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We sit down with Sepmag's Lluís M. Martinez, Founder & CSO, and Josep-Maria Simó, Managing Director, to discuss the current state and future of magnetic separation technology. < Back Magnetic Bead Separation: More Than Just a Magnet We sit down with Sepmag's Lluís M. Martinez, Founder & CSO, and Josep-Maria Simó, Managing Director, to discuss the current state and future of magnetic separation technology. Magnetic bead separation has become a cornerstone technique in life science research and industrial applications, enabling the isolation of proteins, nucleic acids, cells, and other biomolecules with high specificity and efficiency. Despite its widespread adoption, many researchers encounter inconsistent results, leading to frustration and inefficiencies. The root cause of these inconsistencies often lies in an incomplete understanding of the three equally critical components required for effective magnetic bead separation: The magnetic bead The ligand The magnetic bead separator To guide us to success with magnetic bead separation, we spoke with Lluís M. Martinez, Founder & CSO, and Josep-Maria Simó, Managing Director, at Barcelona-based Sepmag , to understand the challenges of traditional approaches, and how advancements in magnetic separation technology are revolutionizing the field. Applications for Life Science Research The benefits of advanced magnetic separation technology extend across a wide range of applications, aimed at improving efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability. Cell Isolation Magnetic bead separation is widely used to isolate specific cell populations from complex mixtures, such as blood or tissue samples. In immunotherapy research, scientists isolate CD4+ or CD8+ T cells from patient blood samples to study immune responses or develop CAR-T cell therapies. Protein Purification Optimized magnetic separation enables higher purity and recovery rates of target proteins, a critical step in drug development and biochemical research. For example, in biopharmaceutical production, researchers use magnetic beads coated with antibodies to isolate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from cell culture supernatants. Nucleic Acid Extraction Advanced magnetic separation systems enable efficient isolation of DNA and RNA, ensuring high yield and purity even from complex clinical samples. In liquid biopsy testing, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and RNA are extracted from patient blood samples to detect cancer-related mutations. Because these nucleic acids are often present in very low concentrations, a constant magnetic force ensures consistent separation, minimising loss and maximising sensitivity. Diagnostics Consistent and reproducible separations are essential for diagnostic assays, where precision and reliability directly impact patient outcomes. Magnetic bead-based immunoassays are widely used in point-of-care testing for infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. However, in order for magnetic bead separation to be effective across these applications—and many more—scientists must truly understand how the separation process works in order to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of their research. The Three Pillars of Magnetic Bead Separation 1. The Magnetic Bead: The Foundation of the Process Magnetic beads are the workhorses of separation protocols. Typically composed of superparamagnetic materials, beads exhibit strong magnetic responsiveness in the presence of a magnetic field. Importantly, they retain no residual magnetism once the field is removed—allowing the magnetic beads to move when a magnetic force is applied, and enable resuspension when no magnetic field is present. However, not all magnetic bead suspensions are equal. The size, surface chemistry, and magnetic properties of the beads can significantly impact separation efficiency. Additionally, the bead concentration and buffer composition also play a critical role. For instance, smaller beads may offer higher surface area for ligand binding but require longer separation times due to slower migration. Conversely, larger beads may separate faster, but risk aggregation if the magnetic force is too strong. Reducing the bead concentration implies a larger separation time, and the buffer composition will also have a significant influence. The separation process is a competition between magnetic and drag force, where viscosity (directly related to temperature) plays a major role, as does the ionicity of the medium. 2. The Ligand: Ensuring Specificity and Binding Efficiency The ligand is the molecule attached to the magnetic bead that confers specificity to the separation process. Whether it’s an antibody, nucleic acid probe, or affinity tag, the ligand must exhibit high affinity and specificity for the target molecule, with a well-designed ligand ensuring that the target is efficiently captured, while minimizing non-specific binding. However, even the most perfect ligand can fail if it is not properly conjugated to the magnetic bead. Inconsistent conjugation can lead to uneven binding capacity, reducing the overall yield and reproducibility of the separation. The ligand’s performance can be influenced by buffer composition, pH, and temperature, further demanding the need for careful optimization. The separation process must also balance separation times and retention forces to avoid bead loss or irreversible aggregation, both of which are known to introduce inconsistencies during the conjugation process. 