Lab-on-a-chip - 11/11/2020 Microfluidic platform for the best possible cancer therapy Every tumour and every patient is different, and there are individual reactions to drugs as well as the problem of resistance. Patient-specific cancer treatments require innovative and cost-effective approaches. The TheraMe! consortium has developed a novel instrument: a combination of microfluidic experiments and mathematical modelling for use in cancer precision medicine to prevent incorrect therapy options.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/microfluidic-platform-best-possible-cancer-therapy
Press release - 20/10/2020 EIB backs Atriva Therapeutics with €24 million for the development of a potential COVID-19 treatment The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Atriva Therapeutics GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of host-targeting antiviral therapies, concluded a €24 million financing agreement today to facilitate the company’s development and clinical testing of a novel therapy treating severe respiratory infections with RNA viruses. RNA viruses cause diseases such as influenza, SARS and COVID-19. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/eib-backs-atriva-therapeutics-eur24-million-development-potential-covid-19-treatment
Press release - 01/09/2020 Strengthening the immune system with small molecules Infections pose an increasing risk to hospitalized patients. In collaboration with a number of partners, the Fraunhofer IGB has developed a new therapeutic approach as part of the InnateFun project. Their strategy is to improve cells’ ability to defend themselves against harmful microorganisms by acting on their immune receptors. The researchers’ work on this therapeutic approach has reached the animal model stage. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/strengthening-immune-system-small-molecules
Biotech start-up from Frickenhausen develops chewing gum as test system for bacteria - 19/12/2019 A medical connoisseur – the tongue as a sensor for infections 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. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/medizinischer-feinschmecker-die-zunge-als-sensor-fuer-infektionen
Article - 26/07/2019 New test assay leads to discovery of new influenza virus infection route Researchers from the University of Freiburg have recently discovered a completely new mechanism that influenza viruses use to infect cells. This discovery was partly made possible by a so-called emulsion coupling assay - an extremely sensitive, digital detection method developed by Actome GmbH in collaboration with scientists from the Freiburg University of Applied Sciences and Hahn-Schickard. The assay is used to count individual molecules and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/alternativer-infektionsweg-fuer-grippeviren-durch-neues-testverfahren-entdeckt
Freiburg im Breisgau - 04/06/2019 Spindiag’s continued road to success: Expansion of Series A with an additional 4 million euros for market entry 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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/spindiags-continued-road-to-success-expansion-of-series-a-with-an-additional-4-million-euros-for-market-entry
Press release - 26/03/2019 EUR 3 million in series A for the growth and development of Cytena GmbH 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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/eur-3-million-in-series-a-for-the-growth-and-development-of-cytena-gmbh
Article - 29/01/2019 Targeted RNA editing with the body’s own enzyme activity Completely new possibilities for research and gene therapy became available following the development of the CRISPR/Cas method for targeted modification of the genome. However, treatment with molecular scissors is not without risk as potential errors are stored in the genome forever. Scientists from Tübingen have developed an alternative method in which the intervention takes place at the RNA level using the body's own enzymes and is thus…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/targeted-rna-editing-with-the-bodys-own-enzyme-activity
Press release - 10/12/2018 High distinction for stem cell researcher Andreas Trumpp This year's State Research Prize of Baden-Württemberg awarded for outstanding achievements in applied research goes to Andreas Trumpp from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM). Theresia Bauer, State Minister of Science, Research and the Arts, presented the award, which carries a monetary prize of €100.000, at a festive ceremony on December 10, 2018.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/high-distinction-for-stem-cell-researcher-andreas-trumpp
Press release - 03/12/2018 SpinDiag closes second financing round of EUR 3.0 million (USD 3.4 million) to complete product development of its point-of-care screening system for antibiotic-resistant bacteria One year after its seed financing, SpinDiag GmbH closes a second financing round of EUR 3 million (USD 3.4 million) as planned. The financing will enable SpinDiag to complete the product development of its first product for screening for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and to start clinical trials. This will pave the way for regulatory approval in the EU.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/spindiag-closes-second-financing-round-of-eur-30-million-usd-34-million-to-complete-product-development-of-its-point-of-care-scr
Article - 29/10/2018 Aminolipine: formaldehyde-free substitute for preserving biological tissues For almost 125 years, undertakers as well as physicians in the fields of anatomy and pathology have used formaldehyde to preserve biological tissue and whole cadavers. Yet, formaldehyde is highly toxic and linked to cancer. A team led by Prof. Dr. Bernhard Hirt from the Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis at the University Hospital in Tübingen has developed a formaldehyde-free replacement substance.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/aminolipine-formaldehyde-free-substitute-for-preserving-biological-tissues
Article - 14/03/2018 Patent versus publication: setting up start-ups in the sciences When it comes to universities as start-up incubators, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA is often used as a prime example of entrepreneurial impact. Well over 100 high-tech spin-offs have been set up in the vicinity of the renowned university. Many German universities also offer attractive conditions for scientists with an entrepreneurial spirit. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/patent-versus-publication-setting-up-start-ups-in-the-sciences
Article - 21/02/2018 HepaRegeniX – a start-up is taking it up a step! HepaRegeniX, a biotech company founded in 2016, specialises in developing drugs that restore the regenerative capacity of diseased livers. The three founders of the biotech start-up, Prof. Dr. Lars Zender, Prof. Dr. Stefan Laufer and Dr. Wolfgang Albrecht, anticipate starting clinical testing of the first drug candidate in 2019.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/heparegenix-a-start-up-is-taking-it-up-a-step
