Healthcare industry

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

BioLAGO and BIOPRO to start new diagnostics project - 07/07/2016

DiagNeeds: translating clinical requirements into new products

(Lake Constance/Stuttgart) – BioLAGO e.V. and BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH are working together on the “DiagNeeds” project to bring hospitals and medical professionals closer to diagnostics providers in order to facilitate the development of new diagnostic procedures. There will be special focus on topics that are currently of major interest in the field of diagnostics, including liquid biopsies, companion diagnostics, point-of-care diagnostics…

A consortium of leading life-science venture capital funds invests € 18.5 million in the German medical diagnostics company Curetis AG. This financing will enable Curetis to complete development of its innovative diagnostic products through to market entry.

Press release - 24/10/2011

Curetis AG Opens Unyvero™ Cartridge Production Facility

Curetis AG, an innovative molecular diagnostics company focusing on the development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostic products for infectious diseases, announced the opening of its state-of-the-art production facility for disposable Unyvero™ cartridges in Bodelshausen (near Tuebingen, Germany).

Press release - 03/11/2011

Curetis AG attracts Forbion and Roche as new investors

Curetis AG, an innovative molecular diagnostics company focusing on the development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostic products for infectious diseases, announced the expansion of its Series A financing round by € 9.6 million. The additional funds increase the round to a total of € 34.1 million and the total capital raised to date to € 36.6 million.

Dr. Martin Burow, a proven expert in the field of prenatal diagnostics, has joined the LifeCodexx team as Head of Commercial Operations.

Article - 30/08/2010

Diagnostics for the early detection of cervical cancer

The Pap test is regarded as the most successful test for cancer ever, and has saved the lives of many women. However, the test is associated with several weaknesses. The Heidelberg-based in vitro diagnostics company mtm laboratories AG develops and commercialises highly sensitive and highly specific immunochemical tests that provide greater reliability. These tests have the potential to revolutionise the early detection of cervical cancer.

Press release - 04/02/2020

CeGaT Brings New Dimension to Exome Diagnostics

CeGaT aims to solve all genetically-caused cases of disease to help physicians state a diagnosis. To pursue this goal, CeGaT incorporated its long-term expertise and latest scientific knowledge in an innovative diagnostic tool: CeGaT Exome Xtra is the most powerful genetic diagnostic option for patients with complex, unspecific, and rare diseases.

Company profile: medicalvalues GmbH - 05/05/2022

medicalvalues – best possible diagnostics thanks to AI

The Karlsruhe-based start-up medicalvalues GmbH wants to use its platform to bring together different clinical data sets and thus enable comprehensive medical diagnostics. Artificial intelligence featuring innovative diagnostic algorithms is used to evaluate the data and generate new insights for laboratories and hospitals.

Scientists at the German Cancer Research Centre DKFZ have now succeeded in generating peptides on a microchip - faster and thus cheaper than with previous methods.

Article - 13/01/2014

DIARECT AG – development and production of immunodiagnostics components

Founded by Dr. Heinz Haubruck and Prof. Dr. Bodo Liedvogel in 1998, the biotechnology company DIARECT AG (DIAgnostic by RECombinant Technology) from Freiburg sells tried and tested and new products. The company produces proteins, nucleoproteins and assay components for the diagnostics sector. These products enable the reliable identification of autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases.

Dossier - 08/09/2022

Imaging methods in medical diagnostics

Many different imaging methods are available these days and are used in almost all medical disciplines to visualise disease-related changes. Depending on the problem and the clinical picture, very different structural and functional parameters can be visually recorded for diagnosis and used for therapy.

Article - 04/04/2011

Technical innovations for better diagnostics

The quantitative detection of DNA single-strand breaks is of great importance for many areas of biomedical research and diagnostics. The Fluorescence-detected Alkaline DNA Unwinding FADU assay assists in the investigation of mechanisms of DNA damage and repair following DNA strand breaks upon exposure to chemicals. Prof. Alexander Bürkle and his team at the University of Konstanz have automated and optimised the original FADU assay which was…

Article - 30/08/2010

Genetic testing for the prevention of diseases?

