Astra Zeneca’s Sweden CEO: “We have great faith in our portfolio”

It all started with a summer job as an operator at Astra’s chemical factory in Snäckviken, just outside Södertälje. More than three decades and countless different assignments later, Per Alfredsson, born and raised in Södertälje, is CEO of Astra Zeneca Sweden, which employs 7800 people in Södertälje, Stockholm and Gothenburg. “It was a very special feeling to be in charge of the entire organisation,” he says in an interview about his career and potential future blockbusters.

Gothenburg-based company acquired by Norwegian diagnostics group

Gentian Diagnostics acquires Gothenburg-based Getica.

A surprising discovery about the immune system in cases of cancer

Professor Göran Jönsson is trying to understand why some patients benefit from immunotherapies while others don’t. A couple of years ago, he made a surprising discovery about the function of the immune system.

He saved lives with his theories – was ostracised and ended up in a mental hospital

Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865) undoubtedly possessed plenty of persistence, diligence and sound reasoning skills – but he was hardly blessed with luck and timing.

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.

CAR-T therapies give continued hope: “Almost half of the patients have become disease-free”

When the first CAR-T therapies appeared, hopes were raised for the effective treatment for critically ill cancer patients. After a somewhat sluggish start, about 90 patients in Sweden have now been treated with this method. “Almost half of them have become disease-free, at least of those treated with Yescarta, which are the ones I know best,” says Gunilla Enblad, Chairman of the national working group for CAR-T treatment.

Sedana får ny CFO

Susanne Andersson efterträder Maria Engström.

Pilots want to live too

Läkemedelsbolag ratar Trump

Flera tunga ledare har lämnat Donald Trumps industriråd i protest mot presidentens svaga agerande i samband med kravallerna i amerikanska Charlottesville. Tydligast har avhoppet av läkemedelsjätten Mercks vd Kenneth Fraizer märkts.

Särläkemedelsstatus för Respiratorius

- Särläkemedel är populära bland många läkemedelsföretag, alltså våra potentiella partners, bland annat eftersom de får marknadsexklusivitet men även då utvecklingen omfattas av lägre kostnader och en snabbare process, säger Christer Fåhraeus, styrelseordförande på Respiratorius.

Tre experter till PCG

Antonio Mastroianni, Heidi Pavliska och Roger Price tar plats på kontraktsforskningsbolaget.

Astrazeneca får särläkemedelsstatus

COMP rekommenderar att läkemedelskandidaten acalabrutinib får särläkemedelsstatus mot tre olika blodcancerformer i EU.

EMA vill se mer särläkemedel

Antalet godkända särläkemedel i EU har fördubblats de senaste två åren. Nu gör EMA riktade satsningar för att trenden ska fortsätta.

Changing e-solutions for clinical trials

Social media and personalized medicine are two factors that will have a great impact on the design and IT-solutions for clinical trials. Unithink is an upcoming, e-solutions company for clinical trials, eager to thrive on this development.

Ideon - Sweden's oldest science park

Old is not synonymous with boring. Swedens oldest science park Ideon still manages to attract young companies with big ideas. The recipe for success? To continue to invest in further development.

Early stage research and low turnaround dominates

Nordic science parks are full of advanced research performed by small companies but little research is done in later stages. Only a couple of the best performers have companies in phase III, according to Biotech Scandinavia's survey.

Ny era för läkemedelsstudier

- Det här kräver en total omställning, säger Jan Trøst Jørgensen som forskar inom personalized medicne.

Tikomed får särläkemedelsstatus

EU:s kommitté för särläkemedel har beviljat särläkemedelsstatus för preparatet Ibsolvmir. Substansen utvecklas för att förhindra avstötning vid transplantation av insulinproducerande celler. Statusen ger bolaget minskade kostnader för regulatoriska ansökningar inför kommersialisering och 10 års marknadsexklusivitet inom EU.

Big Pharma blir sig inte likt

I veckan släppte Price Waterhouse Coopers, PwC, sin rapport om läget för den globala läkemedelsindustrin fram till 2020. Stora strukturella förändringar krävs i branschen och industrin kommer att agera, enligt rapporten.

Lundbeck divests companies

The company sells all shares in one listed company plus divests four small private equity funds, for a three-figured million sum.