Press release - 05/07/2024 Outstanding ideas – new imaging processes for cancer diagnostics and nanopropellers for ocular gene therapy The summer reception hosted by BioRegio STERN Management GmbH has once again provided a fitting backdrop for the Science2Start award ceremony. Last Thursday, at Tübingen observatory, was the 15th time that scientists and start-up founders were celebrated for outstanding ideas that a panel of experts judged to have special economic potential.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/outstanding-ideas-new-imaging-processes-cancer-diagnostics-and-nanopropellers-ocular-gene-therapy
Press release - 31/05/2024 Heidelberg University successful with six bids for collaborative research In the current approval round of the German Research Foundation (DFG) Heidelberg University has been successful with six applications for grants to fund major, internationally visible research consortia. The six research consortia − three of them will reach the maximum funding length of twelve years after their extension − are to receive financial resources totalling nearly 87 million euros over a period of four years.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/heidelberg-university-successful-six-bids-collaborative-research
Press release - 24/04/2024 CureVac Announces Start of Combined Phase 1/2 Study in Avian Influenza (H5N1); Development in Collaboration with GSK Phase 1 part of combined Phase 1/2 study initiated as part of pandemic preparedness against highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus, considered to be potential future pandemic threat. Study will assess monovalent vaccine candidate, encoding an influenza A H5-antigen using proprietary second-generation mRNA backbone. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-announces-start-combined-phase-12-study-avian-influenza-h5n1-development-collaboration-gsk
Press release - 10/04/2024 Growth through medical technology: Bosch and Randox invest heavily in the Vivalytic analysis platform With its Vivalytic analysis platform, Bosch has set itself the goal of making fast and highly precise diagnostics accessible at the point of care – and aims to use molecular diagnostics to become a leading provider in the market by 2030. To achieve this, Bosch has now agreed on a strategic partnership with Randox Laboratories Ltd., a leading diagnostic and medical technology company.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/growth-through-medical-technology-bosch-and-randox-invest-heavily-vivalytic-analysis-platform
Press release - 13/03/2024 Protection from an unexpected source Contrary to common belief, not all viruses are harmful to their hosts. Sometimes viruses can even protect their hosts from infection by other viruses. Scientists at the Max-Planck-Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg and their collaborators have now demonstrated that this is the case for so-called endogenous virophages: small DNA viruses that are mostly found inserted into the genomes of single-cell eukaryotes.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/protection-unexpected-source
Press release - 04/01/2024 Key player in viral heart inflammation discovered Inflammation of the heart muscle, also known as myocarditis, is a serious consequence of a viral infection. This can impede the heart’s ability to pump blood in the long term. In a current study, researchers of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Freiburg have discovered a new approach for treating myocarditis. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/key-player-viral-heart-inflammation-discovered
Press release - 29/11/2023 EU funds research into causes and new therapies for multiple sclerosis The progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) can usually be slowed down with medication, but a cure is currently not possible. It is now established that Epstein-Barr viruses are involved in the development of MS. However, it is not known how the pathogens trigger the disease. The European Union is now funding the international research consortium BEHIND-MS as part of its HORIZON Europe program.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/eu-foerdert-forschung-zu-ursachen-und-neuen-therapien-der-multiplen-sklerose
Press release - 18/10/2023 SARS-CoV-2: Alert immune system in the respiratory tract protects children from severe courses of the disease Why are severe courses of SARS-CoV-2 infection less common in children and adolescents than in adults? Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now discovered that the immune system in the upper respiratory tract is much more alert and active in children before infection than in adults and is therefore better equipped to fight the virus.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/sars-cov-2-aktiveres-immunsystem-den-atemwegen-schuetzt-kinder-vor-schweren-verlaeufen
Press release - 22/05/2023 Prevention of pandemics Volkswagen Foundation to fund international research project with around 1.5 million euros. Interdisciplinary team led by the Institute for Global Health at Heidelberg University Hospital to research the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans in Thailand and Laos. Long-term goal is to develop sustainable preventive measures against future pandemics.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/prevention-pandemics