Genetic testing is beginning to play an important role in personalised medicine and is indispensable for the diagnosis and therapy of many diseases. However, the preventive and diagnostic power of many genetic tests is still inferior to traditional diagnostic tests. In addition, commercial genetic tests do not always live up to the claims made about them.

Article - 12/03/2012

Q-bios provides client-specific biotechnology services

Q-bios GmbH, a spin-off from the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, is a biotechnology company that provides services related to the production and purification of diagnostic and therapeutic proteins as well as the development and amplification of suitable cell lines. The company offers its services, which are based on state-of-the-art technologies, to clients from the biotechnology, diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries.

Dossier - 10/03/2014

Cancer therapy and cancer diagnostics

Thanks to improved diagnostics and therapy, today’s cancer patients can live considerably longer than patients several years ago. Nevertheless, some cancers, especially the strongly metastatic ones, are difficult to treat. Therapies targeting immune cells or cancer stem cells could potentially improve the current situation. The early detection and classification of tumours is crucial for the successful treatment of the disease, and molecular…

The start-up 3a-diagnostics GmbH from Frickenhausen is developing a gum that can be used both in doctors’ surgeries and at home as a quick and easy diagnostic aid. The sensor in this case is the human tongue. If bacteria are present – due to an inflammation of the teeth or tonsils, for instance – chewing produces a bitter taste and the doctor can quickly initiate the appropriate treatment.

Press release - 23/05/2011

GATC Biotech and LifeCodexx develop a diagnostic test for early detection of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of the mother during pregnancy. It is among the leading causes of death of mother and unborn child and occurs in approximately two to five percent of all pregnancies in Germany. Early detection is critical and improves the prognosis for the further course of the pregnancy.

Article - 10/05/2010

CeGaT: DNA and RNA sequencing specialist

Sequencing service providers are facing new challenges due to the enormous technological progress made in this field. The market requires technically feasible solutions reliable and rapid sequence analyses in which entire genomes can be analysed within a couple of days or weeks. This can only be achieved with state-of-the-art high-throughput technologies. Tübingen-based CeGaT GmbH has been offering DNA and RNA sequencing using state-of-the-art…

Press release - 08/01/2009

ILM – Molecular cytogenetic diagnostics

The ILM used multicolour fluorescence in-situ hybridisation for the detection of chromosomal changes in the vein tissue of patients suffering from recurrent varicosis.

BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), and Lonza Group Ltd announced today that they have entered into an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement for Lonza to commercialize its microCompass™ molecular assays on the BD MAX™ System.

In conjunction with reference laboratories of the World Health Organization WHO medtech company Curetis AG is developing new technologies and products that identify the pathogens of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and their resistance. The solutions are impressive.

The Commission welcomes the adoption of its proposal for two Regulations on medical devices which establish a modernised and more robust EU legislative framework to ensure better protection of public health and patient safety.

Press release - 28/01/2010

Roche invests 86 million Swiss Francs in its Mannheim site

Roche is to invest 86 million Swiss Francs (approximately 57.3 million euros) in the construction of a new pharmaceutical production unit at its Mannheim company site. The new production line will deliver the commercial supply of the breast cancer drug Herceptin (trastuzumab) from 2013 onwards.

Article - 14/04/2016

Rapid and unambiguous detection of infection in a miniature laboratory

In cooperation with industrial partners, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart have spent many years developing innovative diagnostic tools for use in infection biology. Among these are microsystems that combine complete test procedures on a “lab-on-a-chip” (LOC) and enable simultaneous analysis of several thousand parameters relatively quickly and with little effort. The scientists…

Dossier - 30/08/2010

Disease prevention through better diagnostics

“Classical treatment approaches are not the only way to ensure good health, rehabilitation and care. In fact, it is envisaged that more effective prevention will contribute to halting the development of diseases and maintaining good health. Prevention is designed to prevent health risks and diseases, make them less likely and delay their onset.” (Declaration of the German government; Official Records of Parliament 17/845, 26th February 2010)

Press release - 12/03/2010

mtm laboratories announces the European launch of CINtec® PLUS

mtm laboratories, a privately held diagnostics company from Heidelberg, Germany, announced the launch of CINtec® PLUS, the company’s next generation cervical cancer screening product with unmatched accuracy for the screening and management for cervical cancer. CINtec® PLUS will be launched with claims direct in Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the UK, and will also be available in other parts of the world via mtm’s nominated distributors.

