MVA newsletter no 04, April 2005

: MVA HIGHLIGHT: Invest DKK 10 billion in R&D
by Stina Gestrelius, Acting CEO, Medicon Valley Academy



This was the fairly unexpected text in full size ads during the Danish election campaign in February. The new governmental declaration (regeringsgrundlaget) also mentions Medicon Valley as a successful example of research collaboration between academia and industry. In Sweden there is still more than a year until the next election - but the fight has started. An increased research funding with SEK 2 billion is promised in the new Swedish research policy bill 'Research for a Better Life', which was launched just before Easter. And this week the leaders of the opposition declare that they want to add another SEK 2 billion to cutting edge research. They also propose a National Institute for Health and Medicine, to put more efforts into strategic areas such as medical biotechnology, bioinformatics, clinical research and IT for hospitals and healthcare.

For us in Medicon Valley, it is interesting to find that biotech and medical research has become a hot topic of the political debate on both sides of Øresund. It was therefore very timely that Medicon Valley Academy’s Annual Meeting focused on future research policies in the EU, Denmark and Sweden, and how they are likely to influence our binational region.

Bertil Andersson, CEO of the European Science Foundation, gave a preview of EU’s Framework Programme 7, and pointed out that regions of knowledge are to be favoured: “Strengthening the research potential of European regions, in particular by encouraging and supporting the development, across Europe, of regional research-driven clusters associating universities, research centres, enterprises and regional authorities.” The FP7 themes include Health, Biotechnology and Food as well as Nanoscience/technology.

Staffan Normark, CEO of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) talked about strong research environments. Such environments are characterized by close contacts to industry and are involved in patenting and establishment of spinout companies. SSF already co-finances collaborating centres together with international funding organisations. Staffan Normark pointed out that a proposal from Medicon Valley regarding co-funding of a strong research environment across the border together with Denmark would be within the statutes for the foundation.

Bruno Hansen, Chairman of the Danish Council for Research Policy, showed how the new High technology Fund becomes an integrated part of the R&D advisory and financing system in Denmark. The board of the fund is headed by Jørgen Mads Clausen from Danfoss, with CEOs and CSOs from i.a. Carlsberg, H. Lundbeck and Arla Foods as other members. The future research policy in Denmark will, according to Bruno Hansen, require special attention paid to areas of excellence and the societal demand for research, including the potential for business development.

Kristian Helin, Director of BRIC (Biotech Research and Innovation Centre), presently under construction in Copenhagen, talked about the importance of talents and adequate funding in order to achieve outstanding research. Talents can be nurtured and transformed into excellent scientists, but Kristian Helin also advocated active international recruitment, with start-up packages and good core facilities to strengthen excellence in Medicon Valley.

Let us hope that research and innovation continues to be on the political agenda, and that the new bills and programmes will further improve the competitiveness of the triple helix (academia - industry – public health care) cluster in Medicon Valley.

: NEWS INDEX

• New MVA publication: MVA Annual Report 2004
• Successful MVA Annual Meeting 2005
• 19 new biotech and medtech companies in Medicon Valley
• MVA Drug Development Network Meeting
• Øresund - Hong Kong: Your Strategic Bridge To The China Markets
• MVA Seminar: From pre-clinical projects to licensing
• China Clinical Research Conference
• Used equipment for sale in Medicon Valley
• Jobs in Medicon Valley
• The Swedish government allocates additional SEK 2.3 billion for research and development
• ALK-Abelló, Copenhagen University Hospital and NOVI Innovation establishes a new company
• Medicon Valley based Mitra Medical raises SEK 30 million
• Statens Serum Institut and Aeras Aeras enter into collaboration agreement to develop TB vaccine
• Medicon Valley based TopoTarget A/S raises EUR 15 million and attracts new investor
• Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse grants SEK 40 million for nano research at Lund University
• Sedoc Pharmaceutical Medicine establishes office in Medicon Valley
• Lund based stem cell researcher awarded with scientific prize

: MVA NEWS

New MVA publication: MVA Annual Report 2004
The report presents the latest developments in the fields of research, education and innovation within biotech and medtech, together with the increasing integration and collaborations in Medicon Valley. In addition, the report describes many of the regional, national and international activities and initiatives that MVA has contributed to during 2004.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-309.htm

