Healthcare industry

CureVac AG, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines based on optimized mRNA, today announced that the German Health Authority Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (PEI) and the Belgian Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) have approved the Phase 1 clinical trial for its vaccine program to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. The trial will be conducted in Germany and Belgium.

Novel coronavirus outbreak - a status report on recent developments - 04/03/2020

Waiting for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Researchers around the world are working frantically on the development of a vaccine against the new coronavirus. A project by the Tübingen-based biotechnology company CureVac, funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), uses the company’s technology platform for mRNA-based vaccines to accelerate vaccine development, thus contributing to the future prevention of the disease.

The High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and two private investors are convinced of the importance of single-cell isolation for the production of biopharmaceuticals and for genetic analysis in research and diagnostics. EUR 3 million will be invested in the further development of the technology, the expansion of the sales organization and in opening up further applications for Cytena’s single-cell printers.

Expert interview - 17/10/2018

Biologicals are becoming increasingly important to Boehringer Ingelheim

Biopharmaceuticals are playing an increasingly important role in Boehringer Ingelheim’s development pipeline. Visible evidence of this is the company’s Biologicals Development Centre (BDC) that is currently being constructed in Boehringer Ingelheim’s Biberach plant and will bring the company’s process development under one roof by early 2020. Walter Pytlik from BIOPRO talked with Dr. Ing. Ralf Schumacher about the new centre.

Industry report 2018 - 27/09/2018

The healthcare industry – the innovation driver of the 21st century: opportunities and challenges

BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg’s new industry report entitled "The Healthcare Industry 2018: Facts and Figures for Baden-Württemberg" has just been published in both German and English. The topic neatly dovetails with the state’s political activities. An evaluation of the region carried out on behalf of the Baden-Württemberg government has clearly recognised the importance of the healthcare sector as a driver of innovation.

Affimed will receive $96 million upfront and committed funding and is eligible for up to an additional $5.0 billion including milestone payments, and royalties on sales.

Article - 02/06/2017

SÜDPACK: a great example of biotech as a cross-sectoral technology

SÜDPACK Verpackungen is a qualified supplier of plastic films to the biopharmaceutical industry. The company is the leading European manufacturer of packaging products for the food industry and also offers its expertise to the biopharmaceutical industry. In 2011, SÜDPACK created an exclusive cooperation partnership with Sartorius Stedim Biotech, a global technology provider for the pharmaceutical biotech industry, which has now been extended…

Article - 24/05/2017

Ralf Reski: from moss to humans

Prof. Dr. Ralf Reski conducts basic research at the University of Freiburg. But this is not all the well-known plant biotechnologist does. He also wants his ideas to become concrete products. This is why he established Greenovation Biotech GmbH, a company which produces novel drugs in mosses. The company’s first moss-produced drug candidate – Moss-aGal – a recombinant form of human α-galactosidase, is now being tested in a phase I clinical trial.…

Article - 23/02/2017

Rentschler places formulation on biopharmaceuticals production agenda with LEUKOCARE alliance

On February 2, 2017, Rentschler Biotechnologie and LEUKOCARE announced a strategic alliance in which LEUKOCARE will become the exclusive formulation developer for the Laupheim-based contract manufacturer. Rentschler will acquire a 10% stake in LEUKOCARE, a biotech company established in 2003 and headquartered in Martinsried. On behalf of BIOPRO, Walter Pytlik spoke with the two CEOs, Rentschler’s Dr. Frank Mathias and LEUKOCARE’s Michael Scholl…

Article - 16/06/2016

Microfluidic biofermenter mimics plant tissue

It is estimated that as many as one million secondary plant metabolites can be used as medical agents. Plants produce these compounds to aid their growth and development as well as to discourage herbivores from eating them. However, it is still very difficult, or even impossible, to produce secondary plant metabolites industrially. Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are now developing a microfluidic bioreactor to make…

Retrospective Meet & Match Pharmaceutical Process Technology - 07/04/2016

Speed dating for Pharmaceutical Process Technology – a business flirt at Bosch

The speed dating format is no longer just a popular and simple dating method for lonely hearts, but has also become a rewarding way for establishing new business contacts and connections quickly and efficiently. BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg chose speed networking, as speed dating is called in the corporate world, for its recent Meet & Match event on pharmaceutical process technology, which took place on 15th March 2016 with the support of Bosch…

