Qureight’s AI-powered analysis of Insilico Medicine’s Phase IIa trial data for the novel IPF drug rentosertib supports its preliminary efficacy and underpins plans for expanded global clinical trials. < Back Qureight Analysis Supports Efficacy of Insilico Medicine’s AI-Discovered IPF Drug, Rentosertib, in Phase IIa Trial Qureight’s AI-powered analysis of Insilico Medicine’s Phase IIa trial data for the novel IPF drug rentosertib supports its preliminary efficacy and underpins plans for expanded global clinical trials. Qureight, a UK-based techbio company specializing in AI-powered analytics for respiratory diseases, today announced pivotal findings from its collaboration with Insilico Medicine, supporting the preliminary efficacy results of rentosertib (ISM001-055), a novel TNIK inhibitor under development for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The analysis, powered by Qureight’s deep-learning image biomarkers and advanced clinical data analytics platform, confirmed that baseline disease severity was statistically comparable between cohorts in Insilico’s Phase IIa trial. This reinforces the validity of the trial’s positive outcomes and bolsters plans to expand the study into larger global patient populations. Rentosertib, discovered using Insilico’s generative AI technology, is a first-in-class small molecule targeting the TNIK pathway, implicated in the fibrotic processes that drive IPF. In findings published recently in Nature Medicine , the drug demonstrated preliminary clinical efficacy, with improvement in forced vital capacity (FVC) at 12 weeks, and validated TNIK as a novel therapeutic target for IPF for the first time. Using what is believed to be the world’s largest IPF biorepository, Qureight’s proprietary HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography) biomarkers showed that trial participants were representative of the broader global IPF patient population. This provides further support for Insilico’s plan to scale rentosertib trials internationally. Dr. Muhunthan Thillai, Co-founder and CEO of Qureight, emphasized the impact of the partnership: “The results from this initial project demonstrate the impact of our expertise, AI-powered analytics platform, and specialised patient datasets to support the progression of promising new therapies. We hope to extend the application of our technologies to future development stages to accurately quantify the impact of TNIK as a novel mechanism for the treatment of IPF.” Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, highlighted the broader implications: “Our collaboration with Qureight illustrates the transformative potential of AI in both drug discovery and development, paving the way for faster and more innovative therapeutic and clinical trial advancements.” The findings from this first analysis will be presented at the upcoming European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam from 5–9 September 2025. About IPF and Rentosertib Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a chronic and progressive lung disease marked by irreversible scarring, affecting an estimated five million people worldwide. With limited treatment options and poor prognosis, the need for disease-modifying therapies is urgent. Rentosertib, a novel TNIK inhibitor discovered via AI, aims to halt or reverse lung fibrosis, offering a potentially groundbreaking therapeutic alternative. Early results indicate that it may offer meaningful clinical benefit for IPF patients globally. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

Atelerix has appointed biotech leaders Sunil Shah and Dr Catherine Elton to its Board to support the company’s global commercial expansion and scale-up of its innovative cell preservation technology. < Back Atelerix Appoints Industry Heavyweights to Board as It Gears Up for Global Expansion Atelerix has appointed biotech leaders Sunil Shah and Dr Catherine Elton to its Board to support the company’s global commercial expansion and scale-up of its innovative cell preservation technology. Atelerix, the UK biotech company behind a breakthrough hydrogel-based cell preservation technology, has announced the appointment of two life sciences leaders to its Board. Sunil Shah, CEO of o2h Ventures, joins as Chair, while Dr Catherine Elton, Chief Business Officer at Axol Bioscience, takes on the role of Non-Executive Director. The appointments come at a pivotal moment for Atelerix as it accelerates its commercial and operational expansion globally, building on growing demand for its non-cryogenic preservation solutions, a technology poised to transform how cells and tissues are stored and transported across research, clinical and biopharma settings. Backed by Industry Expertise Sunil Shah brings more than two decades of entrepreneurial and investment experience in biotech. As co-founder of o2h Group and CEO of o2h Ventures, Shah has supported over 35 biotech startups across therapeutics, platforms, and AI-driven life sciences innovation. He currently holds board positions in several high-growth companies and serves as a Non-Executive Director of the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA). His experience commercialising early-stage technologies and fostering international partnerships aligns directly with Atelerix’s next phase of growth. Joining alongside Shah is Dr Catherine Elton, a seasoned leader in cell and protein-based technologies. Currently CBO at Axol Bioscience, Elton previously founded Qkine, a University of Cambridge spin-out focused on manufacturing complex proteins for cell models, and led it through global commercial scale-up. She has also held key positions at Abcam, where she helped scale manufacturing operations during the company’s growth surge. Poised for Global Scale-Up Together, Shah and Elton bring deep commercial, operational, and scientific insight to Atelerix’s leadership team. Their guidance is expected to help the company capitalise on rising demand for scalable, cost-effective alternatives to cryopreservation, particularly in areas like clinical trial logistics, regenerative medicine, and cell therapy. “Atelerix’s hypothermic gel technology is redefining how biological materials are preserved and transported, a challenge that is only growing as life sciences become more global,” said Shah. “Having worked with many companies that would benefit from this innovation, I’m excited to help guide Atelerix through its next stage of growth.” Dr Elton added: “Atelerix’s innovative platform addresses a major unmet need across fast-growing markets. I’m very much looking forward to supporting the team’s commercial execution and global strategy.” A Defining Moment Alastair Carrington, CEO of Atelerix, welcomed the new appointments: “Catherine and Sunil are widely respected across the biotech sector for their scientific expertise and track records in building successful companies. Their support at this key moment in our journey will be invaluable as we take Atelerix’s technology to a truly global audience.” With recent distributor partnerships in place and an expanded Board now guiding strategy, Atelerix is positioning itself as a leader in next-generation biological transport, offering a stable, non-frozen solution for one of biotech’s most persistent logistical challenges. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next

