Date: 21/12/2009
In our newsletter, we present key research and innovation actors in the “Health” area of European Member States, Associated Countries and Candidate Countries. In this newsletter, we are introducing several Portuguese researchers and SMEs willing to participate in FP7 research projects. We invite you to learn more about the expertise of potential new partners for your FP7 projects!
Portugal has excellent research groups in the health and biotechnological sector. The results obtained by its research gave origin to many spin-off companies, which rapidly turned into SMEs and continued independently and successfully. Most of the key players in this area are present in the SMEs go Health (SGH) database. However, you can have access to a large number of research institutes and companies by consulting the following associations:
On our website, we are highlighting some of the Portuguese research institutes and companies which are in the SGH database, covering different areas of expertise.
The 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics - of the Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal, aims at developing new materials to be used in a range of biomedical and environmental applications.
Its research is focused on the development of new polymeric and composite BIOMATERIALS from natural origin and mainly from renewable resources (starch, chitin, chitosan and its derivatives, casein, soy, algae, and others).
Several BIODEGRADABLE systems are being studied for applications related with bone replacement/fixation/cements, tissue engineering scaffolding and tissue regeneration, systems for controlled release of drugs or bioactive agents, and environmental degradable plastics.
The group applies a research approach in which the researchers always try to learn from nature, understand its functioning and mimic it by designing innovative BIOMIMETIC processing routes and materials.
More specifically, its research activities are: tissue engineering (TE) of bone, cartilage and osteochondral defects; production of porous biomaterials and TE scaffolds, including rapid prototyping approaches; systems for the controlled release of bioactive agents; polymer science applied to the development of new materials; characterization of biomaterials under dynamic loads; behaviour in simulated physiological solutions and degradation mechanisms; processing and characterization of biodegradable systems including the development of bioactive and bioinert composites; surface modification of biomaterials and TE scaffolds, including patterning (nano and micro); biomaterials-protein interactions; hydrogels and novel degradable bone cements; nanobiotechnology applied to regenerative medicine; smart and responsive materials for tissue engineering and sustained release; biocompatibility and immunological responses to biomaterials; adult stem cells: Isolation, culturing and differentiation; co-culture systems for tissue engineering applications and in-vivo tests for biocompatibility and TE constructs functionality assessment.
They have several publications, one patent on a device for Tissue Engineering a Bone Equivalent and are involved in several national and international projects.
The 3B´s research group was involved in the Framework Programme (FP) project “GENOSTEM”, developing an in-vitro and in-vivo test of biomaterial scaffolds with hBMSCs for bone and cartilage regeneration.
More information is provided on the web-page of 3B´s: http://www.3bs.uminho.pt/
The mission of Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM) is to foster basic, clinical and translational biomedical research with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of disease mechanisms, developing novel predictive tests, improving diagnostics tools and developing new therapeutic approaches.
IMM research activity is focused in three research programmes: Cell and Developmental Biology; Immunology and Infectious Diseases; and Neurosciences.
Amongst the pathologies investigated at IMM, emphasis is given to diseases caused by ischaemia (namely cerebral thrombosis) and neuronal degeneration (Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease). Ongoing research projects are targeted at developing new cellular and pharmacological treatments for neuronal injury and improved methods for the induction of new vessels in situations of ischaemia. In parallel, the role of diet and the predictive value of mutations in genes candidate to risk/susceptibility factors for cardio and cerebrovascular diseases are studied. IMM research teams also focus on the development of experimental treatments against cancer and infectious diseases (namely AIDS, herpes and hepatitis C) and investigate the mechanisms that lead to antiviral and antibacterial drug resistance.
The Institute promotes interaction between academy and industry by hosting start ups in Health sciences and promoting exchange of materials and knowledge between IMM units and these start ups, eg TechnoPhage, SA (see below).
More information is provided on the web-page of IMM: http://www.imm.fm.ul.pt/web/imm/home
TechnoPhage, SA is a Biotech company engaged in two main R&D programmes:
Bacteriophages
Research and development of novel products, based on the unique properties of bacteriophages, for the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of bacterial infections. Current work is focused on the research and development of new products targeting nosocomial, community and food industry infections. Different products are being developed with two main purposes:
- Specific elimination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (therapy and sanitation)
- Detection and quantification of live microorganisms (diagnostic devices)
Recombinant antibodies
Research and development on recombinant antibodies with therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
TechnoPhage continuously strives to increase the number of proprietary products, through an active research and development program and collaboration agreements. TechnoPhage also delivers research and development services for diverse pharmaceutical companies.
Web-page of TechnoPhage: http://www.technophage.pt/
IBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, is the largest Private-Non-Profit Biotechnology Research Organisation in Portugal. It brings together, as partners and collaborators, public institutions and private companies. Its mission is to foster the competitiveness of its customers and partners, by creating wealth out of knowledge of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biology. IBET's targeted economic areas are pharmaceuticals and health care, agroforestry, agroindustry and the environment.
IBET´s main activities are:
- Fundamental Research: carried out by IBET and its partner institutions under collaborative agreements with companies. In this area IBET acts mainly as an activator for the development of new scientific competences with economic relevance.
ALFAMA is a young pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of small-molecule drugs for unmet medical needs. ALFAMA's innovative science and aggressive business approach has allowed the company to recruit top talent researchers from around the world, even at its current early stage, and to gain control of all the intellectual property in its field. The core of ALFAMA's science is developed at state-of-the-art research facilities in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon (Portugal), where the company originally started, and Boston (Massachusetts, USA), where the headquarters of the mother company Alfama, Inc. are located.
