EU pharma investment boost
A provisional agreement has been reached on revamping the European Union’s pharmaceutical policy framework in a bid to boost competitiveness, innovation and security of supply. The reform package revises the current EU rules, which are over 20 years old.
Research finds that human heart muscle cells regrow
Heart muscle cells can regrow after a heart attack, opening up the possibility of new regenerative treatments for cardiovascular disease, claim Australian researchers.
Sabic to sell European Petrochemicals and Engineering Thermoplastics businesses
The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) has agreed to sell its European Petrochemicals business to Aequita and its Engineering Thermoplastics (ETP) business in the Americas and Europe to Mutares, for a total combined enterprise value of $950m.
EU moves forward on GM plants
EU Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on the Commission’s proposal on new genomic techniques (NGTs) – techniques that alter the genetic material of an organism. The proposal is designed to make the EU food system more secure and sustainable through climate- and pest-resistant plants that give higher yields and require less fertilisers and pesticides.
Natural variation can thwart antibody therapies
Minor variations in people’s genes can render antibody therapies ineffective, according to researchers in Switzerland who investigated protein variants in or near locations where an antibody therapy interacts with its target.
AI and the art of the possible
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to facilitate radical change in everything, from fundamental research and application development, through to supply chains.
Biodegradable plastics: New insights to create better products
Plastics labelled as ‘home compostable’ all too frequently do not degrade as intended. Now, new research is digging deeper into our compost bins to find out why that might be. And the insights are shedding light on how to design better biodegradable plastics. Jon Evans reports
Active biodegradable food packaging
The hunt is on for alternatives to petroleum-based plastics for food packaging, especially ones that have the potential to enhance food safety and extend the shelf life of meat products.
Aurora Therapeutics aims for personalised CRISPR therapies
CRISPR pioneers Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna and Fyodor Urnov have launched a new company Aurora Therapeutics to develop and commercialise personalised gene editing therapies for patients with rare diseases.