3. The Magnetic Bead Separator: The Tool That Makes It All Work The magnetic bead separator is often the most overlooked component of the separation process, yet it plays a pivotal role in determining the success of the protocol. Failure in determining the right separation time results in the loss of magnetic beads: weak magnetic retention forces may also lead to the beads being carried away when the supernatant is removed, whilst excessive magnetic force may generate clumps of beads and/or damage the captured cells. Traditional separators, such as simple permanent magnets, generate irregular magnetic fields where the force varies significantly with distance from the magnet with this variability leading to inconsistent bead migration. Beads near the magnet are captured quickly and retained with strong magnetic force, while those farther away move more slowly because the force they experience is very weak. Over even relatively short distances, the magnetic force may fail to overcome the thermal agitation and the drag force, completely preventing the capture of the beads. As a result, many users discard using magnetic separation for processing involving larger volumes. When working with smaller volumes, users often rely on subjective, time-based protocols that fail to account for changes in bead concentration, buffer viscosity, or vessel geometry, leading to inconsistent protocols when the magnet or the vessel is changed. Feature Traditional Separators Smart Magnetic Bead Separators Magnetic Force Distribution Irregular, weakens with distance Constant across the separation area Bead Migration Inconsistent; beads near the magnet move faster, while others may not move at all Uniform movement for all beads Volume Handling Struggles with larger volumes; inefficient capture Works consistently across different volumes Protocol Reproducibility Time-based, inconsistent when vessel or conditions change Transferable by adjusting separation time Real-Time Monitoring Not available Measures opacity changes for precise separation timing Buffer Composition Sensitivity Low; variations often unnoticed High; allows quantification of buffer effects Lot-to-Lot Consistency Difficult to monitor Detects variations via time-dependent opacity changes Table 1: Comparison of traditional magnetic separators vs smart magnetic bead separators. Smart magnetic bead separators address these challenges by focusing on the key parameter of the process: generating a constant magnetic force across the entire separation area. This ensures that all beads experience the same force, regardless of their position in the vessel, leading to more predictable and reproducible separations. A constant magnetic force implies all the beads in a specific suspension will move at the same speed, regardless of the volume. Protocols can be transferred to different vessels simply by adjusting the separation time to account for the length of the path travelled by the farthest magnetic beads. Additionally, smart systems incorporate real-time monitoring capabilities. Changes to the opacity of the suspension allow for the objective and precise determination of the separation time for any suspension and vessel—as magnetic beads move at the same speed under constant magnetic force, any variations in buffer composition become highly detectable. This enables researchers to quantify the impact of changes in magnetic beads and buffers on the magnetic separation process, giving manufacturers a powerful tool to check the lot-to-lot consistency, and serving as an early alert for changes in the suspension. Smart Magnetic Bead Separation Technology The last 20 years of development in magnetic bead separation technology have addressed many of the limitations of traditional methods, allowing users to adopt a well-controlled process at any volume; from microliter well-plates to tens of liters in carboys and bioreactors. At Sepmag, we encourage our clients to focus on the following three key principles, and have seen firsthand how smart magnetic bead systems have transformed the way researchers approach magnetic bead separation: Constant Magnetic Force : Uniform magnetic force across the separation area ensures that all beads migrate at the same speed, reducing the risk of aggregation and improving reproducibility. Real-Time Monitoring : Optical monitoring allows users to track the separation process in real time, generating separation curves that provide objective data on bead migration kinetics, calculates separation times and provides detailed information about the magnetic bead suspension composition. Process Standardization : Defining separation protocols in terms of magnetic force rather than time enables the development of universal methods that can be applied across different scales and applications. For a given magnetic bead suspension, a specific magnetic force determines a separation speed which predicts the separation times of different volumes to facilitate the planning of experiments and procedures in advance. Enhancing Separation with Sepmag As life science research continues to advance, the demand for precise, reproducible, and scalable separation methods will only grow. Recent innovations in magnetic separation technology have made a significant step forward to meet demands across scientific discovery and industrial applications. At Sepmag, we provide solutions across small scale, large scale and customised magnetic separation. Our technology provides monitoring and measuring in real time, can be fully automated, and works with magnetic beads from all the major manufacturers. If you would like to learn more about magnetic separation technology, and how it can progress your research and processing challenges, reach out to Lluís M. Martinez and Josep-Maria Simó or visit the Sepmag website . Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

