Entries by Michael Kuhrt

Nosopharm: Chair with experience

Nosopharm, a company dedicated to the research and development of new anti-infective drugs, has named Jacques Biton as its new chairman of the board, taking over from Gilles Alberici.

Santhera nabs CEO from Vifor

Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company Santhera has named Dario Eklund as new CEO. Eklund joins from Vifor Pharma, where he served as Chief Commercial Officer.

IMI AMR Accelerator: Allow the few to make the most of their resources

In 2019, a new AMR accelerator kicked off under the aegis of the Innovative Medicines Initiative as a follow-up and evolutive next step to the former New Drugs for Bad Bugs programme. European Biotechnology spoke with Rob Stavenger, its coordinator at GlaxoSmithKline, about the goals of the €295m initiative, its cooperation with SMEs, and the relevance of push and pull incentives in the field.

Biotech Innovation Requires a Predictable Patent System

Modern biotechnology creates next generation therapies and cures, delivers value to patients and the economy, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and generates higher crop yields with fewer resources. These critical activities and advances thrive only in an environment where biotechnology is supported by policies that maintain incentives for future innovation including the form of intellectual property rights while, at the same time, providing fair and equitable consumer access to innovative products. On both fronts, biotechnology enterprises face unprecedented challenges that, if not addressed, will slow the innovation engine. The consequent negative effects will be felt by all nations. Today, the biotechnology industry faces enormous challenges caused by deep public concern about pricing and access to medicines. The consequent political and public pressure is leading to rapid fire and poorly considered legislation. This, in turn, will likely result in an erosion of incentives to innovate, as it impacts return on investment and access to capital.

Investors make commitment to net zero emissions by 2050

There was unparalleled surprise in New York when a powerful alliance of UN-backed asset owners announced it will drive it’s portfolio companies to carbon neutrality by 2050. This could mean a fundamental change in capital markets.