Denmark has between 12 and 24 months for establishing a digital health industry, says entrepreneur and former Microsoft manager, Jesper Grønbæk. Otherwise, giants like Amazon overtake the life science industry.
In a recent Facebook post, US senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders berates Novo Nordisk's price on insulin. The post has now been shared more than 21,000 times.
Although Danish life science company Medtrace already secured itself DKK 100 million (USD 15.21 million) from investors, the company's upcoming phase III trial is not fully financed yet. To avoid misunderstandings among potential investors, the firm now changes its name.
Novo Holding's Repair Impact Fund has awarded Danish vaccine company Minervax more than DKK 30 million (USD 4.57 million) for a new phase I trial. The company also received extra funding from Sunstone Capital.
Experience with diseases in the central nervous system is an advantage for Lundbeck's new head of Research and Development. Nevertheless, he is an unknown quantity in the industry.
The Danish Health Data Authority and the Ministry of Health have investigated the opportunities and need for a list of recommended health apps. The Danish medtech industry association, Medicoindustrien, follows the initiative closely but considers further regulations unnecessary.
Jesper Grønbæk, former group manager in Microsoft Denmark, has founded Health Tech Hub Copenhagen, a collective of nine digital health companies with the aim to improve the health of no less than one billion people.
The Danish Medicines Council subsists in the government's reform of the health sector, and according to companies and the industry association the proposal will have limited impact on the pharmaceutical industry.
According to health economists, the Danish health system could save significant sums by letting Amgros handle the procurement of both medicines and medical equipment as the government suggests.
For years, the Danish regions have procured medical devices for hospitals together, and a national medtech procurement service will thus not bring more savings. This is according to the Danish medtech industry association, Medicoindustrien. But health economists maintain the potential savings.
The government's plan about making Amgros the procurement organization for medical devices is met with skepticism from Peter Huntley, Managing Director in Danish medtech industry association, Medicoindustrien. But Ambu and other companies are positive.
In a proposal for a reform of the Danish health system, the government suggests national orders for procurement of medtech equipment for the hospitals. The responsible body will be Amgros, the pharmaceutical procurement service for the Danish regions.
Danish Slagelse Hospital and medtech company Timedico feel duped by a person, who was first employed at the hospital without documentation for his qualifications and then created uncertainty among the medtech company's customers. The person has now been fired from the hospital.
Danish investment partnership Executive Capital is the new owner of Estron that supplies the world's largest hearing aid groups with components. The capital injection paves the way for a more aggressive market strategy and more investment in, for instance, product development. "We become more willing to take a risk. We want to and dare to do more," says Estron's CEO.
Danish allergy group ALK has appointed its new head of product supply. According to the new manager, the first challenge is to adjust the company's production plan to the large-scale rationalization of the portfolio that as initiated last year.
Various factors currently make biotech firms attractive acquisitions for the large drug groups, says senior portfolio manager in Danske Capital. He expects Bristol-Myers Squibb's billion-dollar acquisition of Celgene to be followed by more deals.
The first vaccine against placental malaria might be one step closer to reality. If the development is successful, Danish Expres2ion will receive milestones and royalties for its central role in the development.
Bo Rode Hansen, CEO in US-based Genevant Sciences, is finishing the preparations for a financing round that is to bring in about USD 100 million for the company. At the same time, the Danish RNA pioneer expands the company's management.
The Danish state opens innovation center in the US life science hub Boston to facilitate contact between companies and universities, investors, researchers, companies and partners.
EU has granted Danish company Samplix, led by former Exiqon managers, DKK 14 million (approximately USD 2.16 million) from the Horizon 2020 program. Samplix will launch its first product later this year, and the potential is much bigger than expected.
After the Danish government increased funding for Healthcare Denmark, the Danish trade association for assistive technology also becomes official member of the public-private partnership.
Danish company Reapplix, which is expected to go public soon, transforms from a private into a public limited company. "Now, we are prepared no matter how we choose to finance the company's strategy in future," says the CEO.
Danish hearing device group Widex will launch the company's long-awaited fuel cell-powered hearing aid in the summer 2019 - a major achievement that will ensure Widex the leading position in the industry, says CEO Jørgen Jensen.
Danish company Fertin Pharma plans to start production of cannabis chewing gum and enters the recently liberalized Canadian cannabis market by acquiring two other firms.
CEO in Shire, Flemming Ørnskov, steps down after Takeda completed its acquisition of the company. He will continue as advisor for Takeda for three months, but what comes next is unknown.
