CROs in drug development: "We use our expertise to speed up the process

Consultancy firms have become an increasingly important part of drug development. “It’s a trend and a business model that works, and we see no indication that it will change,” says Helena Lüning of the industry organisation ASCRO.

Vaccin mot nya coronavarianten Eris på väg

Den nya varianten av sars-cov-2 Eris har väckt uppmärksamhet sedan den förra veckan klassades som en ”Variant of interest” av WHO. Uppdaterade vaccin är nu på väg.

A billion-dollar acquisition makes Novo Nordisk even bigger in obesity

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk acquires Montreal-based Inversago Pharma, which develops treatments for obesity and diabetes.

Why the world renown researcher Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigns as Stanford´s president

In mid-summer, neuroscientist Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced his resignation as President of Stanford following allegations of manipulated study data. According to the reporter Theo Baker, who first reported the story, Tessier-Lavigne “rewarded the winners and punished the losers”. Here is the background of the story which has shaken the American scientific community over the summer.

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.

Moderna fortsätter expansion – anställer Sverigechef

Vaccinjätten Moderna expanderar i Sverige och utser nu Mattias Bankel till sin första Sverigechef.

The Swedish Life Science Office: “We lost in both coordination and manpower”

Since the turn of the year, the Swedish government’s life science office has operated at a lower capacity. Life Science Sweden has spoken to Pontus Holm, Departmental Secretary at the office, about the ongoing work.

Neanderthal gene variants may cause Viking disease

A new study suggests that the so-called Viking disease, which affects the hand function in many older people, may be linked to gene variants inherited from Neanderthals.

Lucy Robertshaw: Artificial intelligence – is this really going to transform a patient’s life?

In a column Lucy Robertshaw reflects on how AI and new regulations will affect healthcare, innovation and the lives of future patients.

Vikingasjukan kan bero på genvarianter från neandertalare

Den så kallade vikingasjukan, som påverkar handfunktionen hos många äldre, kan vara kopplad till genvarianter nedärvda från neanderthalare, enligt en ny studie.

Anna Törner: The minute between life and death

“I have never told anyone about this day that happened more than 20 years ago. But I sometimes reflect on what happened, on what might have happened. When I try to understand why I haven’t told anyone, I find the answer: a feeling of shame. There is no forgiveness for something like this, even though it is very human to be distracted for a moment,” Anna Törner writes in a column.

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.

AstraZeneca moves to brewery quarters in central Copenhagen

AstraZeneca in Denmark is moving its business into central Copenhagen and the old brewery quarters in Carlsberg Byen.

Astra Zeneca flyttar till bryggerikvarter i centrala Köpenhamn

Astra Zenecas danska verksamhet flyttar in till centrala Köpenhamn och de gamla bryggerikvarteren i Carlsberg Byen.

Nanexa develops depot formulation of the diabetes and obesity drug Saxenda

Uppsala-based company Nanexa has signed an agreement with a German contract research company to start a clinical study with a monthly depot of liraglutide. The drug is currently approved for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

Hon blir ny chefsjuksköterska på Danderyds sjukhus

Studie: Blodprov för att mäta hjärnpåverkan efter neurokirurgi

I framtiden tror forskare vid Göteborgs universitet att ett blodprov skulle kunna vara ett komplement till magnetkamera för att undersöka skador i samband med kirurgi av hjärntumörer.

This is the future location of the new national innovation cluster

Mölndal and Goco Health Innovation City will be the site of a new national innovation cluster for advanced therapies. The business community and the Swedish government are splitting the costs of the project, which is expected to produce new treatments for common diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

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.

Study: Semaglutide tablet produces weight loss

The pharmaceutical semaglutide is effective for weight loss even when given in tablet form, according to a phase 3 study.

Covidvaccin från Novavax föreslås få fullt godkännande

Covid-19-vaccinet Nuvaxovid, som delvis tillverkas i Uppsala, rekommenderas nu för ett fullt marknadsgodkännande i EU.

Norwegian company wins bidding battle for Sensidose

The lengthy battle to acquire medical device company Sensidose is apparently over. Generic medicines company EQL Pharma is pulling out, selling its shares and leaving the way open for Norwegian company Navamedic.

Anna Törner: Minuten mellan liv och död

”Jag har aldrig berättat för någon enda om den här dagen för mer än 20 år sedan. Men jag tänker ibland på vad som hände, på vad som kunde ha hänt. När jag försöker förstå varför jag inte berättat för någon landar jag i känslan skam. Det finns liksom ingen förlåtelse för något som detta, även om det är högst mänskligt att distraheras ett ögonblick”, skriver Anna Törner i en krönika.

Samuel Lagercrantz: The government’s performance in healthcare and life sciences so far

Since the change of government in Sweden, developments in the healthcare sector have shown promising signs, but the outlook in life sciences is less promising, writes Samuel Lagercrantz in an editorial.