Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk

Basilea lands US$6m CARB X boost for novel antibiotic

Amid chronic under-investments in new antibacterial weapons, Basilea Pharmaceutica has secured an additional US$6 million from CARB‑X to fund the first‑in‑human Phase I trial of a novel Gram‑negative antibiotic now entering early clinical development. The compound BAL2420 targets LptA, part of the lipopolysaccharide transport bridge that Gram negative bacteria rely on to build their outer membrane.

Portugal’s biotech industry is growing up

For years, Portugal sat just outside Europe’s main biotech conversation: scientifically credible, strong in research, but too small, too fragmented and too thinly financed to compete with the established hubs in Switzerland, the UK, France, Germany or the Nordics. That view is becoming harder to defend. Portugal still does not have the scale of Europe’s top biotech markets, but it is building something more durable than a collection of isolated startups.

The rollercoaster ride stopps and danish IO Biotech goes bust

The Copenhagen-based cancer immunotherapy company IO Biotech has come to an abrupt end, marking one of the more sobering recent failures in Europe’s mid-cap biotech segment. Founded in 2019, the company had sought to position itself at the forefront of therapeutic cancer vaccines, but a decisive clinical and regulatory setback ultimately proved insurmountable.

Europe’s pivotal choice: Vaccination is health security

The COVID 19 pandemic demonstrated that Europe can move fast, take risk, and deliver world class vaccines when political will, science and capital are aligned. Treating vaccines as strategic assets, backed by sustained political and financial support, will be key to maintaining Europe’s long-term investment in public health and innovation.