European Biotechnology Magazine 3/2022

Berlin, 22.09.2022 

The 2004 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was granted for the discovery of the ubiquitin degradation pathway of proteins, while seminal work in the field happened decades earlier. But only recently have over 15 compounds in a new drug class based on ubiquitination truly entered clinical development. What are known as PROTACs and ‘molecular glues’ are now driving a dynamic field, and the pharmaceuticals industry is throwing a lot of funding at it. The ability to mark disease-causing protein targets for destruction could soon help treat even ‘undruggable’ conditions.

In this issue:

Solving the gas crisis
Fossil fuel use is driving climate change. Almost 80% of today’s anthropogenic CO2 emissions can be traced back to the burning of oil, coal or natural gas. To help preserve existing infrastructure, bioengineers are working to make combustion in cars, aircraft and power plants CO2-neutral. We took a look at the most advanced technologies in the field.

Inflammation
Paris-based public company Abivax SA has bagged €50m to push development in its promising Phase III candidate obefazimod in autoimmune diseases, starting with ulcerative colitis. We spoke with CEO Hartmut Ehrlich about how despite the cash injection, the
trials still face financing challenges.

Interview
Prof. Dr Hartmut Ehrlich, CEO, Abivax SA, Paris

Special
CROs & CDMOs

This way to the European Biotechnology Magazine 3/2022.