Astra Zeneca nådde inte mål i lungcancerstudie

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.

“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.

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.

A green nursery for biotech rooted in the Scanian soil

Red Glead has established itself as one of Lund’s largest companies in pharmaceutical development. Life Science Sweden went to Skåne and met two of the founders, Johan Evenäs and Martina Kvist Reimer.

“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.

Cytel Inc acquires the SDS Group

The multinational statistical software developer and contract research organization Cytel Inc, headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, acquires the Swedish consulting company SDS Life Science.

“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.

“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.

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.

Oncopeptides cancerläkemedel röstades ned i USA

En omröstning i den rådgivande Odac-kommittén vid den amerikanska läkemedelsmyndigheten FDA på torsdagskvällen blev ett bakslag för det svenska cancerforskningsbolaget Oncopeptides. Rådets medlemmar röstade emot cancerläkemedlet Pepaxto (melfalan flufenamid) med siffrorna 2 för och 14 emot.

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.

Swedish-Danish meeting at Medicon Village: “One of the most important life science congresses”

For the eleventh year, The Future of Swedish and Danish Life Science was held on Wednesday, and the event continues to function as a connecting link between the life science sectors of both countries. This year’s event attracted nearly 450 visitors.

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.

Lucy Robertshaw: Did you know Stockholm wants to be in top 5 in the world for Life Sciences?

Karolinska Institutet Solna Campus has certainly become the next “Kendall Square”, writes Lucy Robertshaw in a column.

De kandiderar till posten som KI-rektor

Valet av ny rektor till Karolinska institutet har gått in i slutspurten. Två kandidater av cirka 100 återstår – Annika Östman Wernerson, vid KI, och Eva Tiensuu Janson, vid Uppsala universitet.

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.

Björn Arvidsson: “We need robust and recognized ecosystems for continued competitiveness”

“We have idea carriers and excellent innovation opportunities, and now we must invest in creating ecosystems that provide them with even better growth opportunities,” Björn Arvidsson writes in a column.

Göran Stiernstedt: “We are the world’s worst at continuity”

Failed investments in primary care, an unreasonable system with online doctors and a public failure at coordinating the healthcare IT system. Göran Stiernstedt does not mind his language when describing the shortcomings of today’s healthcare system. “It makes me extremely frustrated,” he says.

Marie Gårdmark: New incentives for orphan products on its way

"Let’s hope that the learnings from development of new therapies for rare diseases will spill over to more common conditions, orphan products paving the wave for drug development in a broader context", writes Marie Gårdmark in a column.