No. 4, April 2008 

Editorial

MVA Gathers Forces to Boost Medtech in Medicon Valley

Medtech companies and entrepreneurs in Medicon Valley face numerous challenges that can be addressed on a regional level. To boost the medtech industry, MVA now joins forces with our medtech members to further strengthen the cluster and its visibility. The first step was taken at a recent MVA strategy group meeting held with several medtech members. Read more

 

 

MVA Project News

MVA Hires First Life Science Ambassador

MVA proudly announces the appointment of its first outgoing Ambassador, Mr. Torben Jonsson, representing Medicon Valley in the Japanese life science cluster of Kobe-Kansai, Japan. Mr. Jonsson will be in place at May 1st.

Mr. Jonsson is Swedish, speaks Japanese fluently, and has over 15 years of experience working with pharmaceutical and medical device companies in Japan including Pharmacia, Pfizer, Ambu and Banyu. His long history in Japan will greatly facilitate the establishment of collaborations between players in Medicon Valley and Kobe-Kansai. During the month of May Mr. Jonsson will be travelling around Medicon Valley, to gain insights about the business environment and the various stakeholders in the region. This initial orientation is of high strategic importance, as it will frame his work in Kobe-Kansai as Medicon Valley Ambassador.

Therefore, if your company or organisation as an MVA member has a specific interest in Asia, and Japan in particular, feel free to contact Morten Hallager at mh@mva.org to set up a meeting with Mr. Jonsson during the month of May.

Kobe-Kansai Ambassador has Arrived in Medicon Valley

As of March 1st the first Life Science Ambassador to Medicon Valley, Dr. Takashi Asada, has begun his work establishing partnerships and increased collaboration between Medicon Valley and the Japanese life science cluster of Kobe-Kansai, Japan. Dr. Asada is involved in setting up B2B interactions, university/hospital collaborations, cross-sector initiatives and possibilities for cross-exploitation of accumulated knowledge between Medicon Valley and Kobe-Kansai.

MVA is pleased to house Dr. Asada in our offices, and we strongly encourage our members to take active part in the Life Science Ambassador Programme to exploit global synergies and increased competitiveness by engaging in global partnerships.

All members are welcome to contact Dr. Asada at ta@mva.org, direct phone +45 3532 4192 or mobile +45 2299 3828.

General Assembly in Medicon Valley Alliance

This year's annual meeting will be held on 24 April at 5 pm at the MVA premises in Ørestad. The meeting will be followed by a dinner for all participants. Participants must register before 17 April. Read about the programme and registration here.

Introductory Meeting for New MVA Members

As a new MVA member, please feel free to participate in the introductory meeting on 24 April at 3 pm in Ørestad. At the meeting we will introduce you to our member projects and your exposure opportunities. You can also meet our Project Managers and hear about our favourable member deal with Danica Pension. Participants must register before 17 April. Read about the programme and registration here.

New Staff at Medicon Valley Alliance

MVA is proud to announce the addition of four new employees who are responsible for various member projects. Read the short description bellow and click on the names to view the full profiles and contact information.

Cathrine Due, Senior Project Manager. Cathrine is in charge of the Bladder Academy, Øresund Diabetes Academy and the Drug Development Programme. She is also Key Account Manager for the CROs, CMOs and pharma sales organisations.

Torsten Jepsen, Senior Project Manager. Torsten is involved in IMI and the Medicon Valley Dashboard and is Key Account Manager for the pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Peter Aksel Villadsen, Senior Business Analyst. Peter is surveying the biotech industry and analysing industry trends. He is also Key Account Manager for the investors and the pharma and biotech companies.

Charlotte Ræbild, Office Manager. Charlotte is in charge of the administrative work at MVA.

See the full list of MVA employees here.

MVA welcomes our new additions and hopes that our members will take full advantage of their expertise.

 

International Visits

Bejing Takes a Look at Medicon Valley

In the beginning of April MVA hosted a two-day delegation from Bejing Economic-Technological Development Area who came to take a look at Medicon Valley. The delegation visited among others Scion-DTU, BMC and CRC. Furthermore, discussions were held on a possible involvement in the Ambassador Programme. Visit the website of Bejing Economic-Technological Development Area.

 

 

 

News from Medicon Valley

Clinical Trials Update

Read the latest update on clinical trials performed by MVA members here.

