Great Swedish innovations: Eye treatment became a feather in Pharmacia’s cap

From complicated and sometimes risky surgery to a routine procedure. Pharmacia’s injectable Healon revolutionised the field of eye surgery - and is considered by us one of the most important contemporary Swedish innovations in the field of medicine.

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.

The most important Swedish medical innovations: Our ranking

Life Science Sweden turns 20 years old – and celebrates by producing a top list of the 20 most important contemporary Swedish innovations in the field of medicine.

“We are Europe’s hotspot in life science”

The Medicon Valley Alliance has worked for competence development in life science in Denmark and Sweden for a quarter of a century. Anette Steenberg, CEO, sees the anniversary as a recognition of MVA’s explosive power.

Swedish breakthrough in Alzheimer’s: “We can finally present great data”

Treatments for Alzheimer’s disease are currently among the hottest topics in drug development. Two Swedish research companies with high ambitions and successes in the field participated in Bioscience 2022 conference at Life City in Hagastaden, Stockholm.

Stort vetenskapsmöte igång i Life City

The pandemic caused a reshuffle among the world’s vaccine giants – here is the new top list

Fuelled by the pandemic, the power balance in the global vaccine market has completely changed in recent years, a survey from Fierce Pharma shows

“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.

Business Sweden’s new team is rolling out the blue-yellow carpet

According to Business Sweden’s life science team, the combination of substantial medical know-how and an ever-flourishing tech sector is a success factor for Sweden. “It’s a perfect storm, a beneficent, perfect storm,” says Programme Manager Britta Stenson.

FOKUS Patient turns international

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

Bought a tablet factory – and built his own empire

In 1995, Thomas Eldered was CEO of one of Pharmacia’s factories in the Stockholm area when the Swedish pharmaceutical giant, after a takeover, decided to move its production abroad. 34-year-old Thomas was facing an imminent risk of losing his job. However, instead, it actually turned out to be the starting point for one of the biggest success stories in Swedish life science.

Anders Blanck about his 17 years at Lif: “The industry is enjoying greater public trust now"

The announcement came as a surprise to those around him, but according to the protagonist himself, the timing was excellent. Anders Blanck is now leaving Lif – a decision that has been growing for some time. “I have been pretty much married to my mission. However, I will turn 56 this autumn, and if I’m going to do something else in my professional life, now is the time,” he says.

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.

BioVentureHub CEO: “Companies with a high degree of interaction achieve greater success”

For the first time since its inception, AstraZeneca’s BioVentureHub can now recruit new companies, as some of its tenants have grown significantly and are leaving the hub. This is the message from the biohub’s CEO Magnus Björsne in an interview, in which he also highlights a study that points out that companies with a high degree of interaction with other companies achieve greater success.

Study: Our behaviour may have been guided by wishful thinking during the pandemic

A new study suggests that we systematically underestimate health risks if and when it suits us. This was especially true during the pandemic, as our risk assessments may have been guided by wishful thinking rather than a rational perception of the risks.

Ny metod för mikroskopi öppnar genväg till nya läkemedel

Forskare vid Chalmers har utvecklat en helt ny mikroskopiteknik för att kunna studera de minsta biologiska partiklarna i sitt naturliga tillstånd – och därmed öppna vägar för snabbare utveckling av nya läkemedel och vaccin.

Start-up developing ”digital twin” received award during the EIT Health Summit

A biotech company, a medtech company and a company in digital health were on the podium when the EIT Health Catapult awarded its winners.

Anna Törner: To kill your darlings

Hopes were high when Anna Törner and her colleague started a study on a dietary supplement that seemed unbelievably good. “Enthusiastically, we dreamed of exciting results and perhaps a publication in a high-impact journal,” she writes in a column.

Hello Angelica Loskog!

Life Science Sweden would like to know more about Angelica Loskog and interviews her about her life as a researcher.

We will now publish more news in English – and offer yet another newsletter

Starting next week, Life Science Sweden will begin offering a newsletter entirely in English.

When carelessness, forgetfulness and coincidence become the researcher’s best friend

Forgetfulness, coincidence and a stroke of luck hardly make up a fruitful method of serious research. Or do they? Actually, a number of important medical advances have come about thanks to completely random incidents and the open-mindedness of scientists who were ready to think outside the box.

Søren Bregenholt omvald som ordförande i MVA

Under Medicon Valley Alliance årsstämma fick styrelsen förnyat förtroende och valdes om.

Miljonstöd till 14 life science-projekt för bättre hälsa

Nya tekniker för fixering av handfrakturer, AI-prediktion av blodtrycksfall och tidig detektion av bukspottkörtelcancer finns bland de 14 projekt för bättre hälsa som får miljonstöd av innovationsprogrammen Swelife och Medtech4health.