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.

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.

“We are Europe’s hotspot in life science”

The Medicon Valley Alliance has worked for competence development in life science in Denmark and Sweden for a quarter of a century. Anette Steenberg, CEO, sees the anniversary as a recognition of MVA’s explosive power.

Astra Zeneca i topp när naturvetare inom life science ska välja arbetsgivare

Fast anställning, varierande arbetsuppgifter och flexibla arbetstider är vad naturvetare inom life science helst vill erbjudas av sina arbetsgivare. Och flest tror att de hittar detta hos Astra Zeneca, enligt en undersökning bland Naturvetarnas medlemmar.

Swedish breakthrough in Alzheimer’s: “We can finally present great data”

Treatments for Alzheimer’s disease are currently among the hottest topics in drug development. Two Swedish research companies with high ambitions and successes in the field participated in Bioscience 2022 conference at Life City in Hagastaden, Stockholm.

Stort vetenskapsmöte igång i Life City

The pandemic caused a reshuffle among the world’s vaccine giants – here is the new top list

Fuelled by the pandemic, the power balance in the global vaccine market has completely changed in recent years, a survey from Fierce Pharma shows

Svenska kirurger: ”Vi måste bygga flexibla op-salar”

Flexibla operationssalar, mikrosensorer på kirurgerna för övervakning av mående och 3D-bilder projicerade på organ som ska opereras. Det är några förslag som tre specialister i kirurgi efterfrågar för framtidens operationssal.

“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.

“We aim to be a start-up company with an academic spirit”

Chronic pain and Alzheimer’s are two diseases that plague many people worldwide and seem impossible to cure. However, Huddinge-based company Alzecure is working on developing drugs for both conditions.

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.

FOKUS Patient turns international

FOKUS Patient is arranging conferences over 3 days in October, and this year, the focus will be on international collaborations.

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.

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.

Petter Hartman: Lust som drivkraft för livslångt lärande

”För att det livslånga lärandet ska bli mer än vackra ord krävs att rätt förutsättningar finns", skriver Petter Hartman i en krönika.

BioVentureHub CEO: “Companies with a high degree of interaction achieve greater success”

For the first time since its inception, AstraZeneca’s BioVentureHub can now recruit new companies, as some of its tenants have grown significantly and are leaving the hub. This is the message from the biohub’s CEO Magnus Björsne in an interview, in which he also highlights a study that points out that companies with a high degree of interaction with other companies achieve greater success.

Konkurrenskraft, cancervård och MDR – läs krönikörernas tankar om branschen

Nya tankegångar, åsikter och framtidsvisioner från profiler i branschen, tillika krönikörer i Life Science Sweden och vår systertidning Medtech Magazine. Här har vi samlat några av årets krönikor.

Study: Our behaviour may have been guided by wishful thinking during the pandemic

A new study suggests that we systematically underestimate health risks if and when it suits us. This was especially true during the pandemic, as our risk assessments may have been guided by wishful thinking rather than a rational perception of the risks.

Start-up developing ”digital twin” received award during the EIT Health Summit

A biotech company, a medtech company and a company in digital health were on the podium when the EIT Health Catapult awarded its winners.

When carelessness, forgetfulness and coincidence become the researcher’s best friend

Forgetfulness, coincidence and a stroke of luck hardly make up a fruitful method of serious research. Or do they? Actually, a number of important medical advances have come about thanks to completely random incidents and the open-mindedness of scientists who were ready to think outside the box.

Søren Bregenholt omvald som ordförande i MVA

Under Medicon Valley Alliance årsstämma fick styrelsen förnyat förtroende och valdes om.

This is how Anette Steenberg will put Medicon Valley on the world map

Anette Steenberg has been CEO of the Swedish-Danish life science cluster Medicon Valley Alliance since 1 November last year. Life Science Sweden called her to ask about her visions and the challenges of merging the worlds of Swedish and Danish life science.