< Back The Effect of Paternal Microbiome on Mice Offspring New study suggests a link between the paternal microbiome and offspring health. The Hackett group at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) have uncovered a link between paternal gut microbiota and offspring health. Results from their study show perturbations (slightly negative alterations) to paternal mice gut microbiota result in low birth weight, growth restriction and premature mortality in their offspring. The microbiota In your gut alone, there are trillions of bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. In fact, the number of these microorganisms in the body has been estimated to be approximately equal to the number of human cells (while some other estimates suggest ten times the number of microorganisms). A majority of this vast population exists in the gastrointestinal tract and is known as the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota are responsible for a range of internal functions, such as helping with digestion, protecting against harmful bacteria, and controlling your immune system. Studying gut microbiota offers insights into how these microbes influence digestion, immune function, and even mental health. Research has shown that an imbalanced gut microbiome is linked to various conditions, from obesity to depression. By understanding the gut microbiome, scientists can develop targeted therapies and probiotics to restore balance, improve health outcomes, and potentially prevent or treat a range of diseases. This burgeoning field underscores the intricate connection between our microbial inhabitants and overall well-being. Dysbiosis, having an altered gut microbiota, has also been associated with the development of inflammatory diseases and infections; previous studies have found that the maternal microbiome can have an effect on offspring health. However, the effect of paternal microbiome perturbations on the germline and mammalian offspring health is unclear. EMBL’s recent study published in Nature sheds some light on the link between the paternal environment and his offspring using mice. Epigenetic experiments Sperm carry information to the next generation through both genetic (DNA) and epigenetic (non-DNA sequence-based) material. Researchers have hypothesised that the epigenetic information carried on to offspring has the potential to be modified by the preconception environment, and therefore could influence offspring phenotype. Such epigenetic material can be affected by the gut microbiome. Given the modern diet and the plausible reduction in human gut microbiota diversity, richness, or abundance as a result of food modifications or a less varied diet, these potential changes to our microbiota may impact the health of future generations. By altering the gut bacterial composition of paternal mice, Jamie Hackett and colleagues at EMBL have explored the impact of the paternal gut microbiome on the health of successive generations, and so the effect of the germline on the next generation. Using antibiotics which reduce abundance, diversity and richness of mice gut microbiota, they found the offspring of these mice are smaller, less healthy, and show increased premature mortality compared to the offspring of mice whose gut microbiota has not been antibiotically ‘perturbed’. Results also showed that leptin, a hormone with a key role in energy homeostasis and reproduction, was especially ‘dysregulated’ as a result of nABX (non-absorbable antibiotics) medication. Perturbation to paternal leptin before conception—as a result of dysbiosis—has an intergenerational effect on offspring gene expression programmes. Fortunately, the study showed that restoration of gut microbiota (stopping antibiotic supplements and allowing 8 weeks recovery time) rescued emergent F1 (dominant) phenotypes—the effect of nABX-induced dysbiosis is reversible and treatable. Using IVF the Hackett group showed that these F1 phenotypes were transmitted specifically through paternal gametes and copurifying molecules—dysbiotic sperm donors produced offspring with similarly significantly reduced neonatal birth weight, postnatal growth and serious growth restriction. Comparing mice and men Human and mice microbiota are largely distinct: despite a 62% overlap of mouse microbiota genome and human gastrointestinal genomes at the genus, there is only 10% overlap at the species level. So, there are likely to be variations in the effect of reduced microbiota richness, abundance and diversity in humans compared to mice. This 90% discrepancy may mean drawing a link between the data observed in mice and applying it to human heritable epigenetic material is not applicable. The group plans to investigate the relevant inherited phenotypes further, and how these results may be applied beyond mice. However, this microbiota germline link may prove to be of interest in mitigating against unwanted pregnancy outcomes. Author Frances Briggs , freelance contributor 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

