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 22 Feb 2019

French Company to Open Biggest Insect Farm in the World

A Series C round of €110M ($125M) — the largest ever for agriculture technology outside of the USA — will fund the construction of the world’s largest automated insect farm by the French company Ynsect. Ynsect is a company that uses insects to provide protein-rich feed for fish farming, pet food, and even the fertilizer industry. […]

February 22, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 21 Feb 2019

First All-Inclusive Biotech Lab Facility Will Launch in Paris

The young UK company RUNLABS plans to open the first facility where biotech companies can hire a package of lab space, lab services, offices, and even technicians. A common time sink in setting up a biotech company is the sheer amount of administration involved, such as hiring staff, getting insurance, and facilities maintenance. The company […]

February 21, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

biomX microbiome acne inflammatory bowel disease

News and Trends 21 Feb 2019

Microbiome Biotech Will Use Series B to Bring Treatments to Clinic

The Israeli biotech BiomX has raised €28M ($32M) to advance its treatments for acne and inflammatory bowel disease to the clinical stage. Investor interest is continuing in treatments based on the microbiome, which have the potential to treat a variety of conditions such as chronic inflammatory diseases, and even some forms of cancer. BiomX’s approach […]

February 21, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

antibiotic resistance next generation sequencing ares qiagen 1

News and Trends 21 Feb 2019

Qiagen Gets Access to Largest Genetic Database on Antibiotic Resistance

Under a new licensing deal, Qiagen will gain access to a big genetics database from Vienna-based Ares Genetics, which could help tackle the global health crisis of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a major health concern that is growing fast. One reason for this is that people are often prescribed the wrong antibiotic for […]

February 21, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

autoimmune disorder eosinophilic esophagitis allergy milk calypso biotech

News and Trends 20 Feb 2019

Inflammatory Disease Treatment Backed by €20M Series A

The Swiss company Calypso Biotech has raised a sizeable €20M to fund its immunotherapy for an allergy-related inflammatory disease. The Series A round will help to develop Calypso’s antibody treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis, a condition where patients have an inflamed esophagus and difficulty swallowing. This condition is often linked with allergies to food, such as […]

February 20, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

acne s biomedic skinbiotherapeutics skin microbiome

News and Trends 19 Feb 2019

Skin Microbiome Biotechs Get Funding Boost

Two major skin microbiome companies have received investments this week: the Belgian company S-Biomedic, which is developing a probiotic acne treatment, and the UK biotech SkinBioTherapeutics, which is targeting eczema. A lot of attention goes to the gut microbiome when talking about probiotic disease treatments, but skin bacteria may also have potential, as these […]

February 19, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

tuberculosis suicide cnrs embl Francis Crick antibiotic resistance immune

News and Trends 18 Feb 2019

Tuberculosis Treatment Kills Bacteria with Their Own Suicide Toxin

A European academic research collaboration has found a new potential weapon against antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis: its own toxins. Many types of bacteria, such as the pathogen responsible for the deadly lung disease tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, use toxins to stay alive. For example, these toxins can be useful when the bacteria are starved or infected by viruses, […]

February 18, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

arvelle therapeutics SK Biopharmaceuticals Axovant epilepsy

More News! 18 Feb 2019

Enormous Series A to Help Bring Epilepsy Drug to Market

One of the biggest Series A rounds in European biotech, €159M ($180M), has been raised by the Swiss company Arvelle Therapeutics to help commercialize its epilepsy drug. Formed just this month, Arvelle plans to submit an application for EMA approval for the small molecule drug cenobamate, which it has licensed from the South Korean company […]

February 18, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

medical university of vienna kidney transplant genomics

News and Trends 15 Feb 2019

Genetic Testing Improves Success of Kidney Transplants

Genetic variations in cell surface proteins are able to predict kidney transplant success, shows Austrian research, serving as a potential screening tool for improving future transplants. Many kidney transplants fail over time because the patient’s immune system rejects the organ. This rejection happens because the immune system recognizes that particular proteins on the cell surface, such […]

February 15, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

biomillenia microbiome lab on a chip workflow paris scene

Startup Scout 15 Feb 2019

This Lab-on-a-Chip Can Screen Millions of Bacteria in Parallel

Our French biotech of the week, Biomillenia, is developing a lab-on-a-chip that can screen millions of strains of bacteria in a fraction of the time it takes for traditional methods. This technology can identify previously unculturable strains for use in agriculture, animal health, or microbiome-based therapies. Mission: To use lab-on-a-chip technology to culture and screen […]

February 15, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

london biotech hub medcity british library

More News! 14 Feb 2019

London’s Biotech Ecosystem Boosted with €900M Expansion

The British Library has greenlit the construction of a new research hub on its property in North London, increasing the business potential for the biotech ecosystem in the southeast of England. The new site, costing up to €900M (£800M), will expand premises held by the British Library, which is next to King’s Cross and the […]

February 14, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 14 Feb 2019

Hair Loss Biotech Ventures into Diabetes Market

The Swedish biotech Follicum has added drugs for type 2 diabetes into its pipeline, which focuses on treatments for hair loss. The market for type 2 diabetes treatments is huge, and competitive. While many approved treatments help to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, fluctuating blood sugar levels can damage vital insulin-producing beta cells. Many diabetics […]

February 14, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

French Company to Open Biggest Insect Farm in the World

First All-Inclusive Biotech Lab Facility Will Launch in Paris

Microbiome Biotech Will Use Series B to Bring Treatments to Clinic

Qiagen Gets Access to Largest Genetic Database on Antibiotic Resistance

Inflammatory Disease Treatment Backed by €20M Series A

Skin Microbiome Biotechs Get Funding Boost

Tuberculosis Treatment Kills Bacteria with Their Own Suicide Toxin

Enormous Series A to Help Bring Epilepsy Drug to Market

Genetic Testing Improves Success of Kidney Transplants

This Lab-on-a-Chip Can Screen Millions of Bacteria in Parallel

London’s Biotech Ecosystem Boosted with €900M Expansion

Hair Loss Biotech Ventures into Diabetes Market

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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