< Back Defrosting Pandora’s Box: Eukaryotic Viruses Revived as Permafrost Melts The Claverie group reveal thirteen newly discovered 'zombie viruses' from ancient samples of Siberian permafrost. Last year, Jean-Michel Claverie and his research group in Information Genomique and Structurale at Aix Marseille University released ‘An update on Eukaryotic Viruses Revived from Ancient Permafrost’. Published in Viruses, the paper revealed thirteen newly discovered viral isolates from ancient samples of Siberian permafrost. Crucially, the study confirms the ability of these viruses to remain infectious after being frozen for over 48,500 years. This research followed on from the Claverie group’s previous findings in 2014 and 2015 from the Claverie group of two fully infectious eukaryotic viruses from a 30,000 year old permafrost sample in 2014 and 2015 . As noted in the most recent paper, the lack of new isolates uncovered since 2015 is not necessarily indicative of a lack of infectious viruses. The group reports findings of numerous infectious eukaryotic viruses, however they remain to be genomically categorised. The thirteen viral isolates reveal another concern as a result of global warming. Bacterial and eukaryotic viruses up to 48,500 years old have been reactivated by the group, and as the permafrost which contains them melts, there is a risk that these viruses will be revived outside of the lab. As permafrost melts Global rising temperatures act on permafrost much like a microwave on defrost setting. As the Earth warms, permafrost thaws and ice becomes liquid water. This change of state triggers the metabolic reactivation of microorganisms in the soil, such as bacteria, archaea and fungi. There can be two outcomes from this reactivation. One is that defrosted, active microorganisms are able to decompose organic material into CO2 and methane gas, which then further adds to greenhouse gases and so rising global temperatures. Another, one which poses a more immediate public health threat, is the physical release and reactivation of so-called “zombie” bacteria and archaea which have been trapped in cryptobiosis (the state of metabolic inactivation organisms enter upon extreme climate conditions) in the permafrost. Activating ancient viruses For the defrosted bacteria, this health threat is not a major concern. Antibiotics are effective at targeting a range of bacterial infections as they generally work similarly between bacteria types meaning ancient bacteria are likely to be able to be treated with our modern antibiotics. Defrosted ancient viruses, on the other hand, may pose a much greater risk. Within modern viral infections, each different type of virus requires different vaccines or antiviral agents. This is because viruses often work in different ways, targeting different pathways in the body; viruses don’t have universally conserved druggable processes. Ancient viruses, despite being dormant in permafrost for tens of thousands of years, when woken from cryptobiosis could be equally tricky to protect against. An example of the havoc wreaked by such defrosted infectious diseases can be seen in the devastated reindeer populations in 2015 and 2016, which have been linked to the release of Bacillus anthracis spores from permafrost after exceptionally hot summers. Such devastation, according to Claverie, is not a small threat but a large hazard which we are quite likely to see as a result of melting permafrost. Knowing more about the potential strains that may be released as a result of permafrost defrosting due to climate change could act as some protection against them. Acanthamoeba safety Awakening ancient infectious bacteria and eukaryotes raises obvious safety concerns. Certain labs can facilitate exploration of viruses more safely due to their safety procedures. Another way to activate viruses without creating a risk of infection to humans/plants/animals is to use a species which is genetically very far removed. Acanthamoeba spp . was used by the Claverie group as the safest way to infect a species without risk of infection, due to its evolutionary distinction from the human/plant/animal genus. Acanthamoeba is useful not only for its safety but also for its ability to live in a multitude of environments: water taps, flowerpots, dust particles, marine waters and more. Detecting their viruses may be an indicator for other live viruses in a given setting. With this safety blanket in place, the Claverie group was able to reactivate thirteen viral isolates from the different samples. Seven of the thirteen isolates were found to be new members of the Pandoraviridae family. Each of the isolates are thought to be distinct both from each other and also contemporary viral strains, and using radiocarbon dating techniques, the oldest sample was dated as being more than 48,500 years old. After tens of thousands of years spent dormant in permafrost, large DNA viruses are still infectious to Acanthamoeba . Limits of Detection These findings, and unpublished findings from the same group, indicate a large population of potential viruses which could be reawakened as permafrost defrosts. However, the detection of positive viral cultures in the study was conducted using light microscopy. This means that smaller, non-lytic viruses are likely to have passed through microscopy studies undetected; there is likely an even greater population of viruses that can survive in ancient permafrost and more still which may exist that do not infect Acanthamoeba . Author Frances Briggs , freelance contributor Previous Next