Dossier - 28/08/2018

With molecular diagnostics to biomarker-based personalised therapy

Diagnosing suitable biomarkers is a prerequisite for tailoring personalised therapies to patient heterogeneity. Genetic tests and genome sequencing play a key role in these diagnoses. Up until now, personalised therapy has achieved the greatest success in the field of oncology. However, personalised treatments are also gaining in importance for treating other diseases.

Tablet-based diagnostics - 12/04/2023

TuCAN - innovative diagnostic procedure for neuropsychiatric disorders

Neuropsychiatric disorders are often diagnosed late and have a negative impact on quality of life. Diagnosing the disease at an early stage is vital to be able to help those affected by offering them treatment adapted to their specific requirements. This is what the TuCAN project in Tübingen aims to achieve through the early and differential diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Press release - 14/10/2009

mtm laboratories Extends Series C Financing Round by EUR 7 Million Bringing Total to EUR 39 Million (USD 57 Million)

mtm laboratories, a privately held diagnostics company developing, manufacturing and globally commercializing in vitro diagnostics for cervical cancer early detection and diagnosis, announced on 14th October the signing for an additional tranche of Euro 7 million to its Series C funding. This addition is a formal expansion of the Company’s last Series C in March 2008 and increases the total for the round to Euro 39 million (USD 57 million) in…

Article - 17/02/2014

Personalised tumour diagnostics with high-throughput sequencing

CeGaT GmbH Center for Genomics and Transcriptomics in Tübingen is one of the first organisations that have managed to combine human genetic diagnostics with high-throughput sequencing for the diagnosis of specific tumour variants. CeGat researchers have developed diagnostic panels that they use to study more than 550 tumour-relevant genes simultaneously. The identification of genetic changes provides a more detailed diagnosis of tumours and helps…

Dossier - 26/11/2012

Genetic diagnostics: technology reaches the limits of what is medically reasonable

Rapid progress in sequencing technologies is poised to set the imagination of biomedical researchers on fire. Experts now believe that progress is about to make possible what seemed to be utopian a few years ago – it seems likely that it will soon be possible to sequence the human genome in only a few minutes and store and automatically analyse it using tiny automates. However, is everything that is technically feasible also reasonable?

Article - 20/10/2014

QIAGEN Lake Constance – pocket-sized laboratories for the efficient identification of pathogens

Quick, simple and decentralized – this is how QIAGEN Lake Constance GmbH envisages diagnostics applications in the future. The Stockach-based QIAGEN subsidiary develops test systems for point-of-need diagnostics, i.e. tests that can be carried out in close proximity to the sample collection point, for example in GP surgeries. They enable the rapid identification of pathogens, and as a result the timely initiation of suitable treatment.

Dossier - 04/11/2013

Biotechnology – driver of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry

The biotech industry is the innovative driver for a pharmaceutical industry that, due to the shift from blockbluster products to personalised medicine, now depends on new concepts. The production of new drugs using genetic engineering relies on knowledge gained from genomics, proteomics and systems biology and creates new treatment strategies that combine therapy and diagnostics (i.e. companion diagnostics) to provide a specific individualised…

Article - 25/04/2016

Pancreatic cancer and its resistance to therapy

Pancreatic tumours are among the cancers with the worst prognosis. In many cases they are resistant to treatment. Prof. Dr. Andreas Trumpp and his colleagues from the DKFZ and the Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine HI-STEM have discovered that the reason why some pancreatic tumours are so resistant to treatment is down to larger quantities of the enzyme CYP3A5 in subtypes of pancreatic cancer. Molecular…