Article - 25/01/2016

And yet another biological from Biberach

Boehringer Ingelheim is an important contract manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals that also produces proprietary drugs. We spoke with Dr. Joanne van Ryn, a Canadian pharmacologist who has been doing research at Boehringer Ingelheim’s company site in Biberach for over 20 years. Her research focuses on thrombosis, haemostasis and coagulation. She is involved in the scientific monitoring of dabigatran (Pradaxa), an oral anticoagulant that, in 2008,…

Press release - 16/11/2015

The Baden-Württemberg healthcare industry – a strong economic power

(Stuttgart – 16th November 2015) BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg has just published its latest analysis of the Baden-Württemberg healthcare industry including comprehensive facts and figures. Baden-Württemberg continues to be one of the top locations for medical technology, pharma and biotechnology in Germany.

The latest articles, press releases and dossiers on red biotechnology in Baden-Württemberg

The latest articles, press releases and dossiers on pharmaceutics in Baden-Württemberg

Article - 02/02/2015

Rentschler Biotechnologie invests in new production plant

The Laupheim-based contract manufacturer Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH is greatly expanding its production capacities. The company is investing €24 million in the construction of two 3,000 litre stainless steel bioreactors, which should be operational in early 2017 and will more than double the production capacities for cell culture-derived proteins. Rentschler also announced recently that it was adding a new 2,000 litre single-use bioreactor…

Guest article - 31/01/2014

Experience report: internship at Boehringer Ingelheim in Shanghai

A scholarship from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts enabled Henrik Baran to do an internship at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co. KG in Shanghai. From March to August 2013, Henrik worked in the company's Global Biopharma Engineering & Technology department where he was involved in cleanroom planning. He was also project coordinator in charge of redeveloping company premises. Here he summarises his…

Article - 06/05/2013

HeLa, a human bauplan in the Petri dish

Scientists from EMBL have recently sequenced the genome of HeLa cells, which are the world’s most commonly used human cell line. They found that the HeLa genome and that of normal human cells reveal striking differences, caused by chromothripsis and other aberrations. Some evolutionary researchers believe that HeLa cells are developing a new human bauplan as they adapt to cultivation in the Petri dish.

Article - 19/11/2012

Biopharm GmbH: growth factors for use in regenerative medicine

With more than 26 years’ experience in the field of orthopaedics, dermatology and personalised medicine, the Heidelberg-based biotechnology company Biopharm GmbH is firmly established in the regenerative medicine market. Based on its proprietary growth factor technology platform, Biopharm develops innovative methods for the treatment of bone and cartilage damage and improvement of the wound healing process.

Merck Serono, a division of Merck, Darmstadt, Germany, announced on 10th Oktober 2012 during the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) congress in Lyon, France, that the company has initiated a new global research award to improve understanding of multiple sclerosis for the ultimate benefit of patients.

Press release - 03/08/2012

Rentschler and MHH sign licensing agreement for a gene therapy vector system

The Hannover Medical School (MHH) and Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH have signed a licensing agreement for the commercialization of a vector system for gene therapy that promises significant therapeutic and economic advantages over conventional technologies. Rentschler, an experienced specialist in the development of cell culture-based manufacturing processes and the production of relevant biopharmaceuticals, attains the right to develop…

Article - 16/07/2012

Laupheim to become an international forum for biomanufacturing

The 2nd Laupheimer Zelltage conference organized by Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH in Laupheim on 11th and 12th June 2012 focused on “Bioprocess light”. Twelve experts from applied research institutions and biotech companies from Germany and abroad provided the 200 or so guests with information on how modern bioproduction methods can be made simpler, more robust, cheaper, more reliable and hence more competitive.

Press release - 23/05/2012

GlaxoSmithKline to fully acquire Cellzome for 99 million U.S. dollar

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire those shares it does not currently own in Cellzome, a leader in the development and advancement of proteomics technologies, for £61 million (US$99 million) in cash. Cellzome, a privately owned company with laboratories in Cambridge, UK, and Heidelberg, Germany, will become part of GSK’s R&D organisation.

Article - 16/04/2012

Pharma 2.0: towards paperless production

Before electronic solutions existed lorries were needed to ship new drug applications which often comprised 500000 or so pages. Thanks to IT this is no longer necessary. IT-based procedures and solutions are playing an increasing role in all areas of the pharmaceutical industry. Markus Roemer CEO of Ravensburg-based comes compliance services supports companies in implementing legal guidelines in this area. In the following interview Roemer talks…