No. 5, May 2008 

Editorial

IMI is Finally Open

On April 30 the first Call for Expression of Interest under the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) was presented at an official event in Brussels. The opening event brought together more than 500 high level stakeholders all sharing IMI's overall vision on boosting Europe's competitiveness in biopharmaceutical innovation and foster Europe as the most attractive place for pharmaceutical R&D. Recently MVA hosted a regional opening meeting with 50 participants discussing among other things consortia building. Read more

 

 

MVA Project News

Meet the New Medicon Valley Life Science Ambassador to Japan

Mr. Torben Jonsson, the Medicon Valley life science ambassador going to Kobe-Kansai in Japan, will during the month of May travel around Medicon Valley to gain insights into the region's business environment and stakeholders. This initial orientation is of great strategic importance, as it will act as a framework for Mr. Jonsson's future work in Kobe-Kansai.

If your company or organisation as an MVA member has a specific interest in Asia, and Japan in particular, MVA would like to encourage you to contact Morten Hallager at mh@mva.org to set up a meeting in May with Mr. Jonsson.

Another Cluster Joins the Ambassador Programme: Signed Agreement with Seoul, Korea

The Ambassador Programme has now reached a new milestone with the signing of a Letter of Intent between Medicon Valley and the Bio-MAX Institute / Bio-Hub Korea representing the life science cluster in Soul, South Korea. This agreement is the third collaboration between Medicon Valley Alliance and a foreign cluster organisation. Read more

Bridging Nordic and US Biotechnology

On 21-22 April the North Carolina Biotechnology Center hosted a forum at the Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden. Co-arranged by MVA, the forum was designed to bring together a variety of leaders from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and North Carolina to explore new sectors, share good ideas and gain new experiences in order to lay the foundation for future interactions. Among the participants was the honourable James P. Cain, Ambassador of The United States of America in Denmark, the honourable Michael M. Wood, Ambassador of The United States of America in Sweden, and Mr. Jim Fain, Secretary of Commerce representing the state of North Carolina.

MVA Co-Event: How to Influence the Future Work Programmes Within the 7th Framework Programme

This seminar on 19 May will present essential details to researchers and enterprises interested in lobbying for specific content of future FP7 calls or interested in learning how to gain a long-term perspective in order to influence research priorities at EU level. Read more

MVA Event: Introductory Meeting for New MVA Members

If you are a new member or just want to know more about MVA, please feel join this introductory meeting on 12 June. At the meeting we will introduce you to our member projects and you will be able to meet our Project Managers. We will also introduce you to exposure opportunities via news and advertisements and tell you about our favourable member deal with Danica Pension. Participants must register before 4 June. Read about the programme and registration here.

 

News from Medicon Valley

Clinical Trials Update

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

ViroGates Enters Into a Long-Term Research Collaboration with Hvidovre Hospital

ViroGates A/S has entered into a long-term research collaboration with the Hvidovre Hospital's Clinical Research Centre. The agreement will continue to support the commercialisation of the company's suPAR technology. Read more

Øresundsinstituttet: ISA Cries Wolf about Swedish and Danish Competitiveness

A recently published article by Invest in Sweden Agency (ISA) paints a dull picture of the Swedish life science industry. Øresundsinstituttet has made its own analysis of the life science industry and sees no reason to panic. Read more

BioGaia in Strategic Alliance with BERICAP

BioGaia has concluded a global collaborative agreement with Bericap Sarl, the French subsidiary of the German Bericap Group, which is one of the world's largest manufacturers of caps and other package closures. Read more

BioInvent Buys Cancer Research from Angiogenetics

The small research company Angiogenetics which works with molecules affecting angiogenes is selling its cancer research to BioInvent in Lund. Read more (in Swedish)

Zymenex Sells Phase II Drug Candidate for USD 135 Millions

Zymenex in Denmark are selling one of their projects to SHIRE. Read more (in Danish)

Millions for Biotech in Danish High Schools

A collaboration between Novozymes and the Technical University of Denmark has given Danish high schools the opportunity to experience working with biotechnology. The initiative allows Danish high schools to borrow professional equipment for free. Read more (in Danish)

SEK 40 Million in Bioimaging Funds

SEK 40 million given by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation funds the creation of an interdisciplinary bioimaging centre in Lund, Sweden. Read more

TFS Established its First Office in the US

As of April 2008, TFS Trial Form Support International has established its first office in Cambridge, in the United States. Read more

 

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

 

Media News

First Issue of European Life Science Journal Published Online

Read it here

 

New Members  

Inspicos A/S

Inspicos is a mid-size firm of patent attorneys. In a survey of the World's leading IP law firms published by the magazine Managing Intellectual Property in April 2008, we were elected as Firm of the Year in Denmark. Our services include strategic patent consultancy, freedom-to-operate analyses, litigation, infringement and validity opinions, and drafting of patents. About 75% of our professionals have qualified as European Patent Attorneys.

Contact: info@inspicos.com - www.inspicos.com - Phone: +45 4516 6161

 

See the full list of MVA members here.

 

International Visits

Korean Delegation: Experiences from a Leading Life Science Cluster

In early April a delegation from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Gyeonggi Bio Center, among others, came to Medicon Valley to gain experience on successful cluster development. The Gyeonggi region is the predominant region in Korea especially within the life science industry. Read more

Chinese Delegation: Promoting Mutual Collaboration

On 7 and 8 April a delegation from Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area visited Medicon Valley. The delegation was hosted by MVA and was a follow-up to a previous visit to Beijing. As a result of the visit, a discussion regarding the participation of BDA in the Medicon Valley Life Science Ambassador Programme has been initiated. Read more

 

The MVA Newsletter is a monthly newsletter service that 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.