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.

“Photon counting in computed tomography is the holy grail”

Erik Fredenberg, a researcher in physics at KTH and GE, is working to implement photon-counting CT in clinics. To shorten lead times and reduce the radiation dose in patients, he is setting out to develop a framework for virtual clinical trials for the technology.

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.

New study: Post-Covid symptoms are common even after mild Covid-19

According to researchers at the University of Gothenburg, loss of smell and taste, shortness of breath and chest symptoms are the most common complaints after a mild Covid infection.

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.

Viss effekt av Alzheimers-behandling bekräftas i studie – Bioarctic stiger på börsen

Nya data bekräftar att Bioarctics läkemedel lecanemab bromsar Alzheimers sjukdom – om än i måttlig utsträckning och med vissa biverkningar. Beskedet fick bolagets aktie att stiga under onsdagsförmiddagens handel.

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.

Uppgifter får Bioarctics aktie att backa

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.

"Are we doing business the wrong way around in the Life Science Sector?"

For the past 50 years we have created solutions for problems that we thought would solve the problems. Pharmaceuticals have created big block buster drugs which were great for that time but now we realise that these drugs were in fact only tested in white men and certainly not for patients who are older who are taking a number of medications.

”Ett perfekt möte på hösten”

"Som vanligt är jag mest sugen på det oväntade". Så svarar Johan Rockberg, professor vid KTH, på frågan om vad han ser mest fram emot på kongressen Bioscience som han ska moderera nästa vecka.

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 before and after the procedure.

Acko Ankarberg Johansson blir sjukvårdsminister

Idag tisdag presenterade statsminister Ulf Kristersson regeringens nya ministrar. Kristdemokraten Jakob Forssmed får rollen som socialminister och Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD) blir sjukvårdsminister.

“We need to build flexible operating theatres”

Flexible operating theatres, micro-sensors on surgeons to monitor their well-being and 3D images projected onto organs to be operated on. These are a few ideas that three specialist surgeons are suggesting for the operating theatre of the future.

Brown Dog Affair: Djurförsöket som skakade Storbritannien

En intet ont anande terrier, två svenska djurrättsaktivister, en känd fysiolog, brittiska medicinstudenter och en staty som behövde polisskydd. Det är några av ingredienserna i "Brown Dog affair" – en konflikt om djurförsök som splittrade England i början av 1900-talet.

“We need to keep investing in research and innovation”

Jenni Nordborg has worked for just over four years to highlight life science in Sweden. Her mandate as national coordinator ends in December 2022. ““Life sciences has been a long-term priority of governments since many years and I have no doubt that the ambitions will be strong going forward”, says Jenni Nordborg.

Promising Alzheimer’s study data sends Bioarctic stock soaring

The drug candidate lecanemab from Swedish company Bioarctic significantly slowed down the deterioration in patients with early on-set Alzheimer’s, according to preliminary results from a phase III study.

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.

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.

Marie Gårdmark: Potential step change – EU regulators get to play with data

A new pilot from EMA is starting in September to assess wether the analysis of 'raw data' by regulatory authorities improves the evaluation of marketing approval for new medicines. Marie Grådmark writes in a column that she is looking forward to the outcome of the pilot to hopefully then understand if “in house” analyses actually will add value.

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.