Healthcare industry

Nycomed is about to establish its own marketing and sales organisation in Venezuela. With this the company will operate from an own subsidiary in all four leading Latin American pharmaceutical markets Mexico Brazil Venezuela and Argentina.

With the investment of 4.2 per cent of its gross domestic product in research and development Baden-Württemberg leads other German states and European countries in this sector. The 27 European states spent an average of only 1.8 per cent.

mtm laboratories has launched the Cervatec assay for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. The Cervatec assay will initially be commercialized as an adjunct to the Pap test for the screening of women aged 35 and younger.

Haemochromatosis is not as has been previously assumed a disease of the small intestine but a disease of the liver. Scientists from Heidelberg have shown in the animal model that the disease is caused by a mutated gene influencing hepcidin production.

Although the biomolecule DNS has provided many explanations and hopeful projections opinions are divided over the question of DNA being the carrier of genetic information. There is a huge need for clarification. Biologists clinicians psychologists lawyers and bioethicists discussed in Tübingen.

The German Medical Technology Association BVMed is hoping that the new information campaign MedTech-Compass will promote transparent and effective cooperation between the industry medical institutions and physicians.

In its applied science and technology transfer activities Constance University of Applied Sciences will focus to an even greater extent on special research priorities and interdisciplinarity. For this reason three new institutes have been set up.

Gravitation biologist Dr. Ralf Anken of the University of Hohenheim talks about his research with fish in an interview with Sandra Leppin from Hohenheim University. Anken At zero gravity the impressions received by the eyes and the organs of equilibrium do not coincide.

As one of the people who initiated the establishment of EMBL and in his role as founding director of the ZMBH Hermann Bujard has made a considerable contribution to the transformation of Heidelberg into a leading location for molecular and biological research in Germany. As the director of EMBO Bujard is now promoting the development of molecular biosciences across Europe.

European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen launched Enterprise Europe Network a new and powerful European support network for enterprises. All major players of the business support community in Europe have united to offer a one-stop service to assist especially small and medium sized enterprises.

A new funding module from the German Research Foundation provides funding to the tune of up to 1.25 million euros.

The new BPI office in Brussels will represent the European interests of German location-oriented pharmaceutical companies at European institutions. It is headed by Dr. Alexander Natz a lawyer who previously worked for the Sträter law firm in Bonn.

In 1998 James Thomson was the first to generate stem cells from human embryos. BIOPRO will present the new methods in the field of embryonic stem cell research. Stem cell experts regeneration biologists medics and ethicists will explain whether they think that the new methods are useful or not.

Applications written in English must be submitted to DFG by 31st March 2008.

Nycomed has granted Sepracor Inc. NASDAQ SEPR the exclusive development marketing and commercialisation rights for Ciclesonide in the United States. Ciclesonide is Nycomeds patented corticosteroid with a novel principle of action.

The University of Tübingen opened its new laboratory for Preclinical Imaging and Imaging Technology of the Werner Siemens Foundation. The professorship is the only one in Europe combining preclinical imaging and the development of new imaging technologies.

Press release - 10/02/2008

First Baden-Württemberg university approved for embryonic stem cell research

The biochemist Prof. Marcel Leist from Constance is the first Baden-Württemberg scientist to be authorised to undertake research using embryonic stem cells. Leist is investigating the effect of drugs and chemicals on human nerve cells.

Article - 10/02/2008

4th Biomarker Workshop at the NMI in Reutlingen: another success

The Biomarker Workshop held at the NMI in late January has become a fixed date for a growing number of proteomics researchers. With an attendance of 130 this years workshop exceeded all previous ones. Those who were keen to find out more about the latest trends and findings were presented with a successful mix of basic and applied research information.

The CEOs of pharmaceutical and life science companies are becoming increasingly aware that their companies are facing growing challenges and risks at the global level. At the same time they are also aware of more and more opportunities.

Karin Bundschuh of BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg asked Dr. Jens Clausen how these developments should be viewed from an ethical perspective. The bioethicist spent many years studying the status of embryos the ethics of cloning and stem cell research.

A new specialist outpatient clinic at the University Hospital of Ulm is treating haemochromatosis sufferers and is investigating the causes of this disease. Haemochromatosis which as the effect of poisoning the body is one of the most frequent hereditary diseases.

Nycomed and its licence holder Wyeth Pharmaceuticals a division of Wyeth NYSEWYE today announced the U.S. launch of an own generic version of PROTONIX Pantoprazole tablets in response to the at-risk launch of generic Pantoprazole tablets by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

Article - 07/02/2008

New life sciences centre in Ulm

The new Life Science Centre will house eleven interfaculty research groups dealing with aspects of tissue regeneration. The state of Baden-Württemberg and the University both expressed their high expectations for the centre at the official opening.

The Theatrum Anatomicum enriches medical training at the University of Ulm. That is the unanimous verdict of the lecturers involved in medical training. The Theatrum is a fully equipped demonstration operation theatre with standing room for approximately 70 people.

The German Bundestag gave the go ahead for the new version of the German Genetic Engineering Law. The new version incorporates the introduction of the Not genetically engineered label as well as stricter regulations on the cultivation of genetically modified plants.