Genetic “editing” a new tool to fight inherited disease Blog Post

Researchers at the Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, the Hospital Sant Joan de Deu and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) have participated in a study, led by Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte of the Gene Expression Laboratory at California’s Salk Institute, that uses molecular scissors to remove mitochondrial mutations in mouse eggs. In the study, published today in the journal Cell (doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.03.051), researchers developed a simple technique to eliminate mitochondrial mutations in eggs or embryos at an early stage of development.

Ordesa leads the Smartfoods project Blog Post

The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) has granted the Smartfoods industrial research project for the development of smart food to a consortium of companies led by Ordesa from this R&D&i center at Parc Científic de Barcelona.The aim of this research is the design of foods and screening tests that will help reduce the risk of some of the most frequently occurring diseases that will cause 3 of every 4 deaths in 2020.

Avizorex Pharma announces Grant of U.S. Patent for its treatment of dry eye syndrome Blog Post

Avizorex Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for Dry Eye Disease, has announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for compositions and methods of treatment covering AVX-012, a topical treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) with a new mechanism of action currently undergoing late-stage preclinical studies. Avizorex Pharma is an ophthalmology biotech backed by Inveready Venture Capital with headquarters in Elche (Alicante, Spain) and offices at Barcelona Science Park (PCB).

 

Inveready enters biotech Agrasys after leading an increase of capital Blog Post

Inveready has invested 500,000 euros in the biotech Agrasys, based at the Parc Cientific de Barcelona, through its capital fund Inveready Invierte Biotech II.  With this contribution, the venture capital investment group has become owner of  a stake of the company, of which Uninvest, a management company, is also part of, after having joined the group in 2008, and which, on this occasion, has materialized its support -through its R & D  Unifondo fund-  entering the venture jointly with the development partners involved in the increase of capital.

 

Iproteos closes the first ‘crowdfunding’ campaign of the Spanish biotech sector Blog Post

The biotech Iproteos -located at the Parc Cientific de Barcelona- has managed to successfully close an innovative funding campaign based on equity crowdfunding with the aim of raising € 100,000 for the development of a new drug to stop progression and reverse the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia: IPR019. The funds raised will allow the biotech -a spin-off from the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) – complete the preclinical non-regulatory stage of the compound to begin clinical trials in 2016.

 

SOM Biotech develops a drug for Amyloidosis in collaboration with the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute Blog Post

The and the biopharmaceutical , based at the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), have signed an agreement to jointly develop the clinical phase of a drug for transthyretin Amyloidosis (ATTR). The collaboration starts with the execution of a proof of concept in 20 healthy voluntiers and patients affected by the polineuropatic form of the disease – which will confirm the efficacy and safety of compound SOM0226. The product, a repositioned drug developed by SOM Biotech, may be effective for all variants of the ATTR and has been designated recently orphan drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of United States.

 

Agrasys launches to the market the first newly created cereal in the world for human consumption Blog Post

Agrasys, a spin-off of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) located at the Barcelona Science Park, has launched to the market Tritordeum, the first newly created cereal marketed in the world for human consumption. The official presentation took place at Hotel Claris in Barcelona, with a welcome by members of Agrasys and the participation of master baker Josep A. Ribas, author of the Cruixent artisan breads bakery, and Chef Josep M. Freixa, presently head of the Tradició Freixa Restaurant (awarded with a Michelin star).

Identifiquen nous gens relacionats amb el risc de fractures i d’osteoporosiTO TRANSLATE >>> Blog Post

Els professors Daniel Grinberg, Susana Balcells i Roser Urreizti, del Departament de Genètica i de l’Institut de Biomedicina de la UB (IBUB) –present al Parc Científic de Barcelona– en col·laboració amb l’Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital del Mar (IMIM), han participat en un estudi internacional per identificar nous gens que influeixen en el risc de desenvolupar osteoporosi i fractures òssies. En la recerca, que han liderat Fernando Rivadeneira i Karol Estrada, del Centre Mèdic Erasme, a Rotterdam (Països Baixos), hi han col·laborat equips científics de 50 centres d’Europa, Amèrica del Nord, Àsia i Austràlia.