Biotech in Austria: news and updates

News and Trends 22 Jun 2022

From mugwort allergy to an effective vaccine?

A research team at MedUni Vienna in Austria says it has discovered key mechanisms of allergy to pollen from the common weed mugwort, which could lay the foundation for the development of the world’s first vaccine. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) poses a serious problem for some people with allergies in places where the plant is common […]

June 22, 2022 - 2 minutesmins - By Jim Cornall

News and Trends 1 Feb 2022

Ribbon Biolabs Pushes DNA Synthesis Length Limits with €18M Series A

The Viennese biotech startup Ribbon Biolabs has raised an €18M Series A round to reduce the costs of synthesizing long DNA molecules, which could accelerate research into synthetic biology and the storage of data as DNA. Supported by lead investor Hadean Ventures, Ribbon Biolabs’ fundraising round is part and parcel of a continuing investor interest […]

February 1, 2022 - 3 minutesmins - By Dan Samorodnitsky

News and Trends 18 Mar 2020

OncoOne Raises €13M Series A to Develop First-in-Class Cancer Treatments

Austrian startup OncoOne has closed its first round of venture capital funding after raising €13M to investigate a new treatment target against solid tumor cancers. Investment in the Series A funding included public grants from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency and the promotional bank of the Austrian federal government, the Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft, along with […]

March 18, 2020 - 2 minutesmins - By Anita Chakraverty

News and Trends 25 Feb 2020

European Researchers to Make Light Bulbs using Bacteria

A team of scientists from Austria, Spain, and Italy is working to make LED light bulbs out of proteins produced by bacteria. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are widely seen as a key tool for making lighting eco-friendly because they are more energy-efficient than traditional bulbs. However, the coatings of these devices — designed to absorb […]

February 25, 2020 - 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

Themis Biosciences fundraising chikungunya vaccine

News and Trends 18 Sep 2019

Themis Raises €40M for First Phase III Trial of a Chikungunya Vaccine

Vienna-based Themis Biosciences has raised €40M in a Series D round to fund a phase III trial that could lead to the approval of the world’s first vaccine for chikungunya infection. The round, one of the largest seen in Austrian biotech so far, was co-led by two new investors, Farallon Capital and Hadean Ventures. […]

September 18, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández

News and Trends 22 Aug 2019

Austrian Vaccine Developer Signs Deal with MSD in ‘Blockbuster Indication’

Vienna-based Themis Bioscience will develop vaccine candidates against an undisclosed disease target in partnership with big pharma Merck Sharp & Dohme. As part of the agreement, MSD will provide research funding and make an equity investment in Themis Bioscience. In addition, Themis will be eligible to receive up to €200M in milestones, in addition to […]

August 22, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Clara Rodríguez Fernández

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

Startup Scout 12 Apr 2019

This Biotech Writes Long DNA Molecules From Scratch

Writing long stretches of DNA is difficult and expensive. The Austrian biotech Ribbon Biolabs is combining automation with enzymes to make the process easier, with the prospect of improving synthetic biology applications. Mission: To synthesize DNA molecules with a length of up to 10,000 base pairs (the building blocks of DNA). This target is five […]

April 12, 2019 - 3 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

hookipa cancer vaccine hiv cytomegalovirus

News and Trends 28 Feb 2019

Austrian Biotech Raises €33.2M to Fund Cancer Vaccines

A Series D round of €33.2M ($37.4M) is to help the biotech Hookipa advance the clinical development of therapeutic vaccines for virus-based cancers, as well as a prophylactic vaccine for cytomegalovirus, which can infect patients undergoing organ transplants. Currently at the preclinical stage, Hookipa’s therapeutic vaccines are designed to tackle cancers that are caused […]

February 28, 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

chikungunya virus mosquito Themis bioscience

News and Trends 6 Nov 2018

First Potential Vaccine for Chikungunya Virus Flies Through Phase II

The mosquito-borne chikungunya virus may one day have a vaccine, as an Austrian biotech’s lead candidate gets positive results in Phase II. Themis Bioscience measured the blood levels of antibodies against the company’s vaccine in 263 healthy volunteers. Four weeks after injections of its lead candidate vaccine, the participants had produced antibodies to protect themselves […]

November 6, 2018 - 2 minutesmins - By Jonathan Smith

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