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 17 Oct 2018

Belgian Firm Will Develop Antibiotic Alternatives for Industrial Biotech Using CRISPR

Syngulon will be developing antibacterial peptides using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology thanks to an agreement with ERS Genomics, which licenses out CRISPR intellectual property in the EU. CRISPR technology is a hot topic in the biotech industry because it makes gene editing faster and easier than other techniques. This could make it very useful in […]

October 17, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 16 Oct 2018

Drug Combination for Rare Genetic Nerve Disorder Nails Phase III

A treatment developed by French biotech Pharnext has become the first clinically proven therapy for a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. In a Phase III trial, the treatment reduced the level of disability of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a condition that affects peripheral nerves. This disease causes problems with walking, running and […]

October 16, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Immunicum cancer immunotherapy dendritic cell

News and Trends 16 Oct 2018

Cancer Immunotherapy Biotech Raises €34M on Nasdaq Stockholm

The Swedish biotech Immunicum has issued shares worth up to almost €34M on Nasdaq Stockholm, in an effort to accelerate the development of its cancer immunotherapy. Immunicum plans to use most of the funding to run a Phase Ib/II clinical trial that will test its lead cell therapy candidate in combination with checkpoint inhibitors to […]

October 16, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Interview 16 Oct 2018

Using the Skin Microbiome to Treat Acne

The microbes living on our skin can play an important role in skin conditions such as acne. Philip talked to Veronika Oudova, CEO and co-founder of the Belgian company S-Biomedic, about how the company plans to fight acne with microbes, and the challenges of launching products in a field that is still unfamiliar to regulators. […]

October 16, 2018 - 4 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

European Commission bioeconomy header e1573473988265

More News! 12 Oct 2018

European Commission Updates Strategy to Energize Europe’s Bioeconomy

In challenging times of climate change and a scarcity of resources, the European Commission has released a new strategy to boost activity and investment in companies contributing to the bioeconomy. As one of the key economies that signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, the EU aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% […]

October 12, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

Startup Scout 12 Oct 2018

This Biotech is the First to Work on Antivirals for Farm Livestock

While in Leuven, Belgium, for last week’s Biotech of the Week, we decided to go to the vet. ViroVet is a company aiming to improve viral disease control in livestock, which is a huge sector of global agriculture. Mission: To develop novel antivirals and vaccines for farm livestock. This would give farmers more tools for […]

October 12, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 11 Oct 2018

Rechargeable Dentures Could Prevent Mouth Infections

As well as helping you chew your hamburger, dentures could one day fight oral fungal infections, suggest researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. The population is getting older. In fact, it is predicted that almost half of Europe will be over 50 years old in the year 2050. Assuming that trends stay the same, this […]

October 11, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 10 Oct 2018

Cancer Immunotherapy Phase I on Hold After Patient Death

The German biotech Affimed has halted two Phase I trials of its cancer immunotherapy after three patients suffered neurotoxicity due to the treatment, causing the death of one of them. Affimed was testing its immunotherapy AFM11 in 33 patients diagnosed with white blood cell cancer in two Phase I trials. One trial tested the therapy […]

October 10, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 9 Oct 2018

Slow-Release Drug Biotech IPO Raises €30M

The French biotech MedinCell, an injectable slow-release drug specialist, has received a shot of success as its IPO raises €30M in the Euronext stock exchange in Paris. MedinCell is hoping to improve patient compliance with medication regimes by injecting them with a drug-infused gel. Patient compliance with taking medication can be as low as 30% […]

October 9, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 9 Oct 2018

Hormone Therapy for Inherited Hormonal Disorder Fails at Phase III

A European Phase III trial has become a major stress for British biotech Diurnal. Its specially designed hormone therapy was no better than conventional therapies in treating an inherited hormonal disorder. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a rare genetic condition where patients lack crucial enzymes for making hormones. The most common form lacks 21-hydroxylase, the enzyme […]

October 9, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

More News! 8 Oct 2018

Cannabinoid Drugs Company Raises $300M in Public Offering

GW Pharmaceuticals, a British biotech developing cannabinoid drugs, is on a high after a successful $300M public offering on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The company announced the public offering swiftly after its lead cannabinoid drug, Epidiolex, made history by being the first cannabinoid drug to obtain approval from the FDA earlier this year. GW plans […]

October 8, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

News and Trends 5 Oct 2018

Lab-Grown Antivenom Shows Potential for Curing Black Mamba Snakebite

Antivenoms could one day be made in the lab instead of in animals. Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark have neutralized black mamba venom in mice with lab-grown human antibodies for the first time. Snakebite is a serious problem, causing the deaths of around 100,000 people every year, and about three times that number […]

October 5, 2018 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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Jonathan Smith

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Articles by Jonathan Smith

Belgian Firm Will Develop Antibiotic Alternatives for Industrial Biotech Using CRISPR

Drug Combination for Rare Genetic Nerve Disorder Nails Phase III

Cancer Immunotherapy Biotech Raises €34M on Nasdaq Stockholm

Using the Skin Microbiome to Treat Acne

European Commission Updates Strategy to Energize Europe’s Bioeconomy

This Biotech is the First to Work on Antivirals for Farm Livestock

Rechargeable Dentures Could Prevent Mouth Infections

Cancer Immunotherapy Phase I on Hold After Patient Death

Slow-Release Drug Biotech IPO Raises €30M

Hormone Therapy for Inherited Hormonal Disorder Fails at Phase III

Cannabinoid Drugs Company Raises $300M in Public Offering

Lab-Grown Antivenom Shows Potential for Curing Black Mamba Snakebite

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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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Articles by Jonathan Smith

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