EDITORIAL
International recognition of Medicon Valley
Reaching out, attracting talent, creating excellence – these six words are key for Medicon Valley Academy in all that we do.
In the process of reaching out MVA has during the last month visited North America and Asia to reach out for relations, partnerships, knowledge and talent. MVA participated in BIO 2007 in Boston raising awareness of science and business opportunities in Medicon Valley. In April MVA toured Singapore, South Korea and China telling the Medicon Valley story and looking for potential partners for the Medicon Valley Ambassador Programme. In all the places visited we were met with great interest for Medicon Valley. Read more
MVA PROJECT NEWS
Coming up: Strictly Financing Award 2007
On 12 June six Medicon Valley biotech companies will compete for the prestigious Strictly Financing Award, which takes place at the Royal Opera in Copenhagen. The nominees are strong companies with money in the bank and products close to the market. They will be evaluated by an exclusive investor panel with eight of the largest British life science investors representing more than DKK 100 billion. Read more (in Danish) or visit the Strictly Financing homepage
MVA promoted cancer research and innovation at post-BIO meeting
The day after BIO 2007 in Boston a showcasing and networking event was hosted at Biogen Idec’s office in the same city. The title was “Scandinavian Core Competence in Translational Cancer Research and Innovation”. MVA’s Stina Gestrelius gave an overview of current preclinical and clinical cancer studies in Medicon Valley. Furthermore, the event comprised a presentation on the Oslo Cancer Cluster, Photocure ASA and other Scandinavian companies with projects in the cancer field.
Network meeting for new businesses in Medicon Valley
In the beginning of May MVA invited all life science companies established in Medicon Valley within the last year to a welcoming network meeting. Here the companies had the opportunity to discuss business ideas and meet experienced investors and entrepreneurs from the region. Six brand new life science companies from either side of the Øresund made use of the opportunity and attended the meeting at the MVA office in Ørestad. Read more
Top researchers gathered for Diabetes and Obesity Workshop in Malmø
On 23 April another UK-Medicon Valley Bioscience Alliance event took place with a workshop covering the latest advances in science and technology in diabetes and obesity research. The event brought together leading researchers and clinicians from Denmark, Sweden and the UK with the aim to encourage new multidisciplinary R&D partnerships and facilitate knowledge sharing as well as dialogue between the regions. The workshop took place at the Clinical Research Centre at Malmö University Hospital UMAS and was well attended by representatives from both academia and industry from Medicon Valley and UK. Read more
OTHER NEWS
Event & Activities Calendar: A new bimonthly news service from MVA
Which life science events and activities should you join in Medicon Valley as well as internationally? Stay updated by getting our new events & activities calendar directly in your inbox. The MVA Calendar Service will provide you with an overview of life science events and activities in Medicon Valley and internationally, including all MVA activities. Please sign-up below for this bimonthly newsletter service, which will be launched this summer.
The current newsletter sections ‘Activities in Medicon Valley’ and ‘International activities’ will no longer be contained in the current MVA newsletter as of August 2007, and will only be present in the new MVA Calendar Service.
Subscribe to the MVA Calendar Service
Medicon Valley Life Science Guide 2007
The Medicon Valley Life Science Guide 2007 has just been published with profiles and contact information on private and public life science players in Medicon Valley. Furthermore, the magazine contains articles on latest news and cluster developments in Medicon Valley. Read more
Launch of a new life science clusters magazine
Life Science CLUSTERS is a new international quarterly magazine, which was launched in April 2007 by avakado Ltd, the publishers of SP2. Life Science CLUSTERS focus on the growing development of regional clusters in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. Its coverage includes feature articles, interviews, market analyses and profiles of businesses, government organisations, trade associations and development agencies active in promoting regional clusters for biology, chemistry and related life sciences. Read more
New Scientist: The biggest buzz is around Medicon Valley
In their most recent issue the magazine New Scientist portrays Scandinavian life science in regards to cluster profiles and job opportunities. In their opinion Medicon Valley is the most attractive life science cluster in Scandinavia. The reason for this is the presence of more than 300 life science companies, a labour force fuelled by the region’s 12 universities, many job opportunities, a family friendly Scandinavian culture and a pleasant work environment. Read more
MEDICON VALLEY NEWS
Best year for Medicon Valley
