News
Company News: Rolf Meyer GmbH Exclusively Acquires Worldwide Distribution Rights for enpurex® Product Portfolio from bubbles & beyond
– Innovative cleaners for the printing industry now available worldwide –
bubbles & beyond, a technology company focusing on customized intelligent fluids®, today announced that Rolf Meyer GmbH has acquired the exclusive global sales and distribution rights for the enpurex® print industry cleansing products, effective January 1, 2012.
At present, the enpurex® product portfolio comprises various special cleansing agents for specific demands of the printing industry. The cleansers are water-based, non-flammable, free from aggressive chemicals, biodegradable, and thereby constitute an entirely new, sustainable and eco-friendly product generation. In addition, they are superior to existing products in terms of efficacy. Based on bubbles & beyond’s novel, proprietary intelligent fluids® approach, the products offer significant process cost savings, excellent compatibility of materials, optimum efficacy and operating safety.
Initially, sales activities will focus on the areas of flexo and gravure printing, in particular packaging, label and tissue printing. Product solutions for offset, screen and digital printing are under development.
In addition, the cooperation with Rolf Meyer GmbH provides bubbles & beyond with the opportunity to sell industrial cleansers, e.g. highly effective special cleansing agents for industrial flooring and machinery as well as industrial hand cleaners.
Company News: Sanofi Licenses Worldwide Rights on Regenerative Treatment for Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Disorders from Scil Technology
Scil Technology GmbH, a privately held biopharmaceutical company with core expertise in protein drug development, formulation and analytics, today announced that Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) has exclusively licensed Scil Technology’s program for the regenerative treatment of osteoarthritis and cartilage disorders.
Under the agreement, SCIL Technology will receive an upfront payment and potential milestone payments totaling up to EUR 180 million. Moreover, the company is entitled to receive undisclosed royalties on worldwide product sales. Sanofi will assume responsibility for the progression of the development program with immediate effect, including the start of clinical trials.
The program is based on targets for the regeneration of cartilage tissue, which also stimulate chondrocyte differentiation and the synthesis of cartilage matrix. The leading compound is based on a proprietary formulation for direct delivery into the joint, making it an excellent treatment option for osteoarthritis. The program is currently in advanced preclinical development.
The cartilage regenerative program is Scil Technology’s second program which has been out-licensed successfully. The first (GDF-5) was taken over by Medtronic after completion of Phase II.
Food for Thought: Will IQWiG Go Medtech?
According to a report by Ärztezeitung, Germany’s healthcare cost watchdog IQWiG (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care) is aiming to also bring the cost-benefit assessment of medical devices and procedures, such as operation techniques and laboratory diagnostics, under the scope of IQWiG and or G-BA, the highest decision-making body of the joint self-government of physicians, dentists, hospitals and health insurance funds in Germany.
Jürgen Windeler, head of IQWiG, told Ärztezeitung there was a “considerable discrepancy in terms of regulatory density” between drugs and all other therapeutic and diagnostic means in medicine. He therefore called for an early benefit assessment of these other methods, too, and suggested to start with medicinal products with the potential for causing a “health risk”.
Company News: Curetis Appoints Dr. Klaus Brinkmann as Director of Sales
– Preparation of CE-marking and product launch in Europe in 2012 –
Curetis AG, an innovative molecular diagnostics company focusing on the development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostic products for infectious diseases, today announced that Dr. Klaus Brinkmann has joined its management team as Director of Sales.
Dr. Klaus Brinkmann is a seasoned executive with extensive commercial expertise in setting-up sales organizations and infrastructures and leading sales teams in very competitive markets. He has an outstanding track record in the commercialization of complex in vitro diagnostics (IVD). His experience covers instrument platforms as well as test kits in the areas of immunology, traditional microbiology and molecular-based infectious disease testing. He joins Curetis from BioRad Laboratories GmbH, where he has been Account Manager Lab Automation. Previously, he held various sales management positions with Becton Dickinson GmbH and Beckman Coulter GmbH. Klaus Brinkmann studied chemistry and holds a doctorate from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.