Press release - 04/01/2018 CureVac and Arcturus Therapeutics Announce Broad Strategic Collaboration to Advance Next Generation of Lipid-Mediated mRNA Therapeutics CureVac AG, a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of pioneering mRNA therapeutics, and Arcturus Therapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ:ARCT), an RNA medicines company, today announced they have entered into a broad strategic collaboration to jointly discover, develop and commercialize novel messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-and-arcturus-therapeutics-announce-broad-strategic-collaboration-to-advance-next-generation-of-lipid-mediated-mrna-thera
Press release - 30/10/2017 CureVac Announces Groundbreaking of Industrial-Scale GMP Production Facility for RNA Therapeutics https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-announces-groundbreaking-of-industrial-scale-gmp-production-facility-for-rna-therapeutics
Press release - 21/09/2017 Atriva reaches a development milestone and receives an additional tranche of running seed financing to develop its influenza therapeutic to clinical stage The next generation of Antiviral Therapies: Co-Led by Stichting Participatie Atriva and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Atriva Therapeutics GmbH has received a second tranche of its running seed financing in total of € 3 Mn from Dutch, German and Canadian investors, after lead compound ATR-002 (Atriva’s antiviral MEK-Inhibitor against Influenza) has passed an important preclinical milestone paving the way to clinical development stage.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/atriva-reaches-a-development-milestone-and-receives-an-additional-tranche-of-running-seed-financing-to-develop-its-influenza-the
Company profile - 04/09/2017 Mireca: a new drug for stopping the progression of eye diseases A team of researchers from several EU countries has developed a new drug that stops the progression of hereditary retinal diseases. The project partners founded a company called Mireca Medicines GmbH in the city of Tübingen to bring the drug to market. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/mireca-a-new-drug-for-stopping-the-progression-of-eye-diseases
Article - 28/08/2017 SpinDiag GmbH – rapid test makes it difficult for pathogens Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are becoming an increasing problem, especially in hospitals. Infected patients must be isolated as soon as possible. However, appropriate methods for testing patients upon admission to hospital and isolating them if necessary are still lacking. A young biotechnology company from Baden-Württemberg called SpinDiag GmbH has developed a cost-effective method for the rapid testing of microbial resistance in normal…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/spindiag-gmbh-rapid-test-makes-it-difficult-for-pathogens
Press release - 20/07/2017 SpinDiag Raises 1.6 Mio. EUR Seed-Capital The Freiburg-based startup SpinDiag GmbH recently closed a 1.6 Mio. EUR seed-round with three private investors. The team developed a revolutionary point-of-care screening system for testing patients for antibiotic-resistant bacteria at their admission to hospitals and almost instantly so. The seed-capital will make it feasible to bring SpinDiag’s system from its current laboratory environment to first tests in hospitals. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/spindiag-raises-16-mio-eur-seed-capital
Article - 26/06/2017 Hope for mRNA vaccines despite damper The pressure is on to develop novel vaccines based on messenger RNA and aimed at combating cancer and protecting against pandemics. Although mRNA vaccination as a cancer monotherapy has suffered a setback this year, the industry is nevertheless confident that it will succeed because of existing proof that mRNA vaccines stimulate the body's immune defence.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hope-for-mrna-vaccines-despite-damper
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.…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/ralf-reski-from-moss-to-humans
Press release - 23/05/2017 TolerogenixX secures seed funding and completes Phase I clinical trial TolerogenixX GmbH has developed a patented and clinically tested cell therapy technique for individualised immunosuppression in transplant patients. The technique enables the targeted disabling of undesired reactions caused by the immune system’s defences. As a seed stage investor, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) will finance this innovative technique and the preparations for Phase II of the clinical trial, which begins in spring 2018. Further…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/tolerogenixx-secures-seed-funding-and-completes-phase-i-clinical-trial
Article - 18/05/2017 ImmuStick – novel rapid test for identifying disease pathogens In some situations such as in the food and pharmaceutical industries or hospitals, a test to identify disease pathogens can be vital. At present, such tests are relatively time-consuming and can take hours or even days to produce results, depending on the pathogen. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart are currently developing a rapid test called ImmuStick which is as easy to use…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/immustick-novel-rapid-test-for-identifying-disease-pathogens
Article - 19/04/2017 Are start-ups a matter for the boss? A professor’s thoughts on university spin-offs Research work and entrepreneurship are by no means mutually exclusive. There are numerous successful university spin-offs in the life sciences sector that prove this only too well. However, the road from a good idea to a commercially successful company can be long and arduous. Those who benefit from the support of their boss from the outset can consider themselves extremely fortunate. Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Rammensee talks about his experience with…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/are-start-ups-a-matter-for-the-boss-a-professors-thoughts-on-university-spin-offs
Expert interview - 14/11/2016 The great untapped potential of herbal medicines Baden-Württemberg is home to a large number of companies that produce herbal medicines, i.e. preparations made from plant extracts rather than pure compounds. In an interview with Dr. Ariane Pott from BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg, Professor Dr. Michael Wink, Director of the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Heidelberg, explains how these special extracts are placed on the market and how they differ from medicines…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-great-untapped-potential-of-herbal-medicines