Successful MVA Annual Meeting 2005
MVA held its annual meeting and general assembly 30 March 2005. This year focus was on research in Medicon Valley and Europe. Which consequences can we expect for research and research funding in Medicon Valley? Will future research be limited to prioritised areas only and excellent research environments? View short summary and speaker presentations.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1525.htm

19 new biotech and medtech companies in Medicon Valley
Read more here (press release in Swedish and Danish) www.mva.org/composite-1502.htm

MVA Drug Development Network Meeting
12 April 2005 / Ørestad / Copenhagen / Denmark
Medicon Valley Academy in collaboration with Chubb Insurance Company of Europe invites to a meeting on how to deal with and manage risks during drug development, including the conduct of clinical trials.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1454.htm

Øresund - Hong Kong: Your Strategic Bridge To The China Markets
28 April 2005 / Ørestad / Copenhagen / Denmark
Øresund Science Region, Swedish Trade Council and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation invite to a half-day seminar, that will explain why, what, when and how Øresund players can leverage upon Hong Kong in collaboration and partnership to build your superior bridge to the China markets.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1527.htm

MVA Seminar: From pre-clinical projects to licensing
28 April 2005 / Ørestad / Copenhagen / Denmark
This seminar addresses questions arising during early clinical development from a clinical perspective and related business decisions. It will help you to avoid pitfalls and to reduce risk.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1365.htm

China Clinical Research Conference
19-20 May 2005 / Ørestad / Copenhagen / Denmark
Medicon Valley Academy in collaboration with Astrom Research International invites to a conference on EU pharma and biotech companies' opportunities for clinical trials in China.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1423.htm


Used equipment for sale in Medicon Valley
Lund University are selling a Becton Dickinson FACSVantage DIVA, which is an ideal instrument for a research environment that has been considering moving into flow cytometry and cell sorting. Other organisations and companies in Medicon Valley can also list laboratory equipment for sale on our website. The service is free for all Medicon Valley Academy members.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1434.htm

Jobs in Medicon Valley
Visit Medicon Valley Academy's job site and view the latest job descriptions in the region from ALK-Abelló, AnaMar Medical, Bavarian Nordic, Coloplast, H. Lundbeck, Hartmanns, Kelly Scientific Resources, Maxygen, Medical Rubber, Novo Nordisk, Novozymes, Statens Serum Institut, Synarc, Waters and Verigen.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/jobs


: MEDICON VALLEY NEWS

The Swedish government allocates additional SEK 2.3 billion for research and development
The Swedish government has launched a research policy bill 'Research for a Better Life' focusing on investment in research and development to promote high scientific quality, together with a concentration of efforts in areas that can lead to social development and business growth. Over the period 2005-2008, the government appropriations for research and postgraduate education should increase by SEK 2.34 billion. Special initiatives are proposed in research in medicine, technology and sustainable development, and the transfer of knowledge from academia to industry will be boosted by R&D programmes. To meet the growing need for researchers, the government is committing new resources to postgraduate education and to positions for young researchers at universities and university colleges.
Read more here (in Swedish) www.mva.org/composite-1514.htm

ALK-Abelló, Copenhagen University Hospital and NOVI Innovation establishes a new company
T-Shift A/S is a newly established biotech company in Medicon Valley owned jointly by ALK-Abelló A/S, Copenhagen University Hospital and NOVI Innovation A/S. So far, the company has secured DKK 1.5 million in operating capital.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1523.htm

Medicon Valley based Mitra Medical raises SEK 30 million
The Swedish biotech company Mitra Medical raises SEK 30 million from Inter Ikea and Industrifonden. Mitra Medical develops and provides novel concepts and products for the enhancement of diagnostic localization and therapy of cancer. Through a unique proprietary technology, Mitra Medical provides means to improve therapeutic and diagnostic targeting by removing non-targeted toxic substances from the blood circulation.
Read more here (in Swedish) www.mva.org/composite-1504.htm

Statens Serum Institut and Aeras Aeras enter into collaboration agreement to develop TB vaccine
Statens Serum Institut (SSI) and the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation of Bethesda (Maryland, USA) have announced a new collaboration on the pre-clinical and clinical development of SSI's tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, HyVac4. Aeras and SSI will form a joint product development team and Aeras will provide funding for its activities.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1517.htm