The last year has been one of the best years in Medicon Valley history. During 2006 and early 2007 around EUR 830 million was invested in the region’s SME biotech, three IPO’s were performed at OMX and several new therapeutic biotech products were launched. According to Jesper Zeuthen, Managing Director of BankInvest, Biomedical Venture, European biotechnology has given a significantly better account of itself than the US, especially in regards to the performance of newly listed companies. Read more
Largest capital raise ever for new private venture fund
Sunstone Capital, Denmark's largest raising of capital for venture investments is now a reality and Danish biotech- and IT companies can look forward to increased investments. The new venture fund has a capital base of DKK 2.9 billion and the combination of private and public funds marks a historical moment in joint venture history. Minister of Economic and Business Affairs, Bendt Bendtsen, sees Sunstone Capital as the fulfilment of one of the stated goals in the government's "New goals" platform. Read more (in Danish)
Novo grants DKK 600 million for basic research
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has given a grant of DKK 600 million to the establishment of a new Danish centre for protein research, which will be placed at the Panum Institute in Copenhagen. The first two scientific leaders of the centre have already been appointed: Matthias Mann, a world leader in Mass Spec research, currently positioned at the Max Planck institute in Munich and Søren Brunak, the current leader of the bioinformatics facility CBS at DTU and a member of the board of Medicon Valley Academy. Read more (in Danish)
Novo A/S and the Novo Nordisk Foundation launch new life science seed programme
Novo A/S and the Novo Nordisk Foundation are launching a new programme aiming at supporting early stage applied research within life science in Scandinavia.
To do so Novo Nordisk Foundation will launch a pre-seed fund to provide financial, managerial and strategic support to early stage life science projects based on ideas and results with commercial potential. The funding will be given as grants with no claims for payback or ownership of projects. Read more
AstraZeneca acquires MedImmune for USD 15.2 billion
On the 23 April AstraZeneca acquired MedImmune Inc. in an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, which has unanimous MedImmune Board support, AstraZeneca will acquire all of the fully diluted shares of MedImmune common stock at a price of USD 58 per share, for a total consideration of approximately USD 15.6 billion (including approximately USD 340 million net cash). The acquisition of MedImmune significantly accelerates AstraZeneca’s biologics strategy. Read more (in Danish)
PhaseOneTrials seeks Initial Public Offering
The Danish Contract Research Clinic, PhaseOneTrials A/S seeks Initial Public Offering on the alternative marketplace OMX First North in Copenhagen. The offer takes place 10-23 May 2007 and comprise between 1.300.000 and 1.685.000 shares at a fixed price of DKK 38,50 per share. The proceeds are used to realise the ambitious expansion plan of PhaseOneTrials A/S which include the establishment of private oncology-focused phase I units as well as an acquisition of the Danish data management and biostatistics company Larix ApS. Read more (in Danish)
NEW MEMBERS
Danske Bank
Danske Bank is a leading financial group in northern Europe conducting a wide range of financial services focusing on retail banking. In Denmark, the Danske Bank Group is a market leader with a market share of about one third within banking, mortgage finance and life insurance. In Sweden and Norway, the Group's market shares are about 5%. The Danske Bank Group has considerable experience in servicing the life science industry e.g. in regards to issues of equity and debt, stock exchange listings and leasing of machinery and equipment.
Euro-Diagnostica
Euro-Diagnostica is dedicated to the development, production and sales of state-of-the-art diagnostic tests targeting several areas of disease. Research forms a central part of the company’s activities and is focused both at product development and basic research, often in international collaboration. Euro-Diagnostica is established in three locations, Arnhem, The Netherlands, Malmö and Lund, Sweden.
MediMush A/S
MediMush A/S has changed name to MMBioPharma A/S. MMBioPharma is a Danish founded company with the vision of being the leading manufacturer of bio-products from medicinal mushrooms. MMBioPharma is a research based biopharmaceutical company that develops and manufactures high yielding and powerful immune stimulants from medicinal mushrooms with documented activity in animals and humans.
NNIT
NNIT is one of Europe's leading consultancies in IT development, implementation, validation and operations for the pharmaceutical industry. NNIT has solid experience with the services that meet the highest quality and standardisation requirements (ISO 9001, CMMI and BS779). The company covers the entire value chain from R&D, regulatory affairs and quality to production, sales and marketing. NNIT is headquartered near Copenhagen, Denmark, with offices in Switzerland, the Czech Republic and China.
Respiratorius
Respiratorius’ main focus is to develop new effective treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe asthma. The company has developed a unique technology to measure forces in the smooth muscles of human airways, which has enabled Respiratorius to develop bronchodilating compounds to treat COPD and severe asthma. Respiratorius was founded 1999 as a spin off company from the University of Lund.
