Posts by Sandra Ansanay-Alex
Merck inaugurates its Biotech Development Centre in Corsier-sur-Vevey
German laboratory Merck invested CHF 250 million in Corsier-sur-Vevey (VD). The 15,700 m2 building will combine research and production of biotechnology drugs and employ 250 people. The pharmaceutical company has invested more than 250 million Swiss francs in this “Biotech Development Centre”. It is dedicated to the development and production of active ingredients for…
Read MoreBIO US – San Diego
BIO International Convention, the premier event for the biotechnology industry, takes place from 22 to 25 June 2026 in San Diego (USA) The BIO International Convention is the largest and most comprehensive event for biotechnology, representing the full ecosystem of biotech with 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe.Whether you work at a public pharmaceutical…
Read MoreSelexis SA and KBI Biopharma now operate as one organisation
Selexis, an EFPL startup, was founded in 2001 before being acquired by the Japanese group JSR Life Sciences. KBI Biopharma, another company owned by JSR, inaugurated its factory in 2022 at Plan les Ouates in Geneva and from now on operates as one with Selexis. The activity is consolidated under the KBI Biopharma name. …
Read MoreLonza acquires Dutch biotech company Synaffix
The Valais-based pharmaceutical subcontractor will pay an initial €100 million, with subsequent milestone payments of up to a further €60 million. The deal will strengthen Lonza’s portfolio of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) through the integration of Synaffix’s platform. According to a recent estimate relayed by Lonza, the ADC market is set to pass the…
Read MoreDriving Growth and Innovation: Yassin Nahi’s Insights on the Biotech Cluster in Western Switzerland
The Swiss Biotech Report 2023 recently unveiled an impressive portrait of Switzerland’s thriving biotech sector. With record revenues of CHF 6.8 billion (USD 7.5 billion), and fundraising of CHF 1.3 billion (USD 1.5 billion), the report highlighted the remarkable growth and resilience of Switzerland amidst global challenges. Indeed, with approximately 47,000 employees, the industry serves as…
Read MoreCSEM and MOMM Diagnostics partner to develop a rapid test for preeclampsia
Among the various pregnancy complications, one of the most serious and potentially life-threatening conditions is preeclampsia affecting 3 to 8% of pregnant women. It is characterized by high blood pressure and protein leakage in the urine, which can lead to kidney failure, liver failure, seizures, stroke and even death. Women with a family history of…
Read MoreHow the flu virus hacks our cells
A UNIGE team has discovered how the influenza A virus hijacks the mechanism for importing iron into cells to invade its host. Influenza epidemics, caused by influenza A or B viruses, result in acute respiratory infection. They kill half a million people worldwide every year. These viruses can also wreak havoc on animals, as…
Read MoreImpossible Materials wins CHF 150,000
After raising CHF 3.8 Million last month, the Fribourg-based startup won the third and final stage of the Venture Kick programme. The company develops sustainable, cellulose-based white pigments that could replace titanium dioxide (TiO2). The startup also creates other plant-based ingredients for a broad range of industrially manufactured products that allow for more sustainable…
Read MoreArtiria receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for its deflectable guidewire for surgery
Artiria Medical, a Vaud-based neurovascular MedTech company, announces that its real-time deflectable guidewire has been granted the 510(k) clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This significant milestone opens a new pathway to a more advanced and effective approach to stroke treatment and related neurovascular and peripheral conditions. Artiria’s real-time…
Read MoreA paraplegic controls his movements with his mind
Neuroscientists and neurosurgeons from EPFL/CHUV/UNIL and CEA/CHUGA/UGA report in the journal Nature that they have re-established communication between the brain and the spinal cord with a wireless digital bridge, allowing a paralyzed person to walk again naturally. “We have developed a wireless digital bridge between the brain and the spinal cord using Brain-Computer…
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