< Back 23rd March, 2026 Lisbon, Portugal BIO-Europe Spring Europe’s premier springtime partnering event for the life sciences. BIO-Europe Spring is Europe’s largest springtime biotech partnering conference, uniting thousands of leaders from biotech, pharmaceutical, academic, and investment communities in strategic collaboration and deal-making. Over multiple days, the event facilitates thousands of one-to-one partnering meetings, expert panel discussions, innovative company presentations, and dynamic networking opportunities designed to accelerate licensing, business development, and cross-sector partnerships. With both in-person and digital components, BIO-Europe Spring empowers attendees to build global connections and drive innovation across the life sciences ecosystem. Previous Register now Next

Moderna reported sales of $3.1 billion, the comapny states this is a 53% decline from 2023. Read about the steps being taken to combat this decline in performance. < Back Moderna Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results, Announces Strategic Initiatives Moderna reported sales of $3.1 billion, the comapny states this is a 53% decline from 2023. Read about the steps being taken to combat this decline in performance. Moderna Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results, Announces Strategic Initiatives Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024, alongside key business updates. In research and development (R&D), the company reported expenses of $1.1 billion, a 20% year-over-year decline over 2023 and a diluted loss per share of $9.28. The decline in revenue is primarily attributed to reduced sales of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax®, which generated $923 million in the fourth quarter and $3.1 billion for the full year. The company also reported $15 million in sales from its RSV vaccine, mRESVIA®, in the fourth quarter. In response to these financial challenges, Moderna has implemented a 27% reduction in costs compared to 2023 and has submitted three Biologics License Applications for regulatory approval. These applications include a next-generation COVID vaccine, an RSV vaccine for high-risk adults aged 18 to 59, and a flu/COVID combination vaccine. Looking ahead, the company projects 2025 revenues between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion and aims to eliminate nearly $1 billion in costs by the end of 2025. CEO Stéphane Bancel emphasized the company's focus on driving sales and achieving up to 10 product approvals by 2027, stating, "With strong momentum in our late-stage pipeline, we anticipate multiple approvals starting this year, along with key Phase 3 readouts that will support our long-term growth." Despite the financial setbacks, Moderna maintains a cash position of $9.5 billion as of December 31, 2024, and continues to invest in its mRNA platform, targeting a range of infectious diseases and therapeutic areas. 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

< 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

< Back 9th – 12th July, 2024 Salt Lake City, UT AIME 2024 The leading international scientific event related to artificial intelligence in medicine. This premier conference will bring together global experts to explore the latest trends, research, and practical applications of AI in medicine. Previous Register now Next

< Back 7th – 10th July, 2024 Amsterdam, Netherlands ESHRE 40th Annual Meeting In 2024, ESHRE will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Annual Meeting. The Society’s first Annual Meeting was held in Bonn, in 1985. On that occasion the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology was officially founded. Previous Register now Next