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Teeing up for success. Keep your cell therapy quality goals on course. For cell therapy manufacturers, developing and implementing robust and reproducible workflows is critical to produce safe and effective therapies. Due to their impact on the safety, purity, and potency of the final therapeutic, raw materials—such as cell culture media, supplements, growth factors, and cell separation reagents—play a key role in helping manufacturers achieve this. Moreover, to keep development timelines on track, the chosen raw materials must meet the criteria for regulatory approval when transitioning to commercial production. In this article, we share insights to help you successfully navigate the complexity of raw material selection. This includes providing an overview of the latest raw material regulatory guidance, as well as exploring how a trusted supplier can provide support to help streamline the regulatory filing process. Discover the importance of taking a proactive approach to raw material selection and find out how choosing CGMP-manufactured solutions at the earliest stage can provide significant long-term benefits. To learn more about how you can unlock your edge in cell therapy, visit: thermofisher.com/performance First name Last name Country Email Company Job title I would like to speak with a technical sales specialist to learn more I acknowledge and agree to the use of my contact information to receive messages about offerings by BioFocus, its brands, affiliates and/or third-party partners, consistent with the BioFocus Privacy Policy. View privacy policy. Read article

< Back A New Way to Treat Anorexia? An appetite-stimulating protein has been shown to reverse anorexia in mice, offering new potential for treatment. Anorexia nervosa, commonly referred to as simply ‘anorexia’ is a serious disease - in the US, more than one person dies every hour . In today's society, around 10% of people with an eating disorder suffer from anorexia. Typically, people suffering with anorexia are in early adolescence and young adulthood. It’s a particularly difficult condition to treat because of the interplay between psychological and physiological factors, manifesting as the body essentially attempting to starve itself. In anorexia, the brain, due to complex underlying causes, urges food restriction even when the body is malnourished. Despite the seriousness of anorexia, the scary truth is that there is no simple way to treat it. There are no US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs; instead typical treatment paths involve simultaneously addressing both psychological and physical problems. However, recent research by Hui Chen et al. , has highlighted a potential new experimental treatment that may offer a new avenue for drug development. How a ‘hunger protein’ may offer potential for treating anorexia Acyl CoA binding protein (ACBP), is an appetite-stimulating protein conserved across all four eukaryotic kingdoms, namely Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and Protista, and in some eubacterial species. ACBP consists of four domains, each of which are shaped like a bowl and have a highly-exposed Acyl-CoA-binding site. In mice, anorexia caused by chronic resistant stress (CRS) was associated with a decrease in the level of ACBP secretion. In this latest research by Hui Chen et al., a chemical-genetic system was designed which could express more ACBP protein in mice. In transgenic mice, higher levels of ACBP were associated with a reduction in weight loss and a bigger appetite. In addition, the group discovered that daily intravenous injections of ACBP protein or subcutaneous implantation of pumps releasing ACBP mimicked the effect of the chemical-genetic system, offering alternative solutions. You may be wondering: “how does this help people who are struggling with anorexia”? The team took plasma samples of anorexia patients and found that those with lower levels of ACBP had a poorer prognosis compared to those who have a higher level of ACBP. So, as in mice, it seems our ACBP production level plays a key part in how our body regulates appetite level. Importantly, this discovery showcases the potential of ACBP as a target for drug development. Despite this correlation, the path to therapeutic development will not be straightforward because in humans the root cause of anorexia has a large mental health component, and while this treatment might help treat the disorder on a physical level, it does not target the typically complex underlying mental health issues at play within anorexia patients. Is there a possibility that ACBP-protein regulation could do the opposite effect and help treat obesity? Recent research by Bravo-San Pedro et al., explored the opposite to the Hui Chen research group, whereby they neutralised the effect of ACBP by way of systemic injection of neutralising monoclonal antibodies in mice. The results showed that injections gave an anorectic effect (reduced appetite). While GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like the increasingly popular Wegovy (semaglutide) are showing immense promise in treating obesity, continuing to explore different treatment avenues will be vital. Final thoughts Taken together, both these studies affirm the important role ACBP plays in appetite regulation and affirms the protein as an interesting target for medical research to further explore its use in treating eating disorders and chronic diseases like obesity. Author Polina Kosykh , freelance contributor Previous Next

