Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk

Astorg spins off Thermo Fisher’s microbiology arm

Pan-European private‑equity firm Astorg has agreed to acquire Thermo Fisher Scientific’s global microbiology business for about US$1.08bn, carving it out into a standalone platform focused on antimicrobial susceptibility testing and microbiology diagnostics. The investment is being made through Astorg VIII, the firm’s latest flagship buy‑out fund.

CureVac takes Moderna to court over mRNA vaccine patents

CureVac has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Moderna of patent infringement over its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax. The German biotech claims that Moderna used its proprietary methods for stabilising messenger RNA without authorisation and is seeking monetary damages framed as royalties on Spikevax sales.

Evonik: €80m for biopharma CDMO capacity in Slovakia

Evonik is investing €80 million in its fermentation plant in Slovakia, pushing the Group’s structural transformation forward with a major investment in biotechnology. Alongside spider‑silk proteins from Amsilk, the site is set to offer a broader CDMO portfolio for the pharmaceutical industry.

Kurma Partners closes Biofund IV at €215M, giving European biotech a fresh specialist pool of capital

Kurma Partners has closed Biofund IV at €215 million, giving European biotech founders a meaningful new source of capital even though the vehicle came in below the €250 million target Kurma set when it launched the fund in October 2024. At first close, Kurma had raised €140 million and said Biofund IV would back 16 to 20 companies, building on the strategy it used in earlier funds.

Can biotech finally fix infertility?

According to the WHO, one adult in six ­globally is affected by infertility, but beyond this statistic,­ ­infertility is best understood as a couple’s problem, even when the under­lying biology sits with one partner. The way we currently ­handle infertility issues is more about bypassing biology through procedure, with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) as its backbone. But while IVF is indispensable, success rates still vary, pushing biotech to step in and find new solutions.