Press release - 08/05/2023 CureVac Announces Dosing of First Participant in Combined Phase 1/2 Study of Multivalent, Modified Influenza Vaccine Candidates Developed in Collaboration with GSK Initial Phase 1 part started with multivalent modified mRNA influenza vaccine candidates. Candidates developed in collaboration with GSK within broad infectious disease vaccine program encode for antigens covering four WHO-recommended flu strains.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-announces-dosing-first-participant-combined-phase-12-study-multivalent-modified-influenza-vaccine-candidates-developed-c
Press release - 23/03/2023 Targeted computer modelling to accelerate antiviral drug development Effective drugs against viral diseases like COVID-19 are urgently needed now and in the future. The emergence of viral mutants and yet unknown viruses could push vaccines to their limits. The DZIF scientist and bioinformatician Andreas Dräger from the University of Tübingen is working on a computer-based method that can help to accelerate the time-consuming identification and development of antiviral agents. Using a novel analysis technique that…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/computermodellierung-zur-schnelleren-entwicklung-antiviraler-medikamente
Immune complexes in COVID-19 - 01/03/2023 Vicious circle of hyperinflammation Whether a person experiences only a mild malaise or a critical course of disease after a coronavirus infection apparently depends on the antigen-antibody complexes that form in our body. The discovery of these immune complexes set a group of researchers, headed up by Prof. Dr. Hartmut Hengel from the Freiburg University Medical Centre, on the trail of a vicious circle of constantly escalating inflammation.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/vicious-circle-hyperinflammation
Press release - 06/01/2023 CureVac Announces Positive Data on Joint COVID-19 and Flu mRNA Vaccine Development Programs CureVac N.V. (Nasdaq: CVAC), a global biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines based on messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”), today announced positive preliminary data from ongoing Phase 1 clinical programs in COVID-19 and seasonal flu, assessing both modified and unmodified mRNA technology. The tested vaccine candidates are being developed in collaboration with GSK.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-announces-positive-data-joint-covid-19-and-flu-mrna-vaccine-development-programs
Press release - 24/11/2022 SARS-CoV-2 detection in 30 minutes using gene scissors Researchers of the University of Freiburg introduce biosensor for the nucleic acid amplification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/sars-cov-2-nachweis-30-minuten-mit-der-genschere
Press release - 17/11/2022 MEDICA and COMPAMED present themselves as extremely vital platforms in turbulent times MEDICA and COMPAMED continue to develop in an extremely vital manner. The world's leading medical trade fair and the international No. 1 for the medical technology supply sector once again impressively underscored their positive results from the previous year with strong numbers – despite continuing adverse conditions. A significant increase in bookings on the part of the exhibiting companies was followed after four days by a marked increase…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/medica-und-compamed-praesentieren-sich-als-aeusserst-vitale-plattformen-bewegten-zeiten
Viral cancer therapy - 26/10/2022 Therapeutic viruses against tumours and metastases Viruses can overcome cell barriers and transfer information to their host cells. They know how to make their host cell’s infrastructure work for them. This makes them excellent biotechnological tools, which a research group from the Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart is using to its advantage. The team is developing a therapeutic virus that not only recognises and fights tumours, but also has the potential to reach metastases.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/therapeutic-viruses-against-tumours-and-metastases
Press release - 28/09/2022 First successful trial for early detection of HPV-related cancer of the pharynx Screening trials for the early detection of rare diseases often fail due to insufficient predictive power of the results. For the rare HPV-related cancer of the pharynx, scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) now relied on the combined detection of antibodies against two different viral proteins in a proof-of concept trial.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/erste-erfolgreiche-studie-zur-frueherkennung-von-hpv-bedingtem-krebs-im-rachenraum