AstraZeneca announces acquisition of EsoBiotec for $1 billion, aiming to advance its cell therapy capabilities with EsoBiotec's in vivo genetic programming platform for cancer and immune-mediated diseases. < Back AstraZeneca to Acquire EsoBiotec in $1B Deal to Drive Next-Generation Cell Therapy AstraZeneca announces acquisition of EsoBiotec for $1 billion, aiming to advance its cell therapy capabilities with EsoBiotec's in vivo genetic programming platform for cancer and immune-mediated diseases. AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) has announced the acquisition of EsoBiotec, a leader in pioneering in vivo cell therapies. The acquisition centers around EsoBiotec’s innovative Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform, which offers a transformative approach to cancer treatment and immune-mediated diseases. EsoBiotec's cutting-edge technology delivers genetic instructions directly to immune cells like T cells using targeted lentiviruses, enabling rapid, on-site programming without the need for cell removal and extended processing. This method can deliver cell therapies in a matter of minutes through a simple IV injection—reducing the complexities and timelines associated with traditional treatments that can take weeks. AstraZeneca’s Executive Vice President of Oncology Haematology R&D, Susan Galbraith, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “We are excited to advance EsoBiotec’s promising in vivo platform, which has the potential to transform cell therapy and enable greater patient access globally.” The deal, valued at up to $1 billion, includes an initial payment of $425 million and additional contingent payments based on development and regulatory milestones. The acquisition will bolster AstraZeneca's cell therapy portfolio, aligning with the company’s mission to expand access to transformative therapies worldwide. With operations based in Belgium, EsoBiotec will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

Cambridge-based precision medicine company introduces LiquiPath to support earlier detection of treatment-related toxicity across the drug development lifecycle. < Back Tagomics launches cfDNA platform for multi-organ drug safety monitoring Cambridge-based precision medicine company introduces LiquiPath to support earlier detection of treatment-related toxicity across the drug development lifecycle. Cambridge-based precision medicine company Tagomics has launched LiquiPath, a cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based platform designed to provide non-invasive, multi-organ monitoring of drug safety across preclinical and clinical development. The company says the platform, described as a first-in-class “liquid pathology” solution, could help drug developers identify treatment-related organ damage earlier and gain greater insight into where toxicity is occurring. Tagomics has also opened an early access programme for LiquiPath, inviting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to collaborate on priority applications, validation studies and future platform development. A new approach to drug safety monitoring Therapy-induced toxicity remains a significant challenge in drug development, contributing to clinical trial failures, programme delays, treatment interruptions and potentially irreversible organ damage. Current approaches to safety monitoring typically combine non-specific biomarkers, imaging and clinical symptoms. According to Tagomics, these methods can detect injury only after significant damage has already occurred. LiquiPath is designed to address this gap by analysing tissue-specific signals within circulating cfDNA. The platform combines Tagomics’ epigenetic technology, Activace, with proprietary cell-type-specific methylation atlases and deconvolution algorithms to trace cfDNA back to its tissue of origin. The approach could enable multiple tissues to be assessed from a single blood sample, providing a non-invasive means of monitoring treatment-related adverse effects. Potential applications across drug development Tagomics says LiquiPath has been developed for use across preclinical studies, clinical development and post-market surveillance. In preclinical research, its cross-species and organ-agnostic capabilities could support toxicity-risk stratification while potentially reducing reliance on histopathology and animal studies. In clinical development, the platform is intended to identify subclinical toxicity earlier, support prediction of adverse events and provide additional information for patient stratification. The company is already developing LiquiPath through projects with pharmaceutical partners including AstraZeneca, spanning multiple therapeutic modalities and stages of development. Dr Jack Kennefick, CEO and co-founder of Tagomics, said the launch represents a shift towards more precise approaches to monitoring treatment safety. “Drug safety monitoring has remained largely unchanged for decades, with many current tools detecting damage only after it has occurred. LiquiPath is designed to bring drug safety monitoring into the era of precision medicine, aiming to transform how toxicity is detected and understood across the drug development lifecycle.” He added that the platform could help drug developers “detect toxicity earlier and understand where injury is occurring”, supporting faster decision-making and potentially enabling patients to benefit from new therapies for longer. Expanding beyond cancer detection The LiquiPath launch also marks an expansion of Tagomics’ commercial offering beyond its work in cancer detection. The company, which was founded in 2021 as a spin-out from the University of Birmingham, has developed a multiomic platform combining epigenomics, genomics and fragmentomics with bioinformatics and machine learning. Tagomics has raised more than £9 million to date from investors including Calculus Capital, Illumina Ventures, IQ Capital, Agilent Ventures, Mercia Ventures, Meltwind, OMX Ventures and Start Codon. The company has launched a new brand identity and website alongside LiquiPath, reflecting its broader focus on organ health monitoring and the development of precision medicine applications. Tagomics is now inviting additional drug developers to participate in its LiquiPath early access programme as it works to validate applications and shape the platform's future capabilities. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