Curetis AG, an innovative molecular diagnostics company focusing on the development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostic products for infectious diseases, today announced an extension of its Series A financing, bringing the total size of the round to € 24.5 million. CD-Venture joined the funding as a new investor, while all of Curetis' existing VC investors participated in the round. Several private investors also continued to…

While there are specific regulations in Germany for the reimbursement of medicines, funding for molecular diagnostics products is complex and virtually non-existent. There is hardly any medical insurance cover for medical devices, which therefore tend to be sold on the open market. The question therefore arises as to how a reasonable price can be determined for innovative diagnostic methods and tools. In the second part of the interview conducted…

Article - 07/04/2014

BIPSO GmbH – modern contrast agents for the entire world

BIPSO GmbH, based in Singen, Germany, has been manufacturing contrast agents for applications in modern medical diagnostics since 2011. BIPSO is part of the Bracco Imaging Group, which is one of the world’s leading specialists in the diagnostic imaging business, and produces imaging agents mainly for Bracco’s sales organisations. The company has recently invested in the expansion of its manufacturing site in Singen with the goal of consolidating…

In future small bubbles will allow the identification of pathological alterations at a very early stage. Molecular imaging methods developed by Bracco Imaging S.p.A. use a new ultrasound contrast agent. The German subsidiary of the company Bracco Imaging Deutschland GmbH based in Constance develops and sells contrast agents.

Press release - 20/07/2011

Roche acquires mtm laboratories AG, expanding offering in cervical cancer

Roche announced on July 19th that it has signed an agreement under which it will acquire 100 percent of mtm laboratories AG (mtm), a privately-held company based in Heidelberg, Germany. mtm is a global leader in developing in vitro diagnostics with a focus on early detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer, the largest early detection market in oncology. mtm will become part of Roche’s Tissue Diagnostics (Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.) business…

Expert interview - 26/06/2018

Genome analyses: "Germany lags behind dramatically"

Around 6,000 genetic diseases can be diagnosed using genetic tests. Genetic testing enables the accurate identification of diseases especially when symptoms are unclear, and also allows statements to be made about disease progression. However, restrictive regulations considerably hinder the use of genetic diagnostics. BIOPRO spoke with Dr. Dr. Saskia Biskup, a human genetics specialist and co-founder of the Tübingen-based company CeGaT.

Dossier - 12/12/2011

Development of new molecular biomarkers

Biomarkers are playing an increasing role in drug discovery and development. They can be used as molecular indicators for diseases and disease risks as well as for monitoring the effectiveness of therapy. Highly specific molecular biomarkers are being identified using state-of-the-art technologies from the fields of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics.

Article - 20/01/2014

Curetis AG: Miniaturised laboratory for the simple, rapid and reliable diagnosis of serious infections

Acute pneumonia usually leaves doctors with no choice the situation can quickly become life threatening requiring doctors to act quickly. Instead of waiting for laboratory results they often prescribe an antibiotic that is effective against numerous bacterial species in the hope that it will also work against the bacterium that has caused the inflammation in the lung tissue. Curetis AG from Holzgerlingen close to Stuttgart has developed a…

Press release - 04/02/2010

QIAGEN acquires ESE GmbH

QIAGEN N.V. has announced its acquisition of ESE GmbH a privately owned developer and manufacturer of UV and fluorescence optical measurement devices. ESE GmbH is based in Stockach Germany. The cash transaction is valued at up to US19 million.

The German Federal Cabinet agreed on a draft bill on human genetic testing Gene Diagnostics Law. The law protects people against the danger of potential discrimination that could result from knowledge of the genetic properties of individuals. The draft bill prohibits secret tests to determine parentage.

Intelligent Diagnostics - 09/02/2022

AI for added value in digital melanoma diagnostics

Intelligent Diagnostics is an interdisciplinary project that brings together the latest technologies and research institutes to better support doctors in diagnosing skin cancer through innovative imaging and artificial intelligence.