Press release - 06/09/2022 Biointelligent sensor for measuring viral activity Today, genome editing is almost as easy as programming software. However, the generation of viral vectors as initial material is still associated with many expensive and error-prone handling procedures. Viruses are generated via complex biological processes that have to be optimised virus-specifically in order to produce high-quality therapeutics. A new method is needed that simplifies and optimises these processes.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/Biointelligent-sensor-for-measuring-viral-activity
Press release - 18/08/2022 CureVac Starts Phase 1 Clinical Study of Modified, Omicron-Targeting COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate CureVac N.V., a global biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines based on mRNA, today announced the start of a Phase 1 study of the modified COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidate CV0501, administered as a booster dose to previous COVID-19 vaccination. Developed in collaboration with GSK, CV0501 is based on CureVac’s second-generation mRNA backbone and is designed to specifically protect against the Omicron variant.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-starts-phase-1-clinical-study-modified-omicron-targeting-covid-19-vaccine-candidate
AaviGen GmbH: Hope for heart failure - 14/07/2022 Gene therapy for weakened hearts Treating a weak heart – for example after a heart attack – at the GP’s surgery with a single intravenous injection, without causing serious side effects: what sounds almost too good to be true is actually already under development. The Heidelberg-based biotech company AaviGen is working on a platform technology based on adeno-associated viruses that can help introduce therapeutic genes in a highly specific way into diseased heart muscle cells.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/gene-therapy-weakened-hearts
Press release - 12/05/2022 New hope for broad spectrum viral entry inhibitors – Negatively charged polymer proves effective against a wide range of viruses While broad-spectrum antibiotics can offer protection against a wide variety of bacteria, there are currently no analogous clinically available broad-spectrum antiviral agents that can act on several different viruses. An international research team has now shown that polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), a negatively charged polymer, has the potential to be used in the prevention of viral infections – not only in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 and cold…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-hope-broad-spectrum-viral-entry-inhibitors-negatively-charged-polymer-proves-effective-against-wide-range-viruses
Peptide-based COVID-19 vaccine - 21/04/2022 CoVac-1: T-cell activator against COVID-19 Current vaccines against COVID-19 aim at forming neutralising antibodies that prevent the virus from penetrating the host cells. Since people with impaired B-cell immune responses – which can also occur in cancer or autoimmune diseases – are not able to do this, researchers at the University of Tübingen have developed the peptide-based T-cell activator CoVac-1, which promises broad and long-term immunity.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/covac-1-t-cell-activator-against-covid-19
COVIC-19 clinical trial - 07/04/2022 Convalescent plasma for COVID-19 therapy: clinical trial should bring clarity Does it help to treat COVID-19 sufferers with antibodies from people who have recovered from the disease? It seems an obvious idea and has been tested thousands of times. However, there is not yet enough evidence to prove the clinical efficacy of treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma. The transfusion physician Prof. Dr. Hubert Schrezenmeier from Ulm is planning to carry out a follow-up clinical trial to find the missing evidence.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/convalescent-plasma-covid-19-therapy-clinical-trial-should-bring-clarity
Press release - 02/03/2022 HPV vaccination: Numerous studies provide impressive proof of effectiveness against cervical cancer More and more data from various European countries prove: Vaccination against human papillomavirus not only prevents precancerous lesions, but also reliably protects against cervical cancer. On the occasion of the International HPV Awareness Day on March 4, Nobel laureate Harald zur Hausen hopes that many more parents will recognize this unique opportunity to protect their children from preventable cancers by vaccinating against HPV.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hpv-vaccination-numerous-studies-provide-impressive-proof-effectiveness-against-cervical-cancer
Macrophages interacting with cytomegaloviruses - 22/02/2022 Cytomegaloviruses subvert macrophage identity Cytomegaloviruses are basically harmless. However, if they occur along with other pathogens, they can trigger serious diseases. They can manipulate our immune system and encourage resident defence cells to migrate. Researchers at the Centre for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI) at the Freiburg University Medical Centre have discovered which mechanisms underlie the behavioural changes in macrophages that make it easier for other pathogens to attack.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cytomegaloviruses-subvert-macrophage-identity