Cyclana Bio's PEMP study has received NHS ethics approval and begun enrolling women at two UK hospitals. If its tissue-first approach to drug discovery pays off, it could start answering questions that have gone unanswered for decades. < Back UK Biotech Cyclana Bio is Trying to Understand Endometriosis From the Tissue Up Cyclana Bio's PEMP study has received NHS ethics approval and begun enrolling women at two UK hospitals. If its tissue-first approach to drug discovery pays off, it could start answering questions that have gone unanswered for decades. Endometriosis affects an estimated 10% of reproductive age women worldwide . It is painful, progressive, and despite its prevalence, still poorly understood. The average time from a woman's first GP appointment with symptoms to a confirmed diagnosis is, according to Endometriosis UK, around nine years and four months. That figure has barely moved in years, not because clinicians aren't trying, but because the underlying biology of the condition remains unresolved. There are few reliable drug targets, limited treatment options beyond hormonal suppression or surgery, and almost no tools to distinguish between patients who will respond to one intervention versus another. Cyclana Bio is working to fill some of these gaps. It’s a Cambridge-based biotechnology company with a specific thesis: that the reason drug discovery in endometriosis has stalled is that it has largely looked in the wrong places. The company believes that focusing on the tissue level, rather than the intracellular mechanisms that have dominated research to date, may reveal the shared causal mechanisms the field has been searching for. On 19 May 2026, Cyclana Bio announced that it had received Health Research Authority and Research Ethics Committee approval for PEMP (Predicting Endometriosis Mechanisms and Populations), which is a 500-patient clinical observational study. First patients have already been recruited at Peterborough City Hospital, with the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge now also enrolling participants. What the PEMP study is actually trying to find out The design of the PEMP study reflects the depth of the unknowns Cyclana Bio is working against. Researchers will collect biopsies and menstrual fluid from both healthy women and those with endometriosis, using the donated material to build physiologically relevant 3D models of the disease in vitro. These models are intended to reveal the tissue-level dynamics, the structural and cellular behaviour, that distinguish endometriotic tissue from healthy tissue. A particular focus is the extracellular matrix, the scaffolding of proteins and molecules surrounding cells that governs how tissue forms, remodels, and responds to signals. Cyclana Bio says it has already confirmed the ECM's involvement in endometriosis. The PEMP data should tell the company whether that involvement points to a single, shared causal mechanism - one amenable to a universal treatment - or whether endometriosis is in practice several diseases wearing the same name, each requiring a different therapeutic approach. Both outcomes would be valuable. A shared mechanism would create a tractable drug target at significant scale. A stratified picture would explain why so many treatments have underperformed in unselected patient populations, and point toward precision medicine approaches that have a realistic chance of working. M. Saikat Banerjee, Chief Investigator at the Rosie Hospital, described the clinical context plainly. "Endometriosis is sadly a common condition and yet we know so little, and as a result women's suffering is further prolonged and treatments remain out of reach. With the use of the latest tools in molecular phenotyping and genomics, together with Cyclana Bio we are focused on correcting this problem through this observational study." M. Lukasz Polanski, Principal Investigator at Peterborough City Hospital, added: "Enrolling the first participant is a key milestone in this vital clinical study that will help uncover causal mechanisms of endometriosis — a condition where a better understanding is so desperately needed to direct drug development research and help millions of women struggling with this progressive disease that can affect every stage of their life." A tissue-first methodology in a field shaped by intracellular thinking Dr. Léa Wenger, CEO and Co-Founder of Cyclana Bio, is direct about what she sees as the problem with the existing landscape. "Our tissue-first methodology represents a promising alternative approach in drug discovery, allowing us to reveal shared underlying mechanisms between patients, closing the gap on drug discovery programmes focusing on intracellular mechanisms that have failed to generate optimal treatments." Wenger is also candid about the stakes and the pace. "Our ultimate goal is to