German Founder's Prize for Antisense Pharma
MZ 23.06.04 – The national initiative StartUp annually honors a successful company, which is in one of the various stages of development – from concept to life’s work. StartUp Partner’s include Sparkassen, McKinsey & Company, the ZDF as well as „Stern“ magazine. A total of nine companies were nominated this year. They presented their business ideas and underwent intensive questioning by the prestigious jury members, such as Professor Dr. Jürgen Kluge, head of the German branch of McKinsey and Bernd Kundrun, chairman of Gruner & Jahr. Antisense Pharma was able to convince the jury most in the category of “visionary”. In this category, the company with the best solutions for social challenges premiered.
The Antisense Pharma company was founded in 1998 in Göttingen by the brothers Dr. Reimar und Dr. Karl-Hermann Schlingensiepen, who now both run the company. At the end of 1999 they moved with 6 employees to Regensburg as the first company in BioPark. In October 2000, the first active agent (AP12009) was clinically tested. Hidden behind the abbreviation is an ingredient that may well revolutionize cancer treatments. Whereas up to now the standard radiation and chemotherapies did not or only just barely have an affect, specifically in the case of brain tumors, the so-called „glioblastom“, new forms of cancer treatments are desperately needed. With AP 12999, Antisense has had many promising results in clinical testing and was awarded with the Bavarian Innovation Prize 2004 for their “innovative therapy concept”.
The Principle of the Antisense-Therapy is based on the blocking of genes that can cause cancer or that make the growth of tumors more probable. “Antisense“ is the term for molecular reflection of genetic information. The highly specialized medication follow the Schlüssel-Schloss Principle which is used to block essential factors for the growth of tumors on the molecular level. International studies are currently being held with the new treatment. AP 12009 for the treatment of brain tumors is however not the only Antisense-medicine in the pipeline. A study on the treatment of pancreatic cancer has also begun. Further substances for the treatment of for example lung, colon and prostate cancer are in the pre-clinical stages of development. Antisense Pharma has approximately 30 employees and is the largest company in BioPark.
Regensburg Mayor, Hans Schaidinger regretted that he was not able to attend the award ceremony due to previous obligations. He did however emphasize the importance of Regensburg as a location, which was what persuaded the company to move its headquarters from Gottingen to Regensburg in 1998. Dieter Daminger, Head of the Bureau for Economic Growth pointed out the sustained support the company has received from the city’s administration for the integration into the regional network and the cooperation with the University of Regensburg and Clinics. Dr. Thomas Diefenthal, CEO of BioPark Regensburg views the award as an important milestone for Antisense Pharma. In the Biotech scene the company is being considered as a stock market candidate and with the successful conclusion of clinical testing, the dream of any founder to achieve entrance into the pharmaceutical market may soon become reality.
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