ALS – When the body has given up, but the brain persists

The nerve disease ALS gradually deprives the patient of control over the muscles and, eventually, also of speech. The eyes continue to function, though, and with the help of, among other things, a Swedish-developed invention, communication with the outside world can continue. “It’s their window to the world,” says ALS researcher Caroline Ingre.

Medivir i möte med FDA: "Positiv återkoppling"

Forskningsbolaget Medivir har genomfört ett så kallat pre-IND-möte med den amerikanska läkemedelsmyndigheten FDA.

“Photon counting in computed tomography is the holy grail”

Erik Fredenberg, a researcher in physics at KTH and GE, is working to implement photon-counting CT in clinics. To shorten lead times and reduce the radiation dose in patients, he is setting out to develop a framework for virtual clinical trials for the technology.

New study: Post-Covid symptoms are common even after mild Covid-19

According to researchers at the University of Gothenburg, loss of smell and taste, shortness of breath and chest symptoms are the most common complaints after a mild Covid infection.

She creates pharmaceuticals on a 3D printer

The correct dosage for each individual, regardless of whether the pharmaceutical is for a seriously ill child or a frail elderly person, is the mission of a well-advanced project with 3D-printed drugs at Uppsala University. “It will soon be available in clinics”, says Christel Bergström, who is heading the project.

The stomach medication that became the biggest blockbuster of the 1990s

The omeprazole molecule was synthesised as early as 1979, but it took many years before the then Astra had an approved pharmaceutical. Once this happened, a tablet was available that was soon to help millions of people worldwide and break all sales records.

Stort vetenskapsmöte igång i Life City

Extensive agreements signed at Scilifelab

Four agreements were signed between Swedish and Dutch life science players in connection with the Dutch state visit earlier this month.

Alert from the Swedish Medicines Agency: Many complications with gastric balloons

According to the Swedish Medicines Agency, an increasing number of serious complications are being reported in procedures with gastric balloons as a method for weight loss. The authority fears significant shortcomings in the information to patients both before and after the procedure.

“We need to build flexible operating theatres”

Flexible operating theatres, micro-sensors on surgeons to monitor their well-being and 3D images projected onto organs to be operated on. These are a few ideas that three specialist surgeons are suggesting for the operating theatre of the future.

“We aim to be a start-up company with an academic spirit”

Chronic pain and Alzheimer’s are two diseases that plague many people worldwide and seem impossible to cure. However, Huddinge-based company Alzecure is working on developing drugs for both conditions.

Biosimilars bring price pressure, but are they sufficiently used?

When biosimilars were introduced just over 16 years ago, hopes were raised that they would give many more patients access to effective but otherwise extremely expensive treatments with biological drugs. So, how well has Swedish healthcare used biosimilars? The answer partly depends on whom you ask.

FOKUS Patient turns international

FOKUS Patient is arranging conferences over 3 days in October, and this year, the focus will be on international collaborations.

Marie Gårdmark: Potential step change – EU regulators get to play with data

A new pilot from EMA is starting in September to assess wether the analysis of 'raw data' by regulatory authorities improves the evaluation of marketing approval for new medicines. Marie Grådmark writes in a column that she is looking forward to the outcome of the pilot to hopefully then understand if “in house” analyses actually will add value.

Karolinska nionde bästa sjukhuset i världen i ny rankning

Återigen rankar Newsweek de bästa sjukhusen i världen. I år har de listat de sjukhus som är bäst på att använda ny teknik. Karolinska universitetssjukhuset utmärker sig inom artificiell intelligens och hamnar på plats 9 av 300 sjukhus.

Lucy Robertshaw: Did you know Stockholm wants to be in top 5 in the world for Life Sciences?

Karolinska Institutet Solna Campus has certainly become the next “Kendall Square”, writes Lucy Robertshaw in a column.

Amorphous materials take centre stage when Orexo develops new formulations

Swift resolution but with maintained stability. Orexo’s new drug delivery platform tackles the problem of amorphous materials. “Our technology has the positive properties of the material, and it also cracks some of the problems,” says the company’s Research and Development Manager Robert Rönn.

Collaboration for a simpler production of gene therapies launched

A collaboration between universities and companies aims at providing better production methods for the development of gene therapies. The initiative is led by Johan Rockberg, Professor at KTH.

Göran Stiernstedt: “We are the world’s worst at continuity”

Failed investments in primary care, an unreasonable system with online doctors and a public failure at coordinating the healthcare IT system. Göran Stiernstedt does not mind his language when describing the shortcomings of today’s healthcare system. “It makes me extremely frustrated,” he says.

Kalmar tar täten inom e-hälsa

Under det senaste decenniet har digitalisering och e-hälsolösningar skapat nya möjligheter för medicintekniska företag. I Kalmar län har regionen skapat en e-hälsoarena med visionen att länet ska bli ett internationellt centrum för e-hälsans utveckling.

IVI’s Director General on establishing in Sweden: Will need up to 40 employees

The International Vaccine Institute, IVI, hopes to have its first staff on-site in Stockholm within a couple of months, says the institute’s Director General Jerome Kim in an interview with Life Science Sweden.

När slarv, glömska och slump blir forskarens bästa vän

Glömska, slump och tillfälligheternas spel – knappast en fruktsam metod för seriös forskning. Eller? Faktum är att en rad viktiga medicinska framsteg kommit till tack vare helt slumpartade händelser, och det öppna sinnet hos vetenskapsmän som var redo att tänka nytt.

Investments worth 40 billion in the Öresund region – “A huge investment wave”

A new report reveals that medical companies in the Oresund region are investing like never before.

Tougher competition as the Novo Nordisk Foundation broadens its programme

Søren Nedergaard has worked with innovation at the Danish Government Offices and the University of Copenhagen. Today, he is COO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which has recently broadened its programme for leading innovators in medical research to apply to the entire Nordic region.