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

spinal muscular atrophy zolgensma novartis gene therapy

News and Trends 30 Oct 2019

Trial Testing Spinal Application of Zolgensma Put on Hold by FDA

The FDA has placed a partial hold on clinical trials testing a new application method for Zolgensma, Novartis’ gene therapy for the genetic disease spinal muscular atrophy, after it showed the potential to cause serious side effects in animal models. Spinal muscular atrophy is a life-threatening condition that usually arises when the patient is between […]

October 30, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 29 Oct 2019

MorphoSys and Galapagos’ Eczema Drug Abandoned at Phase II

Development of MorphoSys, Galapagos, and Novartis’ first-in-class antibody drug has been discontinued during a phase II trial after an interim analysis suggested it wouldn’t meet its main endpoint of reducing eczema symptoms. The drug was being developed to treat the inflammatory skin condition atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. It arose from a collaboration between […]

October 29, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 28 Oct 2019

UK Company Synthesizes Long DNA Molecules with 85% Accuracy

The UK biotech Camena Bioscience has proven it can synthesize long DNA molecules with more accuracy than traditional chemical synthesis. Camena tested its technology’s ability to accurately synthesize DNA molecules with a length of 300 nucleotides — the building blocks of DNA. Using Camena’s technology, 85% of the synthesized DNA molecules were accurate to the […]

October 28, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

biorelate artificial intelligence cell gene therapy

Startup Scout 25 Oct 2019

This UK AI Tool Researches Diseases for Drug Discovery Companies

The Manchester-based company Biorelate is developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can collect biological data from the internet and speed up the drug discovery process. Mission: Develop AI technology that trawls the web for disease and drug data and collects it together like researchers would do manually in drug discovery. Biorelate’s product is able to […]

October 25, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

alzheimers disease treatment vivoryon therapeutics

News and Trends 24 Oct 2019

German Alzheimer’s Drug Backed with €43M After Biogen’s Surprise Turnaround

The German company Vivoryon Therapeutics has raised €43M on Euronext Amsterdam to fund a phase IIb trial of a drug that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by blocking toxic forms of the protein amyloid-beta. Vivoryon Therapeutics, previously known as Probiodrug, raised the money using a rights offering and a private placement on Euronext […]

October 24, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 22 Oct 2019

Austrian Biotech Will Develop Viral Protein For Vaginal Infection

The Austrian biotech company PhagoMed Biopharma is developing a viral protein that could one day treat the common condition bacterial vaginosis without disrupting the microbiome as traditional antibiotics do. The preclinical drug candidate is derived from a protein called an endolysin. Endolysins are made by bacteria-hunting viruses called bacteriophages and kill bacteria by rupturing the […]

October 22, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

paris ermium therapeutics autoimmune disease

Startup Scout 18 Oct 2019

This Biotech Fights Autoimmune Disease with Rare Immune Cells

We come to the biotech hub of Paris, France, where the biotech Ermium Therapeutics is developing treatments for autoimmune diseases that don’t suppress the whole immune system as current treatments do. Mission: To develop small molecule drugs for autoimmune conditions such as lupus by selectively blocking the activity of a rare type of immune cells […]

October 18, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 17 Oct 2019

Sofinnova Partners Raises €333M for its Newest Life Sciences-Focused Fund

Sofinnova Partners, Europe’s largest VC focused on life sciences, has raised €333M to fund early-stage healthcare companies, bringing the total capital managed by the firm to €2B. Sofinnova Partners aims to invest around two-thirds of the new fund, called Sofinnova Capital IX, in European life science companies. The other third will be invested globally, with […]

October 17, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 17 Oct 2019

Innate Pharma Raises €62M IPO to Develop Antibody Drugs for Cancer

The French company Innate Pharma has raised a Nasdaq IPO of €62.1M ($68.8M) to fund the development of antibody immunotherapies for solid tumors and blood cancer. Innate Pharma’s lead candidate antibody monalizumab is being co-developed in phase II with AstraZeneca for the treatment of head and neck cancer and colorectal cancer. Monalizumab is a member […]

October 17, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

cancer immunotherapy gammadelta therapeutics adaptate biotherapeutics

News and Trends 16 Oct 2019

GammaDelta Therapeutics Spins Out Cancer Immunotherapy Biotech

The UK biotech GammaDelta Therapeutics has founded Adaptate Biotherapeutics to develop cancer immunotherapies based on antibodies that boost a rare type of immune cell. Adaptate Biotherapeutics is a spin-out of GammaDelta Therapeutics, a London company founded in 2016 that specializes in using a rare type of immune cells, known as gamma delta T-cells, to fight […]

October 16, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 16 Oct 2019

UK Firm Raises €51M to Repurpose Drugs for Rare Diseases Using AI

The Cambridge-based artificial intelligence company Healx has raised a Series B round of €50.8M to launch an AI tool that reduces the time it takes to develop treatments for rare diseases by five years. The Series B round was led by the UK VC firm Atomico and includes the returning investor Jonathan Milner, the founder […]

October 16, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

delft university Planet bio business incubator

News and Trends 14 Oct 2019

Dutch Incubator Launched to Scale up Industrial Biotechs

A collaboration involving the Dutch company DSM and other organizations in the Netherlands has launched Planet B.io, an incubator aimed at scaling up technology developed by industrial biotech startups such as the lab-grown meat developer Meatable. Planet B.io is based at the Biotech Campus Delft, the Netherlands, and contains a total of 3,000 m² of office […]

October 14, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

Trial Testing Spinal Application of Zolgensma Put on Hold by FDA

MorphoSys and Galapagos’ Eczema Drug Abandoned at Phase II

UK Company Synthesizes Long DNA Molecules with 85% Accuracy

This UK AI Tool Researches Diseases for Drug Discovery Companies

German Alzheimer’s Drug Backed with €43M After Biogen’s Surprise Turnaround

Austrian Biotech Will Develop Viral Protein For Vaginal Infection

This Biotech Fights Autoimmune Disease with Rare Immune Cells

Sofinnova Partners Raises €333M for its Newest Life Sciences-Focused Fund

Innate Pharma Raises €62M IPO to Develop Antibody Drugs for Cancer

GammaDelta Therapeutics Spins Out Cancer Immunotherapy Biotech

UK Firm Raises €51M to Repurpose Drugs for Rare Diseases Using AI

Dutch Incubator Launched to Scale up Industrial Biotechs

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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