Press release - 15/01/2014 Hit Discovery Constance GmbH: a new hub for HTS and compound management Hit Discovery Constance GmbH (“HDC”), a new joint venture organisation between Lead Discovery Center (Dortmund/Germany), Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3, KULeuven, Leuven/Belgium) and Axxam (Milan/Italy) has started its operation. The new company is based in Constance (Germany) and will make use of the already established equipment and know-how of the former Takeda/Nycomed/Altana screening and compound management facilities at the site.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hit-discovery-constance-gmbh-a-new-hub-for-hts-and-compound-management
Article - 07/01/2014 BioMed X GmbH - An innovation centre in Heidelberg at the interface between academia and industry BioMed X GmbH, founded in Heidelberg in March 2013, and Merck KGaA from Darmstadt have established a new way of fostering innovation at the interface of academic biomedical research and pharmaceutical industry-based research. Teams of top young and talented scientists from leading academic institutions worldwide carry out product-oriented research and development projects that are funded by the industry and for which they receive guidance from…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biomed-x-gmbh-an-innovation-centre-in-heidelberg-at-the-interface-between-academia-and-industry
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…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/biotechnology-driver-of-innovation-in-the-pharmaceutical-industry
Article - 30/09/2013 CureVac GmbH: RNA-based vaccines and immunotherapies CureVac GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company based in Tübingen, develops immunotherapies for cancer along with prophylactic vaccines based on its proprietary messenger RNA (mRNA) technology platform. CureVac also uses RNA for developing adjuvants. Two clinical trials, a Phase I trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a Phase IIb trial in prostate cancer, are currently underway to test the efficiency of mRNA-based drugs in treating cancer and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/curevac-gmbh-rna-based-vaccines-and-immunotherapies
Article - 22/07/2013 FESTO – tapping into the bioproduction market Festo AG Co. KG is a leading provider of factory automation and process automation. The company has been involved in and contributed to shaping the development of such automation solutions ever since its foundation in 1925. Festo markets electrical and pneumatic drive technology valves sensors and other automation components as well as complete control units. Moreover when industrial bioproduction involving living microorganisms was gaining in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/festo-tapping-into-the-bioproduction-market
Article - 02/05/2013 Borderline products – products with medicinal property Borderline products are products that fall into categories somewhere in-between pharmaceuticals, foods and cosmetics. The number of such products sold over the Internet is increasing, and most of them are declared as dietary supplements. A Joint Expert Commission of the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety and the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices has now been set up with the aim of shedding light onto…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/borderline-products-products-with-medicinal-property
Press release - 30/04/2013 Impressions from the 2013 BIO International Convention in Chicago A trade fair turns 20 and an industrial sector is coming of age. Where does BIO stand today? The number of exhibitors has slightly decreased the conference is characterised by general themes and trends and partnering has become the most important and indispensable part of the global event for biotechnology. What was once a gold rush atmosphere has given way to an experienced self-confidence about the economic importance of biotechnology. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/impressions-from-the-2013-bio-international-convention-in-chicago
Press release - 29/04/2013 BIOBreakfast: exclusive networking in Chicago The annual Networking Breakfast was held at the Chicago Club on 23rd April 2013 on the occasion of the 2013 BIO International Convention the global event for biotechnology. As part of the event Heidelberg Technology Park HTP and the University Technology Park in Chicago unveiled an expanded partnering programme. Around 70 participants from 12 countries used the exclusive setting to make new international contacts renew old ones and exchange…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/biobreakfast-exclusive-networking-in-chicago
Dossier - 15/04/2013 Bioactive plant foods – more than just filling The increasing demand for functional foods clearly shows that the role of food is no longer just to meet an essential need. Food that offers additional nutritional benefits is becoming increasingly important for example food that is able to prevent or treat diseases. This kind of food is therefore interesting for consumers the food industry and the healthcare sector alike. Products based on plant raw materials are particularly in demand due to…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/bioactive-plant-foods-more-than-just-filling
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
Article - 11/02/2013 Quality management: burden or opportunity? Companies are facing increasing demands. Globalisation and an increasingly quality-conscious market increase competition and pricing pressure. To remain globally competitive companies need a product and service quality that will satisfy the customer in the long term. Alexander Cansier managing director of OrgaConnect GmbH has specialised in the support of small and medium-sized companies in the life sciences pharmaceutical and medical technology…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/quality-management-burden-or-opportunity
Article - 04/02/2013 SYGNIS Pharma - the "new" one: development and commercialisation of molecular diagnostics products Heidelberg-based SYGNIS Pharma AG is to discontinue its therapeutic R&D projects targeting human nervous system diseases and will in future focus on the research and development of novel molecular biology technologies, including DNA amplification and sequencing as well as drug screening.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/sygnis-pharma-the-new-one-development-and-commercialisation-of-molecular-diagnostics-products
Article - 04/02/2013 DKFZ-HIPO – the Heidelberg Center for Personalised Oncology The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the National Center for Tumour Diseases (NCT) have jointly initiated the Heidelberg Center for Personalised Oncology (HIPO) which provides cancer patients with high-throughput genetic and molecular analyses. In anticipation of the upcoming World Cancer Day on 4th February 2013, the potential of high-throughput genetic and molecular analyses in improving cancer therapy was presented at a workshop held…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dkfz-hipo-the-heidelberg-center-for-personalised-oncology
