Presentation of Award 2003

The winners of the first-ever EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD have been selected. At the opening event for BIOTECHNICA 2003 (7 to 9 October), Prof. Dr. Peter J. W. Stadler, the Jury Chairperson, announced the following results. Christian Wulff, Minister-President of the German state of Lower Saxony, and Stephan Ph. Kühne, Managing Board Member at Deutsche Messe AG, awarded the prizes before an audience of 350 distinguished biotech representatives from Germany and abroad.

First prize in the amount of EUR 20,000 went to the GPC Biotech AG company, based in Martinsried, Germany. This biotechnology firm is dedicated to discovering and developing new