Its main area of research is in carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) which hold the promise of contributing decisively to the prevention and cure of diseases involving inflammatory, infectious, thrombotic and apoptotic processes. Animal data indicates that various CORMs can be effective against ailments such as acute liver failure, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, transplant rejection, myocardial infarction, stroke, NSAID-induced gastric ulcers, hypertension and infection by antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
Alfama has been invited to give presentations all over the world and has also been funded at national level. Moreover, they submitted, as a coordinator, a proposal on Arthritis to the FP7 “Research for the benefit of SMEs” programme, which has been approved and is now waiting for funding.
More information is provided on the web-page of Alfama : http://www.alfama.com.pt/
ECBio is a privately-held company founded in December 1999 as a consultancy company. ECBio established its own animal cell facilities in 2002, when it shifted its focus to research and development in biotechnology.
ECBio was recently awarded with two major financial incentives from the Portuguese government in order to continue developing its two major areas of intervention, namely:
- Stem cell technology directed towards cell therapies
- Anticancer compounds
ECBio is engaged in several research projects aiming at developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the area of human adult stem cell isolation and differentiation. ECBio collaborates with academia, pharma and health care institutions in order to generate innovation in the area of cell therapy. Presently, ECBio is launching specific growth media for growing both human and porcine islets, containing insulin producing beta cells. ECBio is also involved in clinical trials for implementing pre-osteoblasts in dental implants and lesions in spinal cord. Presently, ECBio is also developing new protocols for adult stem cell isolation from innovative sources. ECBio can provide cell types and cell lines with phenotypes on demand.
The company has been actively involved in several projects of the EU Framework Programme: BARP +, OSTEOCORD and TargetScreen. Its activities in the projects were:
development of islet-specific growth media (diabetes); differentiation of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal cells into osteoblasts and development of epithelial cell lines for cystic fibrosis drug screening.
More information is provided on the web-page of ECBio : http://www.ecbio.com
BIOALVO designs and develops several applications derived from its technology platform, GPS D2 (Global Platform Screening for Drug Discovery), aimed at the discovery of new drugs focusing on central nervous system disorders
These applications comprise entirely innovative solutions that allow the identification of efficient new drugs with therapeutic potential for unmet medical needs. Using the diverse applications of BIOALVO’s innovative and patented platform GPS D2, they can accelerate and improve the efficiency of the first stages in the discovery of new drugs, reducing significantly the duration time and, consequently, the costs of this process. Coupling this powerful tool with a unique and proprietary source of new leads – PharmaBUG Collection - BIOALVO fosters the discovery of new and more efficient drug candidates to their own and their partners’ portfolio.
This portfolio of very potent drug screening platforms can search drug-candidates not only for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, but also for oncological and/or infectious conditions, and has already generated some drug candidates with potential clinical applications in CNS disorders.
They focus their research and development efforts on the search for modulators of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity, NAD+/NADH levels and misfolding/aggregation diseases. Additionally, their PAIN programme is currently in the preclinical stage.
BIOALVO has many publications, has participated in several conferences and also holds some patents. It is also involved in national projects and in international ones funded by the European Commission: PEP2BRAIN (IAPP) and NEURASYN (ITN). Its main activities in these projects were, respectively, Development of analgesic peptides in BIOALVO's pipeline and Study of the synergistic effect of ASYN/tau interaction using yeast as a model organism.
More information is provided on the web-page of Bioalvo: http://www.bioalvo.com/
Biotecnol is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, engineering and development of novel multifunctional antibody molecules, directed to key therapeutic targets. Using its Tribody™ technology, Biotecnol is developing a pipeline of products for applications in major disease areas such as oncology.
Biotecnol applies its antibody technologies, product development and manufacturing experience to generate, support and out-license human antibody products. Biotecnol SA carries its product development activities via its fully owned subsidiary Biotecnol Pharma, Inc., based in Durham, NC, USA.
Through its headquarters in Portugal, Biotecnol leverages its business income by establishing in-house partner-led or collaborative programmes, which provide Biotecnol a strong client-based activity and an established track record. Biotecnol uses its proprietary expression technology, cell line development capabilities, upstream and downstream processing, analytics and QC experience for delivering GMP/GLP compliant processes for biomanufacturing.
In 2004 Biotecnol started the development of a promising pipeline of products in the oncology field. It further obtained granted patents on antibody engineering technology.
Biotecnol SA business strategy focuses on developing products from laboratory through preclinical research, scale-up, clinical trials and manufacturing. Biotecnol may be contracted on a fee for service basis, but our preferred business model consists in establishing strategic collaborations with partners, in order to co-develop product candidates through pre-clinical and clinical activities, up to commercialisation. It is actively developing an anti-HER2 antibody for breast & gastric cancer and an anti-PTHrP antibody for renal cell carcinoma, and Cardiotrophin-1 for liver & kidney diseases.
In addition to the services & products, Biotecnol is also developing two platform technologies for developing next-generation therapeutics: Tribody & EDA platforms.
Biotecnol participated in FP by participating in the project “Apoptosis-inducing plasmovirus for use in the treatment of human cancer” in which they performed the process development of gene therapy vector and production of clinical grade batches.
More information is provided on the web-page: http://www.biotecnol.com/
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