NsGene's Alzheimer's Product Successfully Implanted in Patients

NsGene's encapsulated cell biodelivery product, NsG0202, has successfully been implanted into the brains of three patients with Alzheimer's disease. Read more

ESS Siting in Lund Formally Supported by Danish Government

In the ongoing competition for the hosting of the ESS, Denmark is the first European government to officially start negotiations with one of the three competing sites Lund, Bilbao (Spain) and Debrecen (Hungary). Read more

Significant Differences in Danish and Swedish Negotiation Culture

A report carried out by the Swedish Trade Council shows that there is a big difference in the way Danes and Swedes negotiate, especially on such issues as risk willingness and the amount of detail that goes into a contract. Where the Swedes have a professional style of negotiation, the Danes have a somewhat more emotional approach. Read more

Drastic Change in Research Funding

In a report on research funding, quality and relevance, Government Special Commissioner Madelene Sandström, current Director General of the Swedish Defence Research Agency, suggests a complete restructuring of governmental authorities that provide research funding in Sweden. Read more

LU Bioscience: Capital and Personnel Now in Place

The investment fund LU Bioscience (Lund University), has secured the majority of the SEK 50 million that was needed. Among the investors are; Lund University, Östersjöstiftelsen and Karolinska Institutet Holding. Read more (in Danish)

Lund University: New Weapon against Autoimmune Diseases

Enzymes from disease causing bacteria might be useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. This is the hope of a group of scientists from Lund University, who have been able to cure a deadly autoimmune disease in animals using the enzymes from influenza bacteria. Read more (in Swedish)

Novozymes Doubles its Capacity in Lund

Novozymes is moving production from Australia to Sweden, thereby doubling the capacity of its Biotech production facility in Lund. Read more (in Swedish)

 

For more news about Medicon Valley, visit the MVA News section.

 

Other News

Eurostars Needs Qualified Reviewers 

The new Eurostars programme for SMEs wanting R&D collaborations is a success with 200 applications, including nearly 50 Danish or Swedish partners. Now there is a shortage of reviewers. If you would like to assist as reviewer, read more (in Danish).

Training Sessions for SMEs about EU's 7. Framework Programme

EuroCenter organises two courses for SMEs that would like to participate in the 7th European Framework Programme for research. The courses prepare the participants for taking part either as partners or as coordinators. The courses are free of charge and will be held on 14 and 15 May 2008 in Copenhagen. Read more

 

Media News

Nature Publishes Santaris Pharma Study on microRNA Silencing

A study by scientists and collaborators on LNA-mediated microRNA silencing in non-human primates has been published in Nature's Advance Online Publication. Read more

Nordic Life Science Review 2008: Another Successful Year in Medicon Valley

Nordic Life Science Review 2008 has just been published with news about life science in the Nordic countries. MVA contributed with an article providing an overview of the most important news and events happening in Medicon Valley 2007 - pipeline and clinical trials, deals and licences, IPOs and acquisitions etc. The magazine is available for download at the website of Media Value and you can read the full article on Medicon Valley here.

Special Report on Scandinavian Biotech in Nature Biotechnology

The industry-leading journal Nature Biotechnology will publish a special report on Scandinavian biotech in its June edition. MVA is contributing with case material on MVA members and with news from the region. For further information about opportunities to be involved in the report, read more

 

New Members

Medical Prognosis Institute A/S (MPI)

MPI has developed DNA-microarray gene expression technology that will predict individual response to cancer treatment resulting in optimal treatment effect and avoiding unnecessary toxic effects from ineffective first-line treatment. MPI's Drug Sensitivity Predictor is a tool to make anti-cancer drug clinical development more effective resulting in much higher drug development success rate. MPI has recently also launched its DNA-microarray gene expression analysis service - read more.

Contact: info@medical-prognosis.com - www.medical-prognosis.com - Phone: +45 4086 2156

Medicoindustrien

Medicoindustrien is the industry organisation for the medical device industry in Denmark. We represent more than 100 member companies that develop, manufacture, sell or otherwise take an interest in CE-marked medical devices. The purpose of Medicoindustrien is to promote the commercial and political interests of its members. Medicoindustrien actively cooperates with the European industry organisation, EUCOMED, and with other European counterparts.

Contact: medico@medicoindustrien.dk - www.medicoindustrien.dk - Phone:+45 4918 4700

 

See the full list of MVA members here.

 

The MVA Newsletter is a monthly newsletter service which provides you with news on MVA projects, members, and the Medicon Valley region. As a MVA member please feel free to send us your press releases. When possible we will run your news in the MVA Newsletter or in our website news section.