Scientists from Heidelberg University Hospital the German Cancer Research Center and the company Febit Biomed GmbH have now developed a method that facilitates the analysis and detection of disease-causing genetic modifications for the first time ever this method enables the genetic characterisation of cardiomyopathy patients. For patients and their relatives this means that the disease can now be reliably diagnosed and specific treatment and…

Press release - 06/05/2010

Second Biomarker Expert Meeting in Heidelberg

Numerous experts in molecular diagnostics convened at the Second Workshop of the Biomarker Discovery Center (BDC) in Heidelberg. More than 40 researchers from universities, hospitals and industry from various regions of Germany made their way to the city despite adverse travel conditions caused by the volcanic ash cloud.

Press release - 08/06/2011

TagCyx Biotechnologies

TagCyx is a research based company located in Yokohama Kanagawa Prefecture. The core technologies of TagCyx are unnatural base pair technologies and nucleic acids stabilization technology.

With a € 1.5 Mio Second Closing, Curetis has now increased its Series A financing round to € 20 Mio. This additional financing will enable Curetis to complete the development of its innovative diagnostic products through to market entry. Quality Certification for its diagnostic product development represents an additional milestone in Curetis' commercial strategy. At the same time, Curetis has added internationally recognized expertise in…

Article - 29/11/2013

QIAGEN Lake Constance: a “disk player” for rapid diagnoses

The diagnosis of infectious diseases frequently not only depends on the reliable identification of the pathogenic species that has caused them, but also on obtaining rapid results in order to immediately initiate appropriate therapy or further diagnostic measures. Tests are normally carried out in central laboratories, samples need to be sent to the laboratories and the results are rarely immediate. As part of the BMBF-funded project “ResCheck”,…

Press release - 21/04/2011

Gut bacteria could help with diagnostics and influence treatments

In the future, when you walk into a doctor’s surgery or hospital, you could be asked not just about your allergies and blood group, but also about your gut type. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, and collaborators in the international MetaHIT consortium, have found that humans have three different gut types.

Press release - 05/09/2011

Sequenom announces European licensing agreement with GATC daughter LifeCodexx

Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM), a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, today announced it has partnered with LifeCodexx AG, a company focused on the development of clinically validated Next Generation Molecular Diagnostics, for the commercialization of prenatal laboratory testing services in Europe. The companies have agreed to collaborate in the development and launch of a trisomy 21 laboratory developed test…

Press release - 05/07/2010

AnDiaTec - Real cowboys have heard of Kornwestheim

AnDiaTec GmbH & Co. KG from Kornwestheim is in high demand worldwide as a partner specialising in detection methods for bacteria and viruses. The company is a world market leader in real time PCR Kits for the detection of noroviruses. The U.S. Ministry of Agriculture even draws on the expertise of AnDiaTec in relation to virus infections in cattle. After an intensive period of research and development, the company is now expanding its sales…

Article - 15/10/2012

gerbion®: hunting down pathogens

Detecting viruses, bacteria or parasites in human, animal, food and environmental samples is routine for the staff of gerbion GmbH & Co. KG. The company has been using virological, microbiological and serological methods for many years, but is now also using cutting-edge molecular biology methods for detecting pathogens. The founders of the Kornwestheim-based diagnostics company have concentrated on own research work and the development of…

Article - 15/04/2010

Rainer Wittig: oxygen biology opens up new paths

“When one talks about light in the field of biology, the crucial role played by oxygen often comes into it.” When Rainer Wittig says that he sees himself as an oxygen researcher, he is not just simplifying his job title because essentially, that is exactly what he is. A lot of the molecular biologist’s work revolves around oxygen, in particular its highly reactive forms. Wittig has been head of the biology department at the Ulm-based ILM since…

Article - 20/06/2016

New diagnostic tool for greater health safety when dealing with multidrug-resistant pathogens

Infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and diseases such as breast or colon cancer are among the major causes of death worldwide. Early diagnosis is therefore key for the identification of people affected and for providing immediate therapy. The R&D service provider Hahn-Schickard and its partners are currently working on the development of a rapid and simple diagnostic system that can detect life-threatening infections and cancer at…

Article - 05/11/2009

CLAIR provides new insights

The human eye is a fascinating organ as well as model for the specialists at Stockach-based Sensovation AG. Their complex optical detection systems are based on CCD and CMOS technologies. However a high-tech sensor is able to recognise much more than many eyes put together.

