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Genmab to Acquire Dutch biotech for USD 8 Billion
Danish pharmaceutical company Genmab has agreed to acquire Dutch firm Merus, a developer of cancer therapies, for USD 8 billion, equivalent to nearly SEK 75 billion.
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Astra Zeneca’s asthma drug nears approval for sinus inflammation
Astra Zeneca’s drug Tezspire receives positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
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Heart Monitoring in Breast Cancer – Essential or Excessive?
Trastuzumab and related drugs have transformed breast cancer treatment and dramatically improved survival rates. But the close cardiac monitoring required during treatment can be a heavy burden for both patients and healthcare systems. Dr. Andri Papakonstantinou is working to refine how doctors identify which patients truly need intensive follow-up.
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Mikael Kubista back with new venture after turbulent exit
Entrepreneur and researcher Mikael Kubista is starting a new company. Now he is also free to comment on the sequence of events that led to him losing ownership of his life's work – the company Tataa Biocenter. “Not only did they take our company away from us. They followed up by showering us with lawsuits,” he says.
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Security flaw in Swedish breast cancer screening software – woman passed away
A lack of safeguard in Sectra's software led to a woman with breast cancer receiving an incorrect diagnosis. She later passed away. The software is used in 20 out of 21 regions in Sweden. It is also used in neighbouring Nordic countries. “Extremely serious,” says the Sectra CEO to Medtech Magazine.
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The business coach: “We need to learn from our mistakes”
The past year has been challenging for many biotech companies, with several comapanies facing financial stress and bankruptcy. To understand how entrepreneurs can navigate these tough times, Life Science Sweden spoke to Pia Keyser, a business coach at Umeå Biotech Incubator, who has worked with many companies in the industry.
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The future of healthcare in focus: ”Together, things happen”
In march, it’s once again time for Fokus Patient, an event for the industry where the patients’ perspective takes center stage. It’s a great way to spread knowledge in Sweden and around the world, according to the initiator Penilla Gunther
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Rise and Scantox cease conducting animal testing in Stockholm
Access to in vivo toxicology services is significantly decreasing in the Stockholm area as Rise shuts down animal testing and Scantox reorganizes. ”The costs are high, and demand is weak”, says the division manager at Rise to Life Science Sweden.
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Investigations against AstraZeneca: ”Chinese interests may be behind them”
Why are there several investigations against AstraZeneca employees in China right now? Life Science Sweden continues to seek answers.
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New large lab building in Lund inaugurated – here are the companies moving in
Medicon Village has received a new laboratory building. On Friday last week the building was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Minister for Employment and Integration Mats Persson (L) and construction contractor Mats Paulsson.
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Anna Törner: ”Mom, do you think you’ll ever get married again?”
”I realize I’m slowly descending into that familiar statistical rabbit hole, where life’s biggest uncertainties are reduced to point estimates and confidence intervals”, Anna Törner writes in a column.
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Danish obesity success causes recruitment problems in southern Sweden
The substantial expansion of Danish Novo Nordisk is affecting companies in southern Sweden, which are finding it increasingly difficult to compete for attractive staff.
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Innovative start-up helps doctors, scientists and industry balance coagulation risks
For many doctors caring for seriously ill patients, for example, in stroke units and cancer wards, maintaining the life-saving balance between bleeding and thrombosis is an ongoing challenge. In the late 1980s, scientists at Maastricht University in the Netherlands developed an innovative method, the thrombin generation assay (TGA), which provides a complete overview of a physiological process crucial for maintaining normal haemostasis.
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“Conducting research at universities is becoming more and more like working at a research hotel”
The government wants Swedish research to focus on excellence and innovation, but can the two be combined? Life Science Sweden talks to Anna Falk, a professor at Lund University, about research policy, the constant hunt for funding in academia and what constitutes ‘fine research’.
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“A major energy boost for the entire cancer vaccine field”
The development of cancer vaccines has accelerated in recent years. Norwegian Ultimovacs is one of the companies attempting to develop a new type of treatment line for cancer patients, and the company recently presented positive data from a phase II study.
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“You discover one thing – and then 10 new questions arise”
COVID-19, diabetes, heart disease, and the impact of dog ownership on humans are just some of multitasker Tove Fall’s areas of research. However, her current focus is on her next field: the role of gut flora in human health.
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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.
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Charlotta Gummeson leaves Sahlgrenska Science Park – “It feels sad and exciting at the same time”
With mixed emotions, Charlotta Gummeson will leave her position as CEO of Sahlgrenska Science Park in October. “It feels sad and exciting at the same time. I’ve been in the thick of things and part of the development for so long now, but I’m also looking forward and thinking about all the new things that there will be in a freer role,” she says to Life Science Sweden
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Rapid development in blood analysis – “Sweden is leading the race”
Thousands of analytical tests using just one single drop of blood. What was revealed as a hoax just a few years ago is now a reality, according to KTH professor and serial entrepreneur Mathias Uhlén.
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Column: ”We need to exploit the benefits of the regulations“
You don’t need to search long on the Internet to find lists of the most innovative countries with Sweden ranking at the top. Sweden generally offers good conditions for growing new solutions, but it is also becoming increasingly clear that we are challenged in one area – regulations, writes Björn Arvidsson in a column.