DANISH FIRMS MERGE TO FORM NORDIC BIOSCIENCE A/S.Nordic Bioscience A/S is the name of a new Danish biotech company with one of the world's largest and strongest research units specializing in osteoporosis. The company is the result of a merger between the two Danish biotech companies Osteometer BioTech A/S and Osteopro A/S. Nordic Bioscience A/S is located in Herlev near Copenhagen and employs 85 employees of which more than 55 are directly engaged in research. "We are now among the largest biotech companies in Denmark and we are extremely well prepared for taking a world-leading position within research and development of treatments for bone diseases," said Klaus Eldrup-J0rgensen who takes office as president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. in Nordic Bioscience A/S from the equivalent position in Osteometer BioTech A/S. The company's research within osteoporosis is based on results from more than 10 years of development of diagnostic and therapeutic products for management of patients with bone diseases. Osteoporosis is a serious disease striking one in three women and it is estimated that the disease affects 75 million women in the industrialized in·dus·tri·al·ize v. in·dus·tri·al·ized, in·dus·tri·al·iz·ing, in·dus·tri·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To develop industry in (a country or society, for example). 2. world today. In addition, the company has projects aiming at diagnosing and treating bone metastasis metastasis /me·tas·ta·sis/ (me-tas´tah-sis) pl. metas´tases 1. transfer of disease from one organ or part of the body to another not directly connected with it, due either to transfer of pathogenic microorganisms or to . "In Osteometer BioTech we have mainly developed diagnostic and monitoring products for bone diseases, but our research has also provided new knowledge that can be applied directly in the development of improved treatments. Osteopro has profound knowledge of the effect of medical intervention in bone diseases and thus the combination of our competences offers a strong platform for development of a number of innovative drugs within this area," said Klaus Eldrup-J0rgensen. The business model in Nordic Bioscience A/S is based on the synergy created by integrating diagnostic and therapeutic research within certain disease areas - primarily bone diseases such as osteoporosis and bone metastasis, but also cartilage cartilage (kär`təlĭj), flexible semiopaque connective tissue without blood vessels or nerve cells. It forms part of the skeletal system in humans and in other vertebrates, and is also known as gristle. diseases as osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. and rheumatoid arthritis rheumatoid arthritis Chronic, progressive autoimmune disease causing connective-tissue inflammation, mostly in synovial joints. It can occur at any age, is more common in women, and has an unpredictable course. . The analytical methods developed by Osteometer BioTech A/S, will increase speed in the drug development projects brought to the new company by Osteopro A/S. The CEO of Osteopro A/S Prof. Herjan J. T. Coelingh Bennink continues as executive vice president in Nordic Bioscience A/S. "With this merger, we have gained competence and critical mass to take projects from the early stage of idea to clinical phase III Noun 1. phase III - a large clinical trial of a treatment or drug that in phase I and phase II has been shown to be efficacious with tolerable side effects; after successful conclusion of these clinical trials it will receive formal approval from the FDA . Furthermore, the combined research unit will support the company's strategy to expand our research portfolio beyond bone diseases into joint diseases," said Herjan J. T. Coelingh Bennink. Joint diseases affect an estimated 150 million people in the industrialized world and there is still a large unmet need for improved treatments that can halt disease progression effectively. The company already sells products for diagnosing and monitoring of bone diseases. These products are market world wide, among others by the world's largest diagnostic company, Roche Diagnostics Roche Diagnostics Division is a subsidiary of Hoffmann-La Roche which manufactures equipment and reagents for research and medical diagnostic applications. Internally, it is organized into six major business areas: Roche Applied Science, Roche Centralized Diagnostics, Roche GmbH. Of Nordic Bioscience's drug candidates, the most advanced project is a completely new compound for treatment of osteoporosis about to enter phase IIa clinical trials. In addition, the company has a broad pipeline containing a number of other innovative therapeutic research projects. Major shareholders in Nordic Bioscience A/S include C.C. Consulting A/S, owned by Dr. Claus Christiansen Claus Christiansen (born October 19, 1967) is a Danish former football (soccer) player in a defender role, who played 295 Danish league matches for Lyngby Boldklub. He played five matches for the Denmark national football team, most notably the semi-final and final game of the Euro , and Roche Diagnostics GmbH. In the calendar year 2001 the company expects a turnover of approximately DKK DKK In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Danish Krone. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 30 million. |
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