BioRegionUlms concept on the development of innovative biopharmaceutical products and services in Baden-Württemberg has been declared one of the winners.

Scientists from the Center for Prenatal Diagnosis and Human Genetics, Kudamm-199, in Berlin have been working with scientists from GATC Biotech AG and LifeCodexx AG to develop a non-invasive diagnostic test based on Next Generation Sequencing which reliably detects a fetal trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).

Spindiag, a young medtech company in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, announced today the expanded financing of its first Series A. Based on a proprietary microfluidic technology first researched at the company’s mother institute Hahn-Schickard, Spindiag is developing a sustainable platform to diagnose infections and, as a first product, a rapid test for multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Article - 10/03/2009

When neurones lose their way

Dr. Deborah Morris-Rosendahl and her team at the Freiburg Medical School are investigating genetic cephalic disorders which are collectively referred to as lissencephaly. The scientists offer clinical diagnostics and investigate the causes of the disease.

Article - 10/03/2021

Faster to single cells using miniature grinder

Tissue cells are needed for medical diagnostics, cell therapies and tissue engineering, among other things. A novel tissue grinder gently and automatically dissociates cells from tissue. In November 2020, the newly founded biotech company Fast Forward Discoveries GmbH (FFX) delivered its first tissue grinders to customers.

Baden-Württemberg is currently home to 188 biotechnology companies. In addition to dedicated biotechnology companies, this also includes bioinformatics, diagnostics and analytics companies that use modern biotechnology methods or focus on biotechnological production.

Cytolytics GmbH - 14/02/2023

Bioinformatics meets medical diagnostics and drug development

The start-up company Cytolytics from Tübingen has developed a robust and user-friendly software platform that uses machine learning for the automated analysis of cells. This is beneficial in areas such as cancer diagnostics and the development of new pharmaceutically active substances.

Article - 09/08/2010

Quick and early detection of rare diseases

Lysosomal storage diseases LSD are a group of around 50 rare inherited metabolic disorders. Only 12 LSDs have been described biochemically and microbiologically. Prof. Dr. Michael Przybylski from the Steinbeis Transfer Centre for Biopolymer Analysis and Proteomics at the University of Constance now hopes to change this situation. In a project carried out in cooperation with the biotech company Genzyme CEE Konstanz and the University of Timisoara…

Big Data - 14/12/2017

Looking at the whole genome raises new questions

Research laboratories around the world have long focused on studying the whole human genome. It is hoped that knowing the whole human genome will improve diagnostics and enable more specific therapies. Although genome analysis has not yet reached routine clinical application, whole genome sequencing has already raised many ethical and legal issues - for researchers, physicians and patients.

Article - 25/10/2010

Angelika Rück visualises the dance of molecules

Angelika Rück measures the luminescence time of molecules in order to find out whether proteins are speaking with each other. She hopes that she will soon be able to differentiate inflammation from tumours. Rück who is head of microscopy at the Ulm-based ILM has worked hard with her colleagues to make the Eselsberg-based Ulm University location one of southern Germanys leading life cell imaging centres.

Since the 1st March 2008 the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at the University Hospital in Heidelberg has a new medical director Professor Dr. Hans-Ulrich Kauczor 45 succeeds Professor Dr. Günter Kauffmann.

Article - 23/05/2016

Fungal infections of the lungs – antibody-based imaging improves diagnosis

Cancer was the first area of diagnostics in which antibody-based PET/MRI imaging was used. The diagnosis of fungal infections will be the next. The innovative method is being developed by a European research consortium coordinated by researchers in Tübingen.

Article - 13/10/2014

Personalised cancer therapy based on microRNA analysis

microRNAs are not just required for the regulation of gene expression, their expression signatures also allow conclusions to be drawn on the type and progression of cancer. Sensovation AG is therefore working with partners from industry and clinical research to develop an automated microRNA analysis platform that can detect and evaluate microRNA signatures faster than has previously been possible. The system is designed to make it easier to…