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

Philogen cancer immunotherapy antibody pharma t cell

News and Trends 25 Jan 2019

Swiss-Italian Biotech Bags Antibody Deals with Three Big Pharma

The Swiss-Italian company Philogen has announced three different partnerships with Novartis, Celgene, and Janssen to develop new forms of immunotherapy and small molecule drugs. Philogen develops immunocytokines, which are antibodies that are fused with proteins that modify the immune system to fight diseases such as cancer. For example, this treatment can bind to tumors and activate […]

January 25, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 25 Jan 2019

This Biotech Makes Cosmetics out of Seaweed

Algaia is a French biotech based in Brittany, and for good reason. Here it harvests the blankets of Atlantic seaweed on the coast and extracts products for use in food, cosmetics and more. Mission: To maximize the number of useful products you can extract out of seaweed. Algaia uses seaweed as a source of useful […]

January 25, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

exxonMobil biofuel renewable energy group clariant

More News! 24 Jan 2019

ExxonMobil Recruits Swiss Company to Make Biofuels

The Swiss biofuels company Clariant is joining up with US companies ExxonMobil and the Renewable Energy Group to make biodiesel from agricultural waste. The new partnership hopes to combine technology from the Renewable Energy Group and Clariant to produce biodiesel — a biofuel that is a mix of ethanol and fat or cooking greases. Unlike […]

January 24, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

PharmaBiome microbiome ulcerative colitis

Interview 23 Jan 2019

Tackling the Complexity of the Gut Microbiome for Better Treatments

An imbalance in gut microbe species is linked with gastrointestinal disease. Philip talked with the CEO and co-founder of the Swiss startup PharmaBiome, Tomas de Wouters, about the complexity of rebalancing the gut microbiome in these conditions. The microbiome is a hugely complex ecosystem of microbes living all around the body. Different parts of the […]

January 23, 2019 - 5 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

novo nordisk holding impact antimicrobial resistance slides

News and Trends 22 Jan 2019

MinervaX Latest Beneficiary of Novo’s Antimicrobial Resistance Fund

The Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund, launched to fight antimicrobial resistance, has invested €4.4M in the Danish company MinervaX to help fund the phase I trial of a vaccine that could protect newborn babies from streptococcal infections. The Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund aims to combat the growing menace of pathogens resistant to antimicrobial drugs, such as […]

January 22, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 21 Jan 2019

Danish Biotech Turns Bacteria into Fermentation Workaholics

The Danish biotech Enduro Genetics has shown it can improve the yield of fermentation by engineering bacteria to become ‘addicted’ to being productive. Fermentation vats full of bacteria or yeast are the workhorses for industries such as the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. They are used to mass-produce products including detergents, drugs and biofuels. The cells […]

January 21, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 18 Jan 2019

Biotech Partnership Raises €7.5M to Recycle Plastics With Enzymes

The French biotechs Carbios and Toulouse White Biotechnology have been awarded €7.5M to industrialize their plastic recycling programme, which uses enzymes to break down waste. The funding comes from the public initiative Investments for the Future Program, which is aimed to foster innovation in French industries. The €7.5M is to be paid in installments over […]

January 18, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 18 Jan 2019

This Biotech Turns Rejected Organs Into Drug Testing Models

Engitix, a spinout from University College London, makes accurate disease models from human tissue that include the extracellular matrix from outside of the cells, an often overlooked but essential factor in the way cells behave inside our bodies. Mission: To make disease models in the lab that include the extracellular matrix, making them more […]

January 18, 2019 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 17 Jan 2019

Scientists Create Prosthetic Ears Using 3D Bioprinting

Swiss researchers are developing cellulose-based materials for 3D bioprinting, which could lead to implants such as prosthetic ears. 3D-printed implants have big potential in the field of regenerative medicine. Although still at an early stage, this technology is enabling the development of customized prosthetics, such as skin and joint cartilage. One big focus in […]

January 17, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

sanofi biomunex cancer therapy bispecific antibodies 1

News and Trends 15 Jan 2019

Sanofi Obtains License for French Company’s Antibody Engineering Platform

Sanofi has signed a licensing deal with French biotech Biomunex, whose antibody technology has the potential to develop new immunotherapy treatments for cancer and infectious diseases. Sanofi will give Biomunex an upfront payment, along with further installments upon achieving key development milestones. The amounts have not been disclosed. Biomunex is able to make a wide variety […]

January 15, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

picometrics technologies Huntingtons disease neuron

News and Trends 15 Jan 2019

Huntington’s Could Be Diagnosed in Five Minutes With This Lab-on-a-Chip

Using a lab-on-a-chip device, Swiss scientists have found a way to diagnose the neurodegenerative condition Huntington’s disease from DNA in the blood in just five minutes, rather than the five hours currently required. When carrying out the diagnosis of Huntington’s patients, the patient’s DNA is typically extracted from white blood cells. Regions of the […]

January 15, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 14 Jan 2019

Inhaled Lung Disease Treatment Encounters Mixed Results in Phase II Trial

An inhaled drug from British company Verona Pharma has failed to significantly improve lung function in patients with the lung disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, though it did produce some benefits. The 79 patients in the phase II trial suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition where inflammation in the lungs restricts the airways […]

January 14, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

Swiss-Italian Biotech Bags Antibody Deals with Three Big Pharma

This Biotech Makes Cosmetics out of Seaweed

ExxonMobil Recruits Swiss Company to Make Biofuels

Tackling the Complexity of the Gut Microbiome for Better Treatments

MinervaX Latest Beneficiary of Novo’s Antimicrobial Resistance Fund

Danish Biotech Turns Bacteria into Fermentation Workaholics

Biotech Partnership Raises €7.5M to Recycle Plastics With Enzymes

This Biotech Turns Rejected Organs Into Drug Testing Models

Scientists Create Prosthetic Ears Using 3D Bioprinting

Sanofi Obtains License for French Company’s Antibody Engineering Platform

Huntington’s Could Be Diagnosed in Five Minutes With This Lab-on-a-Chip

Inhaled Lung Disease Treatment Encounters Mixed Results in Phase II Trial

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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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