Samuel Lagercrantz: We are currently seeing medical breakthroughs in these areas

Samuel Lagercrantz, Editor in Chief of Life Science Sweden, lists three medical fields in which we are currently seeing major breakthroughs and two fields in which we can see some long-awaited positive developments.

Eli Lilly to build a USD 2.5-billion plant in Germany

US-based Eli Lilly is planning a huge investment of USD 2.5 billion, equivalent to around SEK 26.5 billion, in a new production facility in Alzey, Germany.

Första godkännandet för behandling byggd på gensaxen Crispr

För första gången har en behandling som bygger på den Nobelprisvinnande genredigeringstekniken Crispr fått ett marknadsgodkännande. Det är brittiska myndigheter som ger grönt ljus för Casgevy, en behandling mot sickelcellssjukdom och beta-thalassemi.

The first drugs to slow down Alzheimer’s – but what does it mean for patients?

New treatments for early Alzheimer’s are bringing hope to thousands of patients and their families. The question is, who will get the treatment, how will the right patients be found in time, and will the healthcare system’s resources be sufficient? Life Science Sweden has spoken to Swedish researchers in Alzheimer’s who voice cautious hope but also see further challenges.

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.

19 medicines in Sweden are under investigation in a major EMA inquiry

19 medicines marketed in Sweden are affected by an ongoing extensive European investigation into suspected fraud at an Indian contract research organisation. Among them are medicines for HIV, epilepsy, cancer and Parkinson’s, which may be withdrawn unless new evidence can be provided that they are up to standard.

Life Science Sweden heads to the Oresund region! ‒ Hello there Michael Linnell

Life Science Sweden’s The Future of Swedish Danish Life Science and New Updates in Drug Formulation & Bioavailability meetings are coming up soon. We asked Michael Linnell, project manager for Life Science Sweden’s event portfolio, a few short questions.

Bioarctic granted Japanese patent for Parkinson’s disease candidate

Bioarctic has been granted a Japanese patent for its antibodies targeting Parkinson’s disease.

Uppsala-based company wins important patent dispute – but the decision is subject to appeal

A US district court has ruled in favour of Orexo in a dispute over the patent protecting the Swedish company’s drug Zubsolv, developed for treating patients with opioid addiction. However, the opposing party, the Indian company Sun, is not giving up and has filed an appeal.

Blir vd för Hamlet Biopharma

Läkemedelsutvecklaren Hamlet Pharma, som snart blir Hamlet Biopharma, har rekryterat en ny vd. I oktober tar Petter Segelman Lindqvist sig an uppdraget.

Novo Nordisk invests billions in expanding its production capacity

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is making a major investment to develop and expand its production facility in Hillerød, north of Copenhagen. DKK 15.9 billion, equivalent to almost SEK 25 billion, is being invested over six years.

Rapid developments in AI – “All stakeholders are struggling to understand it”

Artificial intelligence is being discussed more and more, and developments in the field are moving rapidly. As the Swedish Medical Products Agency testifies, keeping up with developments is not easy.

Swedish and Ukrainian Medical Product Agencies sign an agreement

The Directors-General of the Swedish and Ukrainian Medical Products Agencies have signed a cooperation agreement.

Confidence in childhood vaccines is in decline worldwide

Since the pandemic, confidence in vaccinating children has plummeted. In a new report, UNICEF urges world leaders to act before the situation worsens. In 52 out of 55 countries surveyed, public perception of the importance of vaccinating children has declined.

Vinnova is going to establish a new innovation cluster

Vinnova, the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems, has been commissioned by the government to establish a national innovation cluster for advanced medicines.

“An entire industry is about to be wiped out”

According to Jennie Ekbeck, CEO of Umeå Biotech Incubators, Sweden risks not having any small diagnostic companies left in five years.

Column: ”Authentic leadership and clear mandates pave the way for more female CEOs”

”I believe that the aspect of having clear mandates and titles on the one hand and women progressing into top positions must be explored further”, Helena Strigård writes in a column.

Individual DNA passport could result in fewer drug side effects

You may be required to show a DNA passport when you pick up medicines at the pharmacy in the future. According to a new study, patients might suffer 30% fewer side effects if the drug treatment is adapted to their genes.

The government proposes fines for pharmaceutical companies that fail to notify drug shortages in time

According to a compilation from the Swedish Medicines Agency, the number of residually notified medicines increased by 54 % in Sweden last year compared to the previous year. In a bill presented by the government a number of proposals are put forward

Scharlakansfeber hos barn väcker oro i Storbritannien

Ett ovanligt stort antal fall av scharlakansfeber har fått Storbritanniens hälsomyndigheter att uppmana föräldrar till uppmärksamhet på sina barns symtom.

He is zooming in on topical preparations

According to Zelmic CEO David Sagna, topical products in drug development is a growing market, and to keep pace with the development, the company is awaiting approval for its new GMP facility.

Oncopeptides läkemedel godkänt i Storbritannien

Studie: Apkoppor kan smitta före symtom

Över hälften av dem som fått apkoppor i det pågående utbrottet kan ha smittats av personer som ännu inte haft några symtom av sjukdomen, enligt en brittisk studie.

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