Article - 07/01/2013 HepaChip: a promising tool for assessing adverse drug effects Liver damage is one of the most common adverse drug effects. Since results obtained with animal experiments can only be transferred to the situation in humans to a limited extent, there is a need for cell-based systems that model human organ function as closely as possible. The new HepaChip, developed by researchers at the NMI in Reutlingen on the basis of human liver and endothelial cells is able to do just this.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hepachip-a-promising-tool-for-assessing-adverse-drug-effects
Article - 17/12/2012 Medicyte GmbH – gold standard for human cells Medicyte GmbH is a life sciences company located in the city of Heidelberg. It focuses primarily on the production of quasi-primary human cells of the highest quality and in virtually unlimited quantity. MediCyte’s goal is to establish its proprietary cell proliferation technologies as gold standard for the use of human cells and cell products in research, development and cell therapy.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/medicyte-gmbh-gold-standard-for-human-cells
Press release - 09/11/2012 Apogenix’s Apocept™ for glioblastoma multiforme named one of “Top 10 Projects to Watch” Apogenix a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel protein therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases announced that its lead product Apocept APG101 has been selected by Elsevier Business Intelligence and Windhover Conferences as one of oncologys Top 10 Projects To Watch.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/apogenix-s-apocept-for-glioblastoma-multiforme-named-one-of-top-10-projects-to-watch
Press release - 08/10/2012 Affimed raises € 15.5 million in a Series D financing round Affimed Therapeutics AG the therapeutic TandAb antibody company announced the successful closing of a Series D financing round of 15.5 million on 8 October 2012. The proceeds from this transaction will be used to fund the clinical development of Affimeds therapeutic pipeline that consists of two TandAb products AFM11 and AFM13. Both candidates have unique properties as shown in preclinical studies.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/affimed-raises-15-5-million-in-a-series-d-financing-round
Press release - 08/08/2012 Apogenix: APG101 Exceeds Expectations with Controlled Phase II Clinical Trial The biopharmaceutical company Apogenix GmbH announced today that the phase II clinical proof of concept trial with APG101 as treatment of recurrent glioblastoma has met and exceeded expectations in the final analysis of the data. In this randomized controlled clinical study the patients were treated either with a combination of APG101 plus radiotherapy (APG101+RT group) or radiotherapy alone (RT group). The primary objective of the trial was to…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/apogenix-apg101-exceeds-expectations-with-controlled-phase-ii-clinical-trial
Press release - 01/08/2012 Combination of businesses of SYGNIS and GENETRIX’ subsidiary X-Pol proposed SYGNIS Pharma AG and GENETRIX announced today, that the biotechnology companies SYGNIS and GENETRIX have signed a binding Term Sheet under which the companies propose to combine the GENETRIX’ DNA sequencing subsidiary X-Pol Biotech and SYGNIS. Goal is to develop and market X-Pol Biotech, S.L.’s DNA sequencing technologies and products.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/combination-of-businesses-of-sygnis-and-genetrix-subsidiary-x-pol-proposed
Article - 09/07/2012 Crayfish chitin is an important raw material In his Konstanz-based Vegafood project office Dr. Peter May is focused on sustainable breeding of crayfish with the aim of advancing industrial scale chitin research. European crayfish shed their skin several times a year providing research institutions and chitin product manufacturers with access to crustacean carapaces.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/crayfish-chitin-is-an-important-raw-material
Article - 09/07/2012 Bachelor’s and master’s graduates – what really counts is individual aptitude Ravensburg-based Vetter Pharma GmbH has been constantly growing over the last few years; the company took on 300 new staff in 2011 and plans to recruit 350 more in 2012. The company is desperately looking for qualified young people to help manage its growth. In what way does this impact on job opportunities for bachelor’s and master’s graduates? In the following interview, Christiane Priebe, Director of Human Resources at Vetter Pharma, talks…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/bachelor-s-and-master-s-graduates-what-really-counts-is-individual-aptitude
Article - 02/07/2012 Together against liver failure Medicines that are usually effective in treating diseases can sometimes be associated with severe adverse effects. This can occur when the liver which normally metabolizes drugs and renders them harmless becomes overburdened and even collapses completely. Prof. Dr. Jens Timmer from the University of Freiburg and Prof. Dr. Ursula Klingmüller from the German Cancer Research Center DKFZ in Heidelberg have joined forces in a huge European research…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/together-against-liver-failure
Article - 25/06/2012 Cannabidiol for the treatment of schizophrenic psychoses A hemp compound has been shown to increase the effect of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide in the human brain, thus reducing the delusions associated with psychotic diseases. Studies carried out by Prof. Markus Leweke from the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim involving patients with acute schizophrenic attacks show that the plant compound is better tolerated than currently approved antipsychotic drugs. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cannabidiol-for-the-treatment-of-schizophrenic-psychoses
Press release - 30/05/2012 Valuable Discussions at the Third International DDI Workshop The organisation team of the Third International DDI (drug-drug interactions) Workshop has expressed great satisfaction with the course of the scientific meeting. The participants of the DDI Workshop commended the very high scientific level of the presentations and valuable and inspiring discussions of the different topics. Without a doubt, the DDI Workshop at Marbach Castle is a well established platform for the annual exchange between experts,…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/valuable-discussions-at-the-third-international-ddi-workshop
Article - 29/05/2012 Intestinal bacteria and human gut types The type of bacteria that colonize the human gut does not just influence our digestion and well-being. Metagenome sequencing has provided an international consortium involving scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory at the University Hospital of Heidelberg with evidence that certain individuals have different gut types with different types of bacteria. Such individuals not only differ in their predisposition to disease, but also…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/intestinal-bacteria-and-human-gut-types