Medicon Valley based TopoTarget A/S raises EUR 15 million and attracts new investor
TopoTarget A/S, the Danish oncology company, has raised EUR 15 million in a series C funding round. The funding was contributed by existing shareholders, BankInvest and HealthCap and were joined by a new investor, Deutsche Venture Capital.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1493.htm

Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse grants SEK 40 million for nano research at Lund University
Professor Lars Samuelson, Nanometer Structure Consortium, Lund University has been granted SEK 40 million for laboratory equipment from Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse.
Read more here (in Swedish) www.mva.org/composite-1524.htm

Sedoc Pharmaceutical Medicine establishes office in Medicon Valley
The Swedish CRO company Sedoc Pharmaceutical Medicine has established an office in Lund, Sweden. The company is currently looking for new staff within project management, clinical research administration and biostatistics.
Read more here (in Danish) www.mva.org/composite-1497.htm

Lund based stem cell researcher awarded with scientific prize
Sten Eirik Jacobsen, Lund Stem Cell Center, are among the winners of Swedens most important scientific prize, the Göran Gustafsson Award 2005.
Read more here (in Swedish) www.mva.org/composite-1518.htm


: FUTURE EVENTS - see all events

The 9th Swedish-American Entrepreneurial Days 2005
20-22 April 2005 / Washington DC / USA
The key Swedish/US trade event that small, medium-sized and large companies attend to make new contacts and to do business. Over the years this event has helped a number of Swedish companies enter the US market and American companies to expand their business interests in Europe.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1507.htm

ERBI's 7th Cambridge Biopartnering Exchange Event
4-5 May 2005 / Cambridge / UK
Meet Europe's most successful biotech entrepreneurs at ERBI's 7th Bio-partnering Exchange. The meeting is limited to 450 senior level delegates; a guarantee that you meet the people who will make an impact on your business. With over 30 presentations from innovative biotechnology companies in Cambridge.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1380.htm

Seminar: Global OUTsourcing - Nordic INsourcing
10-11 May 2005 / Hotel D´Angleterre / Copenhagen / Denmark
This conference is organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Nordic Council and the Nordic Innovation Centre. The overall purpose of the conference is to examine how industry and governments of the Nordic countries can benefit the most from outsourcing.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1512.htm

Executive seminar: Managing Across Cultures
13 May 2005 / Copenhagen / Denmark
Learn how to make your company succeed internationally by attending this one-day seminar with world-famous business advisor, Dr Fons Trompenaars. He has helped more than 100 major global corporations to understand and benefit from being part of the global community.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1526.htm

TechnologyWorld05 - international partnering event in the UK
17 May 2005 / Hinxton Hall / Cambridge / UK
TechnologyWorld05 is an international partnering event. It will see hundreds of leading edge technology companies come together that are looking to form new business relationships with international partners.
Read more here (in English) www.mva.org/composite-1506.htm

Course in Immunology
23 - 26 May 2005 / Copenhagen / Denmark
Kielberg Consult Aps offers an introduction to immunology - the immune system in health and disease, covering an in-depth education in the immune systems structure and function including immunological techniques and diseases. The course includes 22 lectures presented by teachers with a strong research experience.
Read more here (in Danish) www.mva.org/composite-1459.htm


: NEW MVA MEMBERS - see complete membership list

Astrom Research International - www.astromresearch.com - is a consultancy service focusing on clinical trials and medical products in China. The company works through a network of hospitals in all major cities in China.

Bioett AB - www.bioett.com - has developed a patented, innovative and new way of monitoring the accumulated effect of temperature on products over time.

Huntingdon Life Sciences - www.huntingdon.com - one of the world's largest Contract Research Organisations concentrating upon nutrition, veterinary research, biochemical research, pharmaceuticals, food additives and a variety of crop protection and consumer chemicals.

Skåne Food Innovation Network - www.livsmedelsakademin.com - regional authorities, farmers’ organizations, food and packaging industries, commercial enterprises, universities and colleges act hand in hand to develop Skåne´s food sector to its full potential.