved the way for promising new strategies to fight anemia, cancer and many other diseases. We’re breaking down the research that led to the prize and why this work was so vital for modern medicine.

Ovizio Imaging Systems announces iLine F and BioConnect supply agreements with Celgene Corporation

Brussels, Belgium 22/10/2019 – Ovizio Imaging Systems, a company providing an innovative microscopic imaging technology to the bioprocessing market, today announces the execution of supply agreements with Celgene Corporation for the automation of certain engineered T cell manufacturing processes.

Prof. Matthias Mann joins PharmaFluidics Advisory Board

Ghent, Belgium – October 22, 2019 – PharmaFluidics NV, an innovative player in the field of proteomics with the unique high-resolution µPACTM micro-Chip chromatography products, is pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. Matthias Mann as member of its Advisory Board.

HIV breakthrough at UZ Gent leads to new hope for a cure

When patients take HIV medication, a small amount of the virus nonetheless stays hidden in the body, preventing a cure. This hiding place has finally been uncovered in a groundbreaking study led by UZ Gent researchers. With this ‘viral reservoir’ identified, researchers may finally be able to develop a cure for this devastating disease.

Fresh insights into the future of cell therapy

The first edition of Science for health was held in the heart of Brussels on 11th September 2019 with a focus on cell therapy. The event attracted over 300 researchers, clinicians and industry professionals active in the the local or international cell therapy ecosystem. Top-speakers provided interesting insights into the current state of cell therapy in Belgium, as well as requirements for further progress. Collaboration, especially outside of the traditional partnerships, is key.

Galapagos-Gilead billion-dollar deal: beyond the numbers

Last month, Galapagos sealed a 5-billion-dollar deal with Gilead. Now that the dust has started to settle, we’re taking a closer look at the agreement. Why is this deal so unique in the biotech world? What will the ripple effects be in the European ecosystem? BioVox spoke with Lenny Van Steenhuyse, Healthcare Equity Analyst at KBC Securities, for a deeper insight.

Meet the men who unraveled the mystery of protein folding

Franz-Ulrich Hartl and Arthur Horwich have been named the winners of the 2019 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research. The award will be granted for their revolutionary insights into chaperone-mediated protein folding, a key process for biological function. The winners will share their insights during the annual award ceremony, which will be celebrated both at the Janssen Beerse Campus in Belgium on September 27 and at the New York Academy of Sciences in the US on October 3, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to meet two of the world’s leading scientists.

The million-dollar question: How much do you charge for a lifesaving drug?

The newest generation of ground-breaking gene therapy drugs, Zolgensma and Zynteglo, come with eye-catching price tags of more than a million dollars per treatment. Is the pharma industry recklessly overstepping a line here, or do they fall within current standards of value-based drug pricing? With more of these drugs soon to be rolling out of pharma pipelines, the stakes are rising high for patients, industry, governments, health insurance companies, as well as investors. It all warrants a deeper dive into the case.