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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biologicals-are-becoming-increasingly-important-to-boehringer-ingelheim
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…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/suedpack-a-great-example-of-biotech-as-a-cross-sectoral-technology
Article - 01/03/2017 foxySpec – an analysis system with huge potential for bioproduction and diagnostics The mass spectrometry-based foxySpec system enables the monitoring of gases and liquids simultaneously in real time. These simultaneous measurements make the system interesting for medical diagnostics applications. However, bioproduction can also benefit from foxySpec, which can also be used to measure a large number of products during the production process in real time, thus supporting smooth processes in fermenters. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/foxyspec-an-analysis-system-with-huge-potential-for-bioproduction-and-diagnostics
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…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/microfluidic-biofermenter-mimics-plant-tissue
Article - 02/05/2016 Biopolymers – raw materials for innovative medical products Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biodegradable biopolymers that are becoming increasingly important. Bioplastics are now used not only in everyday objects such as plastic bags and yogurt pots but also increasingly in the field of medicine, which is why intensive research into medical devices made from biodegradable polymers such as PHA has been going on for quite some time. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biopolymers-raw-materials-for-innovative-medical-products
Pharmaceutical research and life sciences profit from unique biosensor technology - 18/09/2015 Biametrics GmbH concludes financing round with 3.1 Million Euro Biametrics GmbH today announced the completion of their most recent financing round with €3.1 Million. Partners of the A Series Investment were LBBW Venture GmbH, MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft BW, and KfW Bankengruppe. Together with seed investors HTGF and Seedfonds BW, they are aiming to accelerate the expansion of Biametrics’ bioanalytical business activities to an international level. The fresh capital will facilitate the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/biametrics-gmbh-concludes-financing-round-with-31-million-euro
Article - 12/01/2015 Bionic chemistry: developing tailor-made functional units for bacterial cells Dr. Stefan Schiller from the Center for Biological Systems Analysis (ZBSA) at the University of Freiburg combines synthetic biology and synthetic chemistry concepts in order to equip bacterial cells with organelle-like compartments. He has countless biotechnological applications in mind. In 2014, Schiller received the research prize “Next Generation of Biotechnological Methods – Biotechnology 2020+”. The prize is awarded every two years and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/bionic-chemistry-developing-tailor-made-functional-units-for-bacterial-cells
Press release - 26/06/2014 A great success – the first German-Chinese “Biotechnology in a Bioeconomy” workshop At the end of May the first German-Chinese workshop on the role of biotechnology in a future bioeconomy was held at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT with generous support from the Baden-Württemberg government. Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences institutes Tianjin Dalian Tsingtau and from the Chinese Universities of Beijing Nanking and Shanghai met with Baden-Württemberg experts to discuss the current state of research in China…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/a-great-success-the-first-german-chinese-biotechnology-in-a-bioeconomy-workshop
Dossier - 16/06/2014 Biotechnology as a tool for the production of food Biotechnology opens up numerous opportunities for the food industry. The targeted use of biotechnological methods can, amongst other things, help reduce the quantity and number of unhealthy ingredients in foods as well as degrade allergenic substances. Genomic research and targeted breeding also greatly facilitate progress in agriculture. Food biotechnology therefore contributes significantly to saving resources, optimising harvest yields and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/biotechnology-as-a-tool-for-the-production-of-food
Guest article - 07/04/2014 Experience report from Nanjing Marcel Loewert, who is studying bioengineering (M. Sc.) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), was awarded a China scholarship from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts to spend five months at the College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering in Nanjing, capital and communications centre in China’s Jiangsu Province. Here Marcel reports about the experiences he made during his five-month stay in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/experience-report-from-nanjing
Article - 18/11/2013 Insilico Biotechnology AG: strategic orientation secures corporate growth Insilico Biotechnology AG from Stuttgart designs and optimises biotechnological processes for the chemical pharmaceutical and food industries. The company makes predictions on the behaviour of cells and organisms. This knowledge can be used to reduce the time required for the development or optimisation of biotechnological processes involving the production of drugs. The company owns a worldwide unique systems biology platform that integrates…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/insilico-biotechnology-ag-strategic-orientation-secures-corporate-growth
Article - 16/09/2013 Infrared light as an indicator of wine quality Guaranteeing the quality of wines is becoming increasingly important so that they are able to compete in the international market. However, the quality control methods currently used are often rather time-consuming and costly. In addition, it is difficult to detect microbial grape contaminations that might jeopardise the quality of the wines. Researchers at the National Training and Research Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/infrared-light-as-an-indicator-of-wine-quality
Guest article - 15/04/2013 Varied and multi-facetted – life and research in Nanjing Joachim Koepff spent six months in Nanjing from June to November 2012 doing practical training at the College for Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering. Here he recounts his experiences in China and his thoughts about the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science Research and the Arts scholarship that makes such short-term research stays at a Chinese research institution possible.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/varied-and-multi-facetted-life-and-research-in-nanjing
