NovImmune wins the 2009 EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD

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 Potocnik presented the prizes at yesterday’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.