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

genmab janssen blood cancer multiple myeloma

News and Trends 11 Jun 2019

Janssen and Genmab Team Up Again for Another Potential Cancer Blockbuster

Janssen and the Danish biotech Genmab will collaborate to develop a new antibody that could outperform their blockbuster cancer drug Darzalex in certain types of blood cancer. Genmab will develop the antibody treatment until it completes clinical proof-of-concept studies in the blood cancers multiple myeloma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. At that point, Janssen will […]

June 11, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 7 Jun 2019

CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Seal Deal Worth up to €890M

The US giant Vertex Pharmaceuticals is expanding an existing collaboration with the Swiss company CRISPR Therapeutics, paying up to €890M ($1B) to develop treatments for genetic diseases causing muscle weakness using the gene editing tool CRISPR/Cas9. The deal includes €155M ($175M) paid upfront, and potential future payments based on achieving developmental milestones. In exchange, Vertex […]

June 7, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

stockholm diabetes treatment biocrine eye

Startup Scout 7 Jun 2019

This Biotech Transplants Cells into the Eye to Personalize Diabetes Treatments

Up north in Stockholm, the Swedish company Biocrine aims to personalize diabetes treatments by screening drugs in pancreatic cells that have been transplanted into the eye. Mission: To test new drugs for type 1 and type 2 diabetes on pancreatic cells transplanted into the eye, where the cells can thrive and be easily monitored with […]

June 7, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

inflarx trial inflammatory disease fail skin

More News! 6 Jun 2019

Shares Drop 90% as Antibody for Inflammatory Skin Disease Fails Phase II

The German company InflaRx has seen its shares on the Nasdaq plummet after announcing that its treatment for an inflammatory skin disease failed to beat the placebo in a phase IIb trial. The trial had enrolled 179 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, an incurable condition causing painful lumps on the skin. By the 16th week of […]

June 6, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 5 Jun 2019

Highlights from European Biotech at ASCO 2019

European biotech companies gathered in Chicago, USA, to share the latest advances in cancer research at the biggest cancer conference of the year, ASCO 2019. This year’s conference has drawn fewer big blockbuster headlines than other years, but there was plenty to see nonetheless. There were results from many different clinical trials by big pharma […]

June 5, 2019 - 5 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 4 Jun 2019

Austrian Biotech Raises €19M to Commercialize First Chikungunya Vaccine

The market is in sight for the first potential vaccine for the chikungunya virus, as the company Themis Bioscience will receive up to €18.7M ($21M) in non-dilutive funding to finance the vaccine’s phase III development. The money will cover most of the costs of the phase III trial, which Themis expects to begin later this […]

June 4, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

bluebird bio gene therapy beta thalassemia

News and Trends 4 Jun 2019

First Gene Therapy for Beta Thalassemia Approved in Europe

The US biotech company bluebird bio has obtained EU conditional market approval for a gene therapy that could remove the need for blood transfusions for people with the blood disorder beta-thalassemia. Called Zynteglo, the gene therapy is aimed at treating people with beta-thalassemia who are over 12 years of age and have any but the […]

June 4, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 3 Jun 2019

Belgian and US Biotechs Team up to Reduce CAR T Side Effects

The diagnostics company Biocartis is collaborating with Kite Pharma to monitor the progress of CAR T-cell therapies in patients to better manage side effects. CAR T-cell therapies have revolutionized the way we treat cancer. Instead of giving the patient a classical drug, companies can inject them with living, genetically engineered cells that kill cancer cells. […]

June 3, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

kiadis pharma bone marrow transplant cell therapy

News and Trends 3 Jun 2019

Dutch Company Raises €28M to Push Cancer Cell Therapy to European Market

The Dutch Kiadis Pharma has raised €27.6M in a private placement to fund the clinical development of immune cell therapies treating blood cancer. The money will fund phase III trials of Kiadis’ lead candidate cell therapy for blood cancer, aimed to get European approval by the end of 2019. In addition, the cash will boost […]

June 3, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

pure biologics wroclaw devics disease 1 1

Startup Scout 31 May 2019

This Biotech Treats a Neurological Autoimmune Disorder Using DNA

We’re jumping into Poland this week. Pure Biologics is a biotech based in Wrocław developing DNA molecules that could treat the incurable neurological condition Devic’s disease with fewer side effects than existing treatments. Mission: To develop a treatment that makes an existing treatment for Devic’s disease, plasmapheresis, more targeted and with fewer side effects than […]

May 31, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

gensight gene therapy lhon genetic blindness

News and Trends 29 May 2019

After Unexpected Setback, GenSight Seeks Approval for Blindness Gene Therapy

The French biotech GenSight will apply for regulatory approval for its gene therapy despite the treatment unexpectedly resulting in the improvement of the eyes treated with a placebo in a phase III trial. GenSight is developing a gene therapy designed to treat progressive vision loss caused by the rare genetic condition Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. […]

May 29, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 29 May 2019

€60M Investment to Boost Oxford Biomedica’s Gene and Cell Therapies

The Danish investor Novo Holdings is handing Oxford Biomedica up to €60.6M (£53.5M) to develop gene and cell therapies treating cancer and genetic blindness. The investment will bag Novo Holdings a stake of up to 10.1% in the UK biotech. Oxford Biomedica will use the money to repay a loan totalling €49M ($55M) from the […]

May 29, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

Janssen and Genmab Team Up Again for Another Potential Cancer Blockbuster

CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Seal Deal Worth up to €890M

This Biotech Transplants Cells into the Eye to Personalize Diabetes Treatments

Shares Drop 90% as Antibody for Inflammatory Skin Disease Fails Phase II

Highlights from European Biotech at ASCO 2019

Austrian Biotech Raises €19M to Commercialize First Chikungunya Vaccine

First Gene Therapy for Beta Thalassemia Approved in Europe

Belgian and US Biotechs Team up to Reduce CAR T Side Effects

Dutch Company Raises €28M to Push Cancer Cell Therapy to European Market

This Biotech Treats a Neurological Autoimmune Disorder Using DNA

After Unexpected Setback, GenSight Seeks Approval for Blindness Gene Therapy

€60M Investment to Boost Oxford Biomedica’s Gene and Cell Therapies

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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