VibroSense Dynamics
Vibrosense Dynamics is a marketing and development company working with medical devices and platforms for diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, mainly in fingers and feet. The main product, the VibroSense Meter, is intended for early discovery and diagnosis of impaired sensibility caused by e.g. vibration exposure (HAVS, hand arm vibration syndrome), diabetes, nerve entrapments and chemotherapy induced neuropathy.
ACTIVITIES IN MEDICON VALLEY
Information Day on FP7 calls related to health and biotech
29 May 2007 / Medicon Valley Academy / Ørestad / Denmark
This information day on FP7 calls related to health and biotech will provide information on the available support systems for SMEs and give details about the most relevant calls published in May 2007. Participants can partake in private consultations and will also have the opportunity to partner with other participants. Read more
Biomedical Bioimaging
6-7 June 2007 / Faculty of Life Sciences / University of Copenhagen / Denmark
The Bioimagining Center at Copenhagen University invites to Science Dating, which is a structured forum for researchers from both the public and private arenas to meet 'one-on-one' with one another to discuss new findings and technologies, and to brainstorm opportunities for strategic partnering and collaboration for innovation. Read more
Strictly Financing Award 2007
12 June 2007 / Royal Opera / Copenhagen / Denmark
Be an active participant when “The Best Private Biotech Company in Medicon Valley 2007” is awarded. This is your chance to meet an exclusive investor panel with eight of the largest British life science investors, six nominated biotech companies, a keynote speaker from Genmab, a British entrepreneurship guru and more than 100 life science colleagues. Visit the Strictly Financing homepage or read more (in Danish)
8th World Congress on inflammation
16-20 June 2006 / Bella Center / Copenhagen / Denmark
At the 8th World Congress on Inflammation the participants will have the opportunity to interact with colleagues from academia, clinical centres and industry and be part of a scientific programme. Read more
How to write an application for the EU 7 framework programme
20 June / IT- og Telestyrelsen / Copenhagen / Denmark
Learn how to write an application for the EU 7th framework programme within sciences. Get an overview of the different areas and project types and learn about the regulations for financing. Read more (in Danish)
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Seminar on Personalised Cancer Drugs
30 May 2007 / Berns Hotel / Stockholm / Sweden
Emerging cancer nanomedicine technologies are currently pushing personalised cancer drugs and treatments closer to reality. By deploying genomics and proteomics as vital tools in drug discovery and development, it is possible for scientists to speed up drug R & D through personalised cancer drugs targeting various population groups. Participate in the one-day seminar and learn more about the strategies behind the deployment of personalised cancer drugs. Read more
SwedenBIO Annual General Meeting 2007
31 May 2007 / Näringslivets Hus / Stockholm / Sweden
At the SwedenBIO Annual General Meeting 2007 you have the possibility to meet Swedish companies, listen to expert speakers and enjoy a day with the life science industry. A three-sided view of the industry will be presented with company, government and academic representatives offering their observations. Speakers include Lars Backsell, CEO Recip, Mathias Uhlen, professor KTH and Bengt Agerup, CEO Q-med. Attendance is free of charge. Read more
BIO VentureForum East 2007
18-20 June 2007 / Marriott Chateau Champlain / Montreal / Quebec / Canada
This life science conference will showcase up to 100 individual company presentations to leading North American venture capital firms. Join the workshops and plenary sessions on trends in the biotech industry and participate in the networking opportunities with industry CEOs and venture capital leaders. Read more
ERBI’s 9th Annual BioPartnering Exchange Event
27-29 June 2007 / Cambridge / UK
ERBI's 9th Annual Cambridge BioPartnering Exchange Event will showcase the best in biotechnology. Join the event for a packed three day programme of keynote speeches by biotech pioneers, more than 30 presentations showcasing Cambridge's leading biotech companies and more than 600 pre-booked, validated one-to-one partnering meetings. Read more
EuroBiO 2007
26-68 September 2007 / Lille / France
The EuroBiO 2007 brings together not only the familiar faces of big pharma, VC investors and mature biotech firms, but also tech transfer managers from Europe's leading universities, research organizations and start-ups. EuroBiOpartnering's seeks to involve Europe's biotech clusters, major universities and research centres in 3 days of meetings with international decision-makers from the pharmaceutical, industrial and agrifood sectors. Read more