The EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD 2009 goes to NovImmune  

Hannover/Geneva. The winner of the 2009 EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD is NovImmune SA from Switzerland. This biopharmaceutical company duly receives the lion's share of the €100,000 prize money, which is awarded each year by Deutsche Messe AG and its partners. The aim of the award is to celebrate the achievements of innovative European companies in the field of biotechnology and the life sciences. EU Commissioner Janez Potočnik presented the prizes at today's opening ceremony for BIOTECHNICA 2009.

"In an extremely close final the jury chose NovImmune after lengthy deliberation, because it believes that this company has the greatest future potential. Never before has it been so difficult to reach a decision", commented Prof. Dr. Peter Stadler, chairman of the eleven-man international prize jury and CEO of TaconicArtemis GmbH in Cologne. NovImmune in Plan-Les-Ouates near Geneva specializes in the development of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of immune-related disorders.

The other finalists apart from NovImmune were the biopharmaceutical companies TRION Pharma GmbH from Munich and VIVALIS SA from Saint Herblain near Nantes, France. "All three finalists have impressively demonstrated just how far the biotechnology industry in Europe has come", noted Stadler.

For its work NovImmune received a cash prize of €30,000. The remaining €70,000 were distributed among all three finalists in the form of non-cash prizes. These prizes comprise a consultancy course with Capgemini Consulting focussing on business strategy and investment, plus media packages in the "European Biotechnology News". In addition all three companies will be showcasing their work at BIOTECHNICA from 6 to 8 October in Hall 9, Stand F05/1.

Information about previous prize-winners and the terms of entry for the next competition can be found online at www.biotechnica.de/award_d.

About BIOTECHNICA

BIOTECHNICA is Europe's leading annual event for biotechnology and the life sciences. It covers the entire spectrum of biotechnology, including fundamentals and equipment, bio-informatics and services, and addresses all five major fields of application, i.e. pharma­ceuticals/medicine, industrial manufacturing, food, agriculture and the environment. Ever since 1985, BIOTECHNICA has been organized and staged by Deutsche Messe AG in Hannover, Germany. As a global brand, BIOTECHNICA now also has sister events in Asia (BIOTECHNICA CHINA) and in the U.S. (BIOTECHNICA AMERICA).

Appendix

Corporate profiles of the three finalists in the 2009 EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD

NovImmune SA

NovImmune develops monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of inflammatory and immune-related disorders. The company is based in Plan-les-Ouates, near Geneva, Switzerland, and so far has generated seven monoclonal antibodies with the intent to treat immune-related disorders. The company's product spectrum ranges from preclinical to clinical phase II. All portfolio products have the potential of becoming a medicine for multiple medical conditions due to their specific mechanism of action. Two compounds are in early clinical development, with the most advanced in clinical phase II. The lead product, NI-0401/anti-CD3, is currently being tested in Crohn's disease, type 1 diabetes and transplantation. Founded in 1998, the company currently employs a workforce of 75.

TRION Pharma GmbH

TRION Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company that develops trifunctional antibodies called Triomab® at its site in Munich. They are based on a platform technology for which TRION Pharma holds IP rights around the world. Triomab® antibodies simultaneously activate multiple immune defence mechanisms against cancer. As a result, tumour cells are specifically destroyed with hitherto unknown potency and precision, and the immune system's memory is activated. In 2009, Removab® (Catumaxomab) was the first member of the Triomab® family to receive EU market approval. It is not only the first drug indicated for the treatment of malignant ascites (abdominal fluid retention) in cancer patients, but also the first bispecific, trifunctional antibody worldwide. Removab® is marketed by TRION's development partner Fresenius Biotech.

VIVALIS SA

VIVALIS (NYSE Euronext: VLS) provides the pharmaceutical industry with cell-based solutions for the manufacture of vaccines and proteins, and develops drugs for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Headquartered in France, the company specializes in the field of embryonic stem cells and their practical applications in human and veterinary medicine. Its proprietary EB66 cell line platform, derived from duck empbryonic stem cells, presents unique industrial and regulatory characteristics to replace the eggs in the production of vaccines and to produce antibodies with enhanced ADCC activity. Beside its proprietary programs, VIVALIS has developed partnerships with more than 25 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In addition to these licence partnerships, VIVALIS develops and manufactures a range of vaccines and antibodies.

Press Release (biotechnica_09-024-e, .pdf)