< Back Killing Mosquitoes With the Smell of Flowers Researchers manipulate killer fungi to lure in and eliminate malaria-carrying mosquitoes. As the fight against malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases continues, it is imperative that we introduce novel solutions to control mosquito populations. Inspired by mosquitoes’ attraction to flowers for finding nectar, scientists have engineered fungi to release a floral scent, leading the unsuspecting mosquitoes to their eventual demise. Despite the introduction of the malaria vaccines RTS,S in 2021 and R21 in 2023, malaria cases continue to rise, reaching approximately 282 million cases in 2024 – an increase of 9 million cases from the previous year. The WHO World Malaria Report highlights antimalarial drug and insecticide resistance as major barriers to eliminating malaria, emphasising the need for novel interventions. With current mosquito control methods facing growing limitations, what are the alternatives? In a study published in Nature , an international research team spanning China, Burkina Faso, and the US engineered the mosquito-killing fungi as a promising answer to this question. Co-author and Professor of Entomology at the University of Maryland, Raymond St. Leger, explained that “after observing that some types of fungi could trick mosquitoes into thinking they were flowers, we realized we could turbo-charge the attraction by engineering fungi to produce more longifolene, a sweet-smelling compound that’s already very common in nature. Before this study, longifolene wasn’t known to attract mosquitoes. We’re letting nature give us a hint to tell us what works against mosquitoes.” Metarhizium fungi were used thanks to their mosquitocidal spores and limited off-target effects. Longifolene-laced fungi present a more environmentally friendly alternative, with the chemical having a long safety record for its use in perfume. St. Leger said, “We've also designed the fungus and its containers to target mosquitoes specifically rather than any other insects and longifolene breaks down naturally in the environment”. The specificity of the fungus is a major advantage, as conventional insecticides used to control mosquito populations are toxic towards the environment, wildlife, and human health. Unlike insecticides, resistance to the killer fungi is less likely to arise as it builds upon an evolutionary necessary mechanism. “It'll be very difficult for them to overcome that hurdle, and we have the option of engineering the fungus to produce additional floral odors if they evolve to specifically avoid longifolene” St. Leger explained. These killer fungi are particularly exciting as they are easily cultivated using common scraps from harvesting, like rice husks. This presents a more sustainable solution for less economically developed countries in the global south, where malaria is most prominent. However, rising global temperatures threaten to spread mosquito growth to countries outside of tropical regions, carrying malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases with them. “Mosquitoes love many of the ways we are changing our world,” St. Leger said. “Right now, we’re hoping to use these approaches in Africa, Asia and South America. But one day, we may need them for ourselves.” Although laboratory and computer-based findings show promise, more research must be done to establish success in real mosquito environments. The international team, including St. Leger, are currently facilitating larger outdoor trials with the hope of approval from regulatory bodies. Author Will Smears , freelance contributor Previous Next

Designation underscores potential to address critical unmet need in rare and life-threatening wound condition. < Back SolasCure Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Aurase Wound Gel in Treatment of Calciphylaxis Ulcers Designation underscores potential to address critical unmet need in rare and life-threatening wound condition. SolasCure Ltd, a UK-based biotechnology firm focused on advancing chronic wound care, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to its investigational drug Aurase Wound Gel (AWG) for the treatment of calciphylaxis ulcers, a severe and life-threatening condition with limited treatment options. The Fast Track status is a significant regulatory milestone, aimed at accelerating the development and review process of therapies that address serious conditions with unmet medical needs. It paves the way for closer collaboration between SolasCure and the FDA, potentially expediting AWG’s path to market and increasing access for patients facing this rare condition. A Rare and Devastating Disease Calciphylaxis is a rare disorder marked by the calcification of small blood vessels in the skin and fat, leading to blood clots, painful ulcers, and high risk of infection or sepsis. It most frequently affects patients with end-stage renal disease but can also occur in others without kidney dysfunction. The one-year mortality rate remains alarmingly high, and effective treatment options are scarce. SolasCure’s Aurase Wound Gel offers a promising alternative. The hydrogel contains Tarumase, a recombinant enzyme inspired by compounds found in medical maggots, known for their ability to break down necrotic tissue. AWG targets proteins like fibrin, collagen, and elastin to gently debride wounds and prepare them for healing, with the goal of reducing the risk of infection and improving outcomes for patients too fragile to tolerate conventional debridement methods. Expanding Clinical Promise Already in Phase II clinical trials for venous leg ulcers, Aurase Wound Gel has demonstrated a strong safety profile, effective debridement, and pain-free application. The new Fast Track Designation represents an expansion of AWG’s potential indications, supporting its use in the treatment of more complex and life-threatening wounds such as calciphylaxis ulcers. “Given the unmet medical need and the poor outcomes for patients with calciphylaxis, the FDA’s granting Fast Track Designation is a significant milestone,” said David Fairlamb, Chief Development Officer at SolasCure. “Not only does it reflect the promise of Aurase Wound Gel in the treatment of calciphylaxis ulcers, but it also adds a new indication, increasing its potential to help more patients, therefore opening up an even larger target market for SolasCure.” This designation could accelerate development timelines, making Aurase Wound Gel available sooner to those most in need. The company plans to work closely with the FDA to advance the product through clinical development and regulatory review. About SolasCure SolasCure is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative solutions to advance wound care. Its lead candidate, Aurase Wound Gel, leverages biomimicry to enable selective, enzymatic debridement that is safe, effective, and patient-friendly. Author BioFocus Newsroom Previous Next