At a time of global transition for life sciences, with China stepping up the pace of innovation and the U.S. adopting protectionist policies, the health innovation region in Catalonia, Spain, is emerging as one of the most dynamic hubs in Europe. Last year, the region, centered on Barcelona, saw growth of 8.3% over 2024, and there are now 1,650 companies, including 423 biotechs, 259 digital health specialists and 238 med-techs.
After 118 years as a private company, dermatology specialist Leo Pharma A/S is poised to complete an IPO after reporting a full-year net profit for the first time since 2018.
Newco Vesalic Ltd. has formed to take forward research indicating extracellular vesicles secreted by skeletal muscle cells carry toxic payloads that are key drivers of motor neuron diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The discovery of this process, which is largely external to the brain and the central nervous system, has opened up new targeting possibilities, and Vesalic is now working on in vivo studies to demonstrate preclinical proof of concept.
Venture capital firms and research institutions have launched the European Life Science Coalition in a bid to strengthen Europe’s VC ecosystem by mobilizing more private and public investment.
Venture capital firms and research institutions have launched the European Life Science Coalition in a bid to strengthen Europe’s VC ecosystem by mobilizing more private and public investment.
The pressure to replace animal testing with human-relevant assays that are more predictive of human-drug responses has now reached a tipping point, and there is a movement toward greater acceptance of these potentially more translatable tests.
Microbiome specialist Microbiotica Ltd. announced positive data from a phase Ib study of MB-310, an orally administered live biotherapeutic product for treating ulcerative colitis, with 12 of 19 treated patients achieving clinical remission, compared to three of 10 patients in the placebo arm.
Breye Therapeutics ApS reported positive phase Ib data for its oral gap junction modifier drug danegaptide in diabetic retinopathy and is now raising a €50 million (US$59.6 million) series A round to move into the next phase of development.
After keeping the faith when it failed in the Modify phase III trial in October 2021, Idorsia Ltd. now has a clear route to market for lucerastat, an oral therapy for Fabry disease.
Newco ALTx Therapeutics Ltd. has launched with a £12.55 million (US$17.1 million) seed round to develop inhibitors of the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway, by which 10% to 15% of cancers become immortal.
