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.

He got inside the head of Sweden’s vaccine hunter

The hunt for the COVID-19 vaccine is the theme of the new book Vaccinjägaren (The Vaccine Hunter). It tells the story of Richard Bergström’s mission as Sweden’s national vaccine coordinator and the scheming that went on behind the scenes in Europe

The impact of the recession on the Swedish medtech sector

We need health care regardless of whether the economy is good or bad, but the current recession also affects the Medtech sector.

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.

Meeting with focus on South Korea and Japan’s life sciences

Large, complex and exciting – this is how Britta Stenson, Business Sweden, describes the life science markets of Japan and South Korea, which took centre stage during a webcast seminar.

The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare rejects prioritising andrology as a speciality

Male infertility can be linked to a shorter lifespan and several severe diseases, but when couples who want children are examined, the focus is on the woman. Experts in the field claim that andrology needs to become a speciality in Sweden to increase awareness and knowledge. But the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare says that it is not a priority.

“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: ”Life as a F1 race”

"The F1 car makes several pit stops during a race and during a lifetime the human being may also have to come in several times for maintenance", Björn Ursing writes in a column.

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.

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.

Claims of life science companies fleeing abroad is a myth according to survey

The claim that life science companies are moving abroad is exaggerated. In fact, only a tiny percentage is leaving the country, according to a survey.

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

"Unclear proposal from the EU Commission on how to solve the MDR challenges"

Even before the EU regulation on medical devices (MDR) came into force, medical technology companies and doctors were concerned that it would endanger the availability of medical devices in the EU. Unfortunately, the fears have come true.

Sweden is organising a large life science conference as part of the EU presidency

On 26-27 June, Sweden will host a European meeting on life science.

“Everyone is screaming for talent”

Attracting talent is one of the life science industry’s major future challenges, which was one of the conclusions of the panel discussion that ended the New Horizons in Biologics & Bioprocessing conference on 15 December.

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.

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.

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.

Neanderthal genes and Nobel Prize in a popular lecture at Bioscience

An inherited gene variant from our ”evolutionary cousins” – the extinct Neanderthals – may affect how our bodies break down certain drugs. “It’s only a matter of time before we actively start screening for it,” said KI researcher Hugo Zeberg when describing the study at Bioscience 2022.

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