The fight against SARS-CoV-2 highlights the life science industry’s efforts to develop effective vaccines, better diagnostics and treatments for the consequences of the virus. At the same time, intensive efforts are being made to fight other diseases – cancer, stroke, diabetes, rheumatism and others. – to contribute to better health and economic growth.
During the fall, a record number of companies have been nominated for the SwedenBIO Award, the industry’s own prize, which is awarded in collaboration with HealthCap.
Here are the five finalists in alphabetical order:
Calliditas Therapeutics
For taking the drug candidate Nefecon – a potentially groundbreaking treatment for the serious kidney disease IgA nephritis – through an extensive clinical program where a pivotal study in 2020 achieved its primary endpoint.
Cellink
For building an internationally acclaimed company based on the development and commercialization of revolutionary bioprinting technologies that are expected to increase the life science industry’s ability to develop new treatments to save and extend lives.
Cobra Biologics
For having established itself as an advanced production company on the global market with high scientific know-how and a significant willingness to invest.
Hansa Biopharma
For its successful work in developing a treatment that increases the chances of successful kidney transplants. The company’s product Idefirix received conditional approval in Europe in August.
Kancera
For his longstanding work in developing drugs to treat hyperinflammation – a serious condition that occurs in a variety of diseases. In 2020, the company took further steps forward in the development of a treatment that can reduce the consequences of heart attacks and also started a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with COVID-19.
Award ceremony
The winner will be announced on December 9 at 15.45 at the SwedenBIO Summit. Program and registration.
The jury
The winner is chosen by the SwedenBIO board: Lars Adlersson, Adlersson Heath, Lotta Ljungqvist, Testa Center-Cytiva, Carl-Johan Spak, Recipharm, Christine Wesström, Sobi, Kertin Falck, Pfizer, Magnus Björsne, AstraZeneca BioVentureHub, Per Samuelsson, HealthCap, and Sarah Fredriksson, AQILION.
Contact
Lars Adlersson, Chairman of SwedenBIO, lars.adlersson@swedenbio.se, 0706 66 62 36.
About SwedenBIO
The industry organization SwedenBIO works for a competitive life science sector in Sweden. We do this by creating effective interfaces between the different actors in the sector, by building knowledge and by giving the industry a strong voice in public debate. Our nearly 300 member companies have a total of 20,000 employees and operate in the fields of drug development, biotechnology, medical devices and diagnostics or are experts in business development, financing, intellectual property and law, among others.