address a need to better serve millions of women suffering with a debilitating condition and develop life-changing therapies. We are excited for the pace and flexibility permitted by doing deep scientific research within the start-up model which will hopefully get us to better solutions faster. The HRA approval and recruitment of the first patients in the PEMP trial mark key milestones in our journey towards this goal. I'd like to thank the research staff in both NHS sites, who have been pivotal in getting this set up." The study is being funded by Cyclana Bio's £5 million pre-seed round , which closed in 2025. The company says future financing will be used to expand to additional study sites and extend its whole-tissue methodology to other chronic inflammatory conditions that share similar tissue-level characteristics. The policy context: a strategy that finally names the problem The PEMP launch arrives weeks after the UK government published its Renewed Women's Health Strategy for England in April 2026. The document is unusually blunt for a government policy paper. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, opens it by acknowledging that "the NHS has a problem with basic, everyday sexism and an appalling culture of medical misogyny." The data backing that claim is hard to dispute: healthy life expectancy among women in England fell by 2.5 years between 2019–21 and 2022–24, and the UK dropped from 20th to 26th place on female life expectancy among OECD nations between 2000 and 2022. For endometriosis specifically, the strategy commits to eliminating the "diagnostic odyssey" facing women with gynaecological conditions, and identifies menstrual and gynaecological health as priority areas for the new NHS Online virtual hospital, due to launch in 2027. The NIHR R&D Innovation Catalyst, launched this year, will provide funding and wrap-around support for high-priority health innovations, with women's health explicitly listed as a focus area. Research is also getting direct attention. The strategy states that the NIHR will now only fund research that appropriately considers sex-based differences. That shift in funding conditions, though straightforward on paper, represents a change in the incentive structure for biotech companies working in women's health. It creates a floor below which research quality on sex-specific conditions is no longer funded, which should in theory pull more rigorous, disease-specific study designs, of the kind Cyclana Bio is pursuing with PEMP, into the mainstream. A pattern of progress, and its limits The Cyclana Bio announcement fits into a broader moment of activity in women's health science in England. At BioFocus, we have been tracking several of these developments. Earlier this month we reported on the launch of the FREEDOM trial by Calla Lily Clinical Care, which is evaluating a tampon-like intravaginal delivery device for progesterone in women at risk of pregnancy loss, a first-in-human study addressing what that company describes as an unmet clinical need created by the shortcomings of existing vaginal pessaries. Both FREEDOM and PEMP share a structural characteristic: they are early-phase, observational or safety studies funded by pre-seed capital, doing the evidential groundwork that is a prerequisite for any treatment that might eventually reach patients. We have also covered two developments in cervical cancer that illustrate how reproductive health innovation is moving across multiple fronts simultaneously. Our analysis of cross-sector collaboration towards cervical cancer elimination examined the systemic barriers that continue to prevent the WHO's 90-70-90 elimination targets from being met, despite the tools to meet them being largely available. Separately, we reported on a study published in The BMJ showing that a modified sanitary pad, worn during menstruation, could detect HPV with accuracy comparable to clinician-collected cervical samples, a finding with significant implications for screening access, particularly among women who avoid clinic-based procedures. These stories trace a common outline. The problems are well documented and the ambition to solve them is real, but the gap between a clinical study opening and a treatment reaching patients is wide, and for endometriosis in particular, that gap has been wide for a long time. Final remarks PEMP is an observational study, which means Cyclana Bio is in the information-gathering phase rather than testing a therapeutic. The 500-patient target is substantial for a pre-seed-funded biotech, and the involvement of NHS Foundation Trusts in Cambridge and Peterborough gives the study institutional credibility. But the path from biological insight to a drug that clears regulatory review is long and expensive, and the endometriosis field has disappointed before. What Cyclana Bio is attempting (building 3D tissue models from human biopsy and menstrual fluid to interrogate a disease that has resisted simpler approaches) is scientifically coherent and relatively novel. Whether it is sufficient to crack the problem is a question the PEMP data will begin, but not finish, answering. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

