This week in drug discovery (26-30 September)
News round-up by DDW Editor Reece Armstrong.
An interesting week across the board for the pharma sector with the first biologic for severe asthma approved in the EU. Elsewhere researchers have discovered new ways of identifying cancer cells and a manufacturing system could advance the development and production of cell and gene therapies.
First and only biologic approved in the EU in patients with severe asthma
AstraZeneca’s Tezspire (tezepelumab) has been approved in the European Union as an add-on maintenance treatment in patients 12 years and older with severe asthma who are inadequately controlled with high dose inhaled corticosteroids plus another medicinal product.
Up to 8 recipients to be awarded grants for genomic research
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has released a call for registrations for its SPRI Grants for Genomic Research, which the company describes as part of its commitment to the next generation of researchers and scientists.
Study develops new way of identifying cancer cells
A new method of separating cancer cells from non-cancer cells has been developed by researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in a boost for those working to better understand cancer biology using single-cell mRNA sequencing.
Malaria specialists secure $1.5m investment round
US biotechnology start-up LivFul has secured a $1.5m investment to expand its work saving lives from malaria and other insect-borne diseases, and to support the company’s growth plans.
Cell analysis system could streamline gene therapy manufacturing
PerkinElmer has launched the Cellaca PLX Image Cytometry System, a first-of-its-kind benchtop platform that enables researchers to assess multiple Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) of cell samples in a single automated workflow, including cell identity, quality and quantity.