News for October 2020

News Archive

Russian application of Sputnik V vaccine for WHO vaccine prequalification among the first applications submitted Russian application of Sputnik V vaccine for WHO vaccine prequalification among the first applications submitted

Moscow, October 27, 2020 – The Russian Direct Investment Fund, (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund), has submitted applications to the World Health Organization (WHO) for accelerated registration (Emergency Use Listing, EUL) and prequalification of the world’s first registered vaccine against the coronavirus Sputnik V, which is based on a well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors. The Russian Federation has become one of the first countries to apply to WHO for prequalification of its vaccine against the novel coronavirus infection.

Open Orphan/hVIVO Signs Contract with UK Government for the Development of a COVID-19 Human Challenge Study Model Open Orphan/hVIVO Signs Contract with UK Government for the Development of a COVID-19 Human Challenge Study Model

COVID-19 human challenge study model to safely speed up development of an efficacious vaccine. hVIVO has the world’s leading portfolio of 8 human challenge study models developed to date and has safely run more human challenge studies than any other company globally

Optibrium Launches Cerella, a Novel Artificial Intelligence Platform for Active Learning in Drug Discovery Optibrium Launches Cerella, a Novel Artificial Intelligence Platform for Active Learning in Drug Discovery

Cerella is proven to accelerate drug discovery and increase confidence in lead optimisation

bit.bio joins forces with maths institute to find the ‘operating system of life’ bit.bio joins forces with maths institute to find the ‘operating system of life’

Cell coding startup and science institute partner on a moonshot mission to create every human cell type for biomedical research and therapy

British companies receive R&D boost from Prince Albert’s Royal Commission amid global uncertainty British companies receive R&D boost from Prince Albert’s Royal Commission amid global uncertainty

Funding for young researchers to conduct pioneering R&D is helping companies to innovate, unhampered by the Covid-19 uncertainty. Innovations supported include new method for developing drugs to combat pandemics such as Covid-19, novel medicines for treating chronic pain, and a new insulation technique to make homes more energy-efficient. Applications for the 2021 Industrial Fellowships are now open.

Touchlight appoints Karen Fallen as CEO of Touchlight DNA Services Touchlight appoints Karen Fallen as CEO of Touchlight DNA Services

Former Lonza President of Biologics Manufacturing joins to continue rapid expansion of DNA contract manufacturing; Touchlight’s synthetic dbDNA in high demand as starting material in the manufacture of advanced therapies such as mRNA vaccines and cell and gene therapies

Oncimmune and Medicines Discovery Catapult awarded UK Government funding for development of an Infectious Disease research tool for use in COVID-19 Oncimmune and Medicines Discovery Catapult awarded UK Government funding for development of an Infectious Disease research tool for use in COVID-19

Validated research tool to be used to predict disease severity and individual therapeutic response to COVID-19 in aid of rapid vaccine and drug development

Touchlight Genetics and Stonehaven Incubate form Touchlight Aquaculture Touchlight Genetics and Stonehaven Incubate form Touchlight Aquaculture

The new company will allow accelerated commercial scalability of DNA vaccines in the aquaculture industry

Could a poo transplant one day be the secret of eternal youth?

Faecal transplants could one day be used as a therapy to restore cognitive function in the elderly – according to new research from the University of East Anglia, the University of Florence and the Quadram Institute