PDC Therapeutics SA has passed the first test of its novel nanocarrier technology, getting approval to move up from the initial dose in the phase I trial of lead product RS-0139, which targets a docetaxel payload to tumors expressing the integrin receptor.

A study published in Human Reproduction showed no developmental delays in children conceived using capacitation-in vitro maturation (CAPA-IVM) technique developed by Lavima Fertility Inc. compared to those born through conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). Researchers presented the results at a July 6 session of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Milan, Italy.

Hot on the heels of a groundbreaking deal brokered by the U.K.’s NICE to finance an antibiotic with a subscription-style payment plan, three European life sciences companies have formed a joint venture (JV) to create next-generation antimicrobials and diagnostics to fight antimicrobial resistance.

Oxford University has opened the doors to its new Pandemic Sciences Institute, a £100 million (US$119.5 million) initiative to build on the research and experience of COVID-19, to counter future pandemic threats.

European biotechnology firms engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutics raised up to $2.15 billion in disclosed equity transactions during the second quarter, a drop of 36% on the same period of 2021. The closure of the IPO window was a major factor in the decline, but the completion of two sizeable special purpose acquisition company deals made up some of the shortfall. Listed firms raised slightly more in Q2 2022 than they did in the same period last year. Venture capital, although the single biggest source of equity funding during the quarter, was also down on the same period last year.

A French public-private consortium of seven med-tech companies, research institutes and specialist cancer hospitals is launching a new project to standardize and improve access to health care data for cancer research. Paris-based Arkhn SAS and Owkin SAS joined forces with INRIA, the French national institute for research in digital science and technology, to launch Oncolab.

Companies in the device and diagnostics spaces are familiar with how government agencies react to acquisitions that bolster the acquiring company’s product pipeline, but vertical mergers provoke a different set of regulatory concerns. The European Commission (EC) recently updated its guidelines for vertical agreements, a development that could hamper some EU corporate activity going forward.

Envision Technologies BV’s latest artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart glasses for the blind and visually impaired are designed to help with reading, scanning faces and navigating everyday tasks. This visual assistant was introduced at California State University Northridge (CSUN) 2022 Assistive Technology Conference. Envision has updated its AI-based platform and ecosystem with improved optical character recognition (OCR) and better text recognition with contextual intelligence.