No. 1, January 2008

EDITORIAL

Expectations for the Ambassador Programme in 2008

The year 2007 was an exciting year for the Medicon Valley Life Science Ambassador Programme. We have signed Ambassador Exchange Agreements with the Kobe-Kansai cluster in Japan and the Vancouver cluster in Canada and an agreement with Beijing is pending. We have secured financing from the Capital Region of Denmark as well as Region Zealand and in near future Region Skåne is expected to join the programme. Private companies have joined forces with MVA by contributing millions of kroners to help fund the programme. Finally, we have gathered together a strong Ambassador Programme Backing Group that acts as advisors to MVA with regards to the structure, funding and functioning of the Ambassador Programme.

Looking ahead, the most important steps in 2008 will be the stationing of three life science Ambassadors in Medicon Valley from our partners regions and the stationing of three life science Ambassadors from Medicon Valley in clusters around the world. Read more

 

 

MVA PROJECT NEWS

Innovative Medicines Initiative to Start

The decision on the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) was IMI Information Meetings for Potential Consortia Participantsapproved by the European Commission Council on 20 December. Formal work has now started to create a new legal entity in Brussels, the IMI Joint Undertaking. Public researchers, SMEs, regulatory agencies and patient organisations may be funded by IMI to work in consortia with several European pharma companies. The big pharma groups, including AstraZeneca, Lundbeck and NovoNordisk in Medicon Valley, have prepared a list of their Scientific Priorities, and propose a budget of EURO 125 million for starting projects within diabetes, asthma/COPD, brain disorders, safety, and education & training in 2008.

IMI Information Meetings for Potential Consortia Participants

MVA will regularly provide information about the procedures concerning IMI, starting with a meeting in Copenhagen on 25 January, including presentations by big pharma, universities and SME-support organisations. MVA works to facilitate the formation of public/SME-consortia, in particular for Danish and Swedish participants. For information about this and forthcoming meetings and activities, please visit the IMI section at MVA's website or contact Stina Gestrelius at sg@mva.org.

Big Pharma Courts in Medicon Valley

In December MVA brought together Danish and Swedish biotech companies and some of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies at the ‘Pharma meets Biotech - Biotech meets Pharma' partnering event. Comments made about the conference reveal that interest in Medicon Valley biotech is still keen in spite of the turbulence seen on the stock markets in the past.

- I am very impressed with the Medicon Valley research. In my experience, there are many interesting businesses located there, and they have much to offer. Therefore, it is of particular importance to me to meet the biotech companies in this region, said Hans Boström, Director, Scientific Liaison of Merck, Sharp and Dohme.

American-based Merck, Sharp & Dohme is one of the pharmaceutical companies on the lookout for new partnerships within Medicon Valley. Read more

INTERNATIONAL VISITS

Norwegian Delegation:
Looking Into Cross-Border Clustering in Medicon Valley

In December a delegation of 28 people from the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Oslo, Norway, visited MVA to hear about cross-border clustering in Medicon Valley. They were particular interested in the region's science parks and incubators, the conditions for attracting scientists, access to public and private capital, the importance of EU research programmes, and the consequences of Swedish-Danish cultural differences for the life science collaboration in Medicon Valley. The visit was part of a two-day stay in the Oresund Region looking into science and innovation within selected sectors.

 

 

NEW MEMBERS

ArrayDiagnostica

ArrayDiagnostica is a CRO company which focuses on the insourcing of clinical professionals. We offer insourcing of a larger range of clinical specialities such as project managers, sCRA, CRA, CTA and pharmacovigilance experts. We help larger companies to keep headcount low as well as smaller enterprises to increase their learning curves without large investments and outsourcing costs. Moreover, we provide special consultancy services for VC and smaller biotechs within prospect writing and due diligence reports of market and drug analysis.

Contact: www.ArrayDiagnostica.com - info@arraydiagnostica.com - phone +45 56508812

Lund Science AB

We are a Medtech expertise organisation specialising in consultancy, guidance and hands-on help for start-ups and smaller medical device companies. From our extensive experience, we know what it takes to bring a bright idea from discovery and development to commercial launch in as short time as possible, and we know how to take a product through the regulatory bodies for CE or FDA-approval.

Contact: www.lundscience.com - contact@lundscience.com - phone: +46 709 312731

NEWS FROM MEDICON VALLEY

Clinical Trials Update

Read the updates on clinical trials performed by Medicon Valley companies from week 2 and week 3.

A New Piece Added to the Diabetes Puzzle by Lund University Diabetes Center

A new piece has been added to the diabetes puzzle with a discovery from Lund University Diabetes Center. Erik Renström and Dina Speidel from Lund University Diabetes Center have shown that so-called CAPS-proteins are involved in the mechanisms releasing insulin from beta-cells in the pancreas. Read more

Topotarget's Savene Recommended Treatment for Anthracycline Extravasation

TopoTarget has announced that Savene has been recommended as the standard treatment for anthracycline extravasation in the new European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) guidelines. Peter Buhl Jensen, CEO of Topotarget, expects this recommendation to encourage hospitals to stock Savene. Read more

Hansa Medical Buys Patents and Properties from Cartela

Hansa Medical has acquired Cartela's portfolio and competence in inflammatory diseases for the sum of SEK 3.9 million. Around SEK 70 million has been invested in the company since 2000, allowing Cartela to develop antibodies for the treatment of first hand rheumatoid arthritis and arthrosis. Read more (in Swedish)

MIP Technologies and Supelco Launch a New Selective SPE Product

MIP Technologies AB and Supelco have announced the launch of a new SupelMIP product for the selective extraction of amphetamine and related drugs. Dr Christine Widstrand, VP Sales and Marketing at MIP Technologies, emphasises that a competitive detection level makes the SupelMIP product ideal for difficult forensic applications. Read more

ViroGates Introduces a Life-Saver to the European Market

ViroGates is launching the suPARnostic ELISA test kit for commercial use in infectious diseases in Europe. Betina Macho, CEO of ViroGates, hails suPARnostic as a novel solution to serve the world, and stresses that it addresses an open demand in many life-threatening infectious diseases. Read more

Science Magazine: Breakthrough of the Year With Participation from Lund University

Mapping of the human genome has now been made cheaper and faster thanks to new techniques developed in participation with Lund University. The new techniques make it possible to identify the genetic variations which cause specific diseases, including type 2-diabetes. The techniques have earned a nomination as the research breakthrough of the year by the recognised magazine, Science. Read more (in Swedish)

 

OTHER NEWS

EuroBioFund Call for Expressions of Interest

EuroBioFund, which was set up in 2006 by the European Science Foundation to identify major future challenges in life sciences, has launched a third Call for Expressions of Interest for EuroBioForum in Strasbourg, France.

EuroBioForum is the life science forum for leaders from science, public funding organisations, industry and private finance to engage in the development of strategic European research programmes. To take part in EuroBioForum 2008, submit your ideas for European Cooperation in the Life Sciences using the Call for Expressions of Interest. Read more

MEDIA NEWS

The Medicon Valley Magazine: Annual Review 07-08

The latest issue of the Medicon Valley Magazine from Dansk Erhvervsforlag was published a few weeks ago. Read the articles here.

Life Science Clusters Magazine

The lastest issue of the Life Science Clusters Magazine has been published. Read it here.

Scandinavian Becomes Pan-European

Scandinavian Life Science Journal has for the last five years covered the biotech, pharma and medical technology markets in Scandinavia. However, due to a desire to cover more of the science, business and cross-border collaborations taking place all over Europe, the journal is changing its name to European Life Science Journal starting with the first issue of 2008. Visit the journal website.