< Back Monkeypox: A Persistent Threat? What makes this outbreak more concerning from previous years, and what is its likelihood of developing into a pandemic? Earlier this summer, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a global health emergency. Since then, international headlines have been flooded with news of a new Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak, which has surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and several other countries in Africa, where cases had never been seen before. Mpox is a rare infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus . Those infected with the virus experience flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes) accompanied by a skin rash or mucosal lesions that last two to four weeks. It can be transmitted by close contact with the bodily fluids or lesions of an infected human or animal, as well as human-to-human transmission via respiratory droplets and sexual contact. The WHO declared the escalating global Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) from 2022 to 2023 and again in 2024. What makes this outbreak more concerning from previous years, and what is its likelihood of developing into a pandemic? The ongoing threat of Monkeypox The recent upsurge in Mpox cases has been a significant cause of concern for public health officials worldwide. An increasing number of cases have been reported in the United States , Canada, the United Kingdom , and some European countries . Between January 2022 and August 2024, more than 120 countries have documented cases of Mpox, with over 100,000 laboratory-confirmed cases and more than 220 deaths among those confirmed cases. The ongoing spread of the virus can be attributed to a combination of factors, including increased testing, improved surveillance, and the virus's ability to evade immunity. Studies have found that the monkeypox virus is evolving and mutating, which poses a challenge to acquired immunity and can potentially impact the effectiveness of vaccines. Clade I and II: a complicating factor There are two clades of MPXV: Clade I and Clade II. Clade I is the most severe form of the disease, with subtypes Ia and Ib. It is more contagious than Clade II and leads to severe illness and, in some cases, death. Clade II, a milder form of the disease, caused the 2022 Mpox outbreak. Clade Ib is the most recent cause for concern as it is behind the most recent monkeypox outbreak. This variant behaves differently from other types of the virus—it spreads mainly via human contact and has a faster rate of transmission. Cases with Clade Ib have been identified in the DRC and neighbouring countries in Africa but have not been detected outside the continent. Potential for a pandemic With the emergence of new virus variants, researchers are finding it increasingly important to understand the spread of this virus in order to curb its transmission. However, the current Mpox outbreak cannot be compared to the COVID-19 pandemic as the rate of transmission is significantly lower. The likelihood of it evolving into a pandemic is low. What happens next? The recent surge in Monkeypox cases has posed a significant threat to global public health. While the situation has stabilised in recent months, the potential for future resurgences and the emergence of more contagious variants remains a concern. Notably, the emergence of Clade Ib has raised concerns due to its potential to evade immunity and impact vaccine effectiveness. The continued coordination of international efforts in surveillance, testing, and vaccine development remains crucial in addressing this persistent threat. For more information on the current Mpox outbreak and the potential for vaccine development, read this article. Author Mariam Zaki , freelance contributor Previous Next

The funding will fuel ongoing clinical trials of VXB-241, a bivalent vaccine targeting both respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). < Back Vicebio Secures $100 Million to Develop Innovative Respiratory Virus Vaccines The funding will fuel ongoing clinical trials of VXB-241, a bivalent vaccine targeting both respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). British biotech company Vicebio has raised $100 million in Series B funding as it advances the development of its novel vaccines targeting multiple respiratory viruses. The funding will fuel ongoing clinical trials of VXB-241 , a bivalent vaccine targeting both respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). A key data readout from this Phase 1 trial is expected next year. Vicebio will also use the funds to develop VXB-251, a trivalent vaccine that adds parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV3) to the RSV and hMPV targets. Both vaccines are based on Vicebio’s proprietary “molecular clamp” technology, which stabilizes viral proteins, making vaccines easier to manufacture, store, and administer. The technology was developed by researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia, and licensed to Vicebio. The company's innovative vaccines are designed to be delivered in ready-to-use, prefilled syringes. CEO Emmanuel Hanon, Ph.D., highlighted the significance of the funding, emphasizing that Vicebio’s technology could bring next-generation respiratory virus vaccines to the market. With RSV vaccines from major players like GSK, Pfizer, and Moderna already available, Vicebio hopes to differentiate itself by targeting both RSV and hMPV, a niche not yet filled by existing vaccines. However, competition looms, especially from AstraZeneca, which recently acquired Icosavax and its RSV-hMPV combo vaccine, IVX-A12, that is close to entering Phase 3 trials. As the RSV vaccine market grows more crowded, Vicebio’s success may hinge on its ability to demonstrate the advantages of its molecular clamp technology. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

< Back LIVX 2026 8th – 10th December, 2026 Dubai, UAE Hosting the most powerful global ecosystem for longevity, biotech, and investment. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Previous Next