Jonathan Smith, Author at Labiotech.eu

About

Reporter for Labiotech. I hail from the UK. I was born in Bristol, studied Neuroscience in the University of Bristol, and trained mice in Eisai, Hertfordshire, for one year. I then tickled locusts for my Ph.D. at the University of Leicester, before eventually ending up here!
Out of the office, I travel, play video games and board games, drink beer and play the piano.

Articles by Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 26 Jul 2021

Europe’s TCR Therapy Scene Gains Traction with €40M Series B

Swedish firm Anocca’s fundraising is the first major venture capital round to go to a European TCR therapy developer this year; another sign that the technology is gaining momentum. Last year was a busy one for companies developing cell therapies for cancer based on engineering T-cell receptors (TCRs), known as TCR or TCR-T cell therapies. […]

July 26, 2021 - 5 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 8 Jul 2021

The Top European Biotech Funding Rounds in June

While oncology and psychedelics dominated European biotech’s biggest funding rounds last month, startup seed financing focused more on gene therapy and drug discovery. Last month saw some momentous events for Europe’s biotech heavyweights. GSK paid an impressive €524M ($625M) upfront to co-develop an immuno-oncology candidate with iTeos Therapeutics in Belgium. Meanwhile, the German antibody drug […]

July 8, 2021 - 5 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Best in Biotech 30 Jun 2021

Scotland’s Top 10 Biotech Companies to Watch Out For

Scotland has a thriving life sciences ecosystem with strengths in oncology, genetic engineering, and industrial biotech. Let’s pick up the bagpipes as we tour the top 10 biotech companies in Scotland. Scotland is the UK’s second-most populous country, boasting picturesque scenery, a rich history, and a strong focus on sustainability. There is a diverse range […]

June 30, 2021 - 11 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

dna sequencing covid 19 vaccine funding european biotech investment

News and Trends 10 Jun 2021

The Top European Biotech Investment Rounds in May

Last month saw huge biotech investment rounds dedicated to Covid-19 vaccines in Europe, including IPOs by Valneva and Vaccitech. However, a €227M (£195M) private round by the DNA sequencing giant Oxford Nanopore Technologies made the biggest splash. Last month was a difficult one for a number of public biotech companies. Biotech stock indices proved volatile […]

June 10, 2021 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

diabetes chronic kidney disease farxiga astraZeneca

News and Trends 8 Jun 2021

Farxiga’s Approval Fuels Chronic Kidney Disease Comeback

Until this year, there were no effective treatments for chronic kidney disease. However, the recent approval of AstraZeneca’s Farxiga alongside clinical breakthroughs and advances in precision medicine are causing the field to resurge. The last several months have seen big pharma companies scoring wins against chronic kidney disease (CKD). This condition involves gradual, irreversible kidney […]

June 8, 2021 - 5 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

biotech stock price euronext genmab argenx

News and Trends 25 May 2021

Delayed IPOs and Market Drops Batter Biotech Stocks

Stock markets worldwide have experienced painful instability in the last few months. As a result, the European biotech market has seen stock prices falling and IPOs postponed. The Covid-19 pandemic was a major disruption for stock markets across the globe at the start of 2020. However, markets like Euronext and the tech-focused Nasdaq rallied and […]

May 25, 2021 - 6 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 11 May 2021

ADC Approval Buoys Spirits in Cancer Treatment Space

The FDA recently approved an antibody-drug conjugate drug from ADC Therapeutics as a treatment for blood cancer. This has given a major confidence boost to other European companies in the field as the deal mill picks up speed. Last month, ADC Therapeutics in Switzerland broke into the mainstream when its lead candidate Zynlonta received FDA […]

May 11, 2021 - 7 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

multiple sclerosis novartis roche ema approval

News and Trends 27 Apr 2021

EMA Approvals for Multiple Sclerosis Highlight Treatment Shortfalls

While the EU saw rapid-fire approvals in the multiple sclerosis space last month, the innovations centered mostly on improving existing approaches. Which areas of multiple sclerosis treatment need more options? At the end of March, the EMA made key decisions on three treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurodegenerative disease affecting 2.5 million people […]

April 27, 2021 - 6 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

meat alternatives solar foods impossible foods

News and Trends 24 Mar 2021

Global Funding for Meat Alternative Companies Tripled in 2020

Companies developing sustainable meat and dairy alternatives smashed records with a €2.6B ($3.1B) haul last year. Why has it been such a bumper harvest? Traditional agriculture is a major polluter, especially in the case of meat production. The highest estimations place its share of global greenhouse gas emissions at up to 20%. In an effort […]

March 24, 2021 - 7 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

In Depth 3 Feb 2021

Detecting Gene-Edited Food: The EU’s Nightmare

The EU imposed stringent controls on the commercialization of gene-edited food back in 2018. Years later, regulators are still working in the dark, with no established tests in place. The EU has some of the strictest food regulations in the world surrounding the cultivation and commercialization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which it defines as organisms whose […]

February 3, 2021 - 10 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Interview 1 Feb 2021

Democratized DNA Synthesis: A Game-Changer Against Covid-19

DNA synthesis is one of the pillars of Covid-19 research that has suffered supply disruptions during lockdowns. Thomas Ybert, CEO of DNA Script, discusses the French company’s plans to protect research from future disruptions by giving every lab the ability to synthesize its own DNA molecules. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted more than ever the […]

February 1, 2021 - 6 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 26 Jan 2021

Oxford’s Covid-19 Vaccine Blazes Trail for Oncolytic Virus Firms

Since the debut of Imlygic in 2015, no other oncolytic virus cancer therapies have been approved by the FDA and EMA. However, we’re seeing the first signs that the Covid-19 pandemic may help the field get out of the rut. Earlier this month, the Oxford-based firm Theolytics raised €5.6M in a Series A round. This […]

January 26, 2021 - 7 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

Europe’s TCR Therapy Scene Gains Traction with €40M Series B

The Top European Biotech Funding Rounds in June

Scotland’s Top 10 Biotech Companies to Watch Out For

The Top European Biotech Investment Rounds in May

Farxiga’s Approval Fuels Chronic Kidney Disease Comeback

Delayed IPOs and Market Drops Batter Biotech Stocks

ADC Approval Buoys Spirits in Cancer Treatment Space

EMA Approvals for Multiple Sclerosis Highlight Treatment Shortfalls

Global Funding for Meat Alternative Companies Tripled in 2020

Detecting Gene-Edited Food: The EU’s Nightmare

Democratized DNA Synthesis: A Game-Changer Against Covid-19

Oxford’s Covid-19 Vaccine Blazes Trail for Oncolytic Virus Firms

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest biotech news!

Catalonia: A biotech hub going from strength to strength, with Barcelona at its core

Top biotech deals of February 2025

Grab your free report on 3D organoids and explore their future potential

These 7 biotechs are shaping the next generation of endometriosis care

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

Catalonia: A biotech hub going from strength to strength, with Barcelona at its core

Top biotech deals of February 2025

Grab your free report on 3D organoids and explore their future potential

These 7 biotechs are shaping the next generation of endometriosis care

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

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