Article - 12/03/2013 Science to business – exit strategies for biotech companies The two directors of the consultancy firm LSCN Ltd. Dr. Alrik Koppenhöfer and Dr. Volker Ungermann explain the key issues involved in MA negotiations and licensing deals and how LSCN supports biotechnology companies and strategic investors in reaching their goals. Both managers agree that a good dose of realism is necessary. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/science-to-business-exit-strategies-for-biotech-companies
Press release - 21/08/2012 Freiburg research team sheds light on important metabolite in bacteria Scientists from the research groups of Prof. Dr. Susana Andrade and Prof. Dr. Oliver Einsle, members of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Cluster of Excellence of the University of Freiburg, have collected the first precise data ever on the function of a transport protein for formate – an important metabolite in bacteria. The findings could potentially lead to the development of new antibiotic…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/freiburg-research-team-sheds-light-on-important-metabolite-in-bacteria
Dossier - 23/07/2012 Extremophilic bacteria What causes stress for some, actually speeds others like extremophilic bacteria up. They love it hot, sour or salty, toxic substances like heavy metals also do them good and even give them energy. As molecular and systems biology techniques get better and better, industry is also becoming increasingly interested in these exotic organisms. What potential does knowing the biochemistry of extremophilic bacteria have for the pharmaceutical, cosmetics…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/extremophilic-bacteria
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/laupheim-to-become-an-international-forum-for-biomanufacturing
Press release - 01/06/2012 DFG Europa-Preis awarded to winners of national "Jugend forscht" competition Four young researchers had two reasons to celebrate at this year's awards ceremony for Germany’s "Jugend forscht" competition in Erfurt. Not only did the young researchers place first in their respective fields, they were also awarded the Europa-Preis of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation).https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/dfg-europa-preis-awarded-to-winners-of-national-jugend-forscht-competition
Article - 14/05/2012 Biogas and sustainability The German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) has led to a considerable increase in the use of biogas in Germany. However, increasing biogas production must make ecological sense and not generate conflict with the sustainability objectives of environmental conservation schemes. There must therefore be a careful consideration of the overall conditions. An analysis of the ecological impact of the generation and use of biogas in Germany taking into…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biogas-and-sustainability
Article - 19/03/2012 Protein aggregation: when proximity becomes dangerous The aggregation of proteins in the human body might have severe medical consequences, as is the case with Alzheimer’s disease, for example. A less known fact is that the biopharmaceutical industry is also faced with the biological phenomenon of protein aggregation and is working on preventive measures. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/protein-aggregation-when-proximity-becomes-dangerous
Article - 19/03/2012 Goal: online glucose sensor for bioreactors Microorganisms and sensitive cells that are grown in bioreactors need a well-regulated environment and a food supply in order to do what they are supposed to do: grow and produce biomass and metabolites. Many fermenters are equipped with sensors that continuously measure critical bioprocess parameters, including temperature, pH value and oxygen. Online glucose and ethanol sensors are not yet used in regulated bioreactors, even though they would…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/goal-online-glucose-sensor-for-bioreactors
Article - 19/03/2012 Soil bacteria to produce new antibiotics An ever-growing number of genomes of soil bacteria of the genus Streptomyces are being sequenced. Using a method known as “genome mining”, researchers at the University of Tübingen are working on the identification of gene clusters that have the potential to be used in industrial biotechnology for the production of new antibiotics and other pharmaceutically active substances. To achieve this, the biosynthesis gene clusters are integrated into…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/soil-bacteria-to-produce-new-antibiotics
Article - 20/11/2011 Can probiotic lactic acid bacteria protect the intestines against pathogens? Nutrition scientists from the Max Rubner-Institut MRI in Karlsruhe are investigating how human pathogens and probiotic bacterial strains interact with each other in the human gastrointestinal tract. Are probiotic bacteria in yoghurt or in pickled vegetables for example able to reduce the health risk posed by pathogenic bacteria?https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/can-probiotic-lactic-acid-bacteria-protect-the-intestines-against-pathogens
Article - 25/07/2011 Cell culturing as a taught subject: many more “Biberachs” are needed Cell culture technology is only taught at a handful of universities. However, this interdisciplinary subject is the core of the “Pharmaceutical Biotechnology” programme offered by the Biberach University of Applied Sciences. We talked about the subject with Professor Jürgen Hannemann, founding dean of the “Pharmaceutical Biotechnology” programme, and with Professor Friedemann Hesse, who runs the “cell culture technology” teaching programme.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cell-culturing-as-a-taught-subject-many-more-biberachs-are-needed
Article - 16/05/2011 New analysis tools involving molecularly imprinted polymers The demand for made-to-measure analytical methods is increasing as interest in the biological production of materials and pharmaceuticals increases. It is extremely important economically for bioindustry to know the production time and quantity of products that result from specific fermentation conditions. Inspired by natural molecular processes, researchers from Tübingen and Stuttgart are working on new, label-free analytical methods that make…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-analysis-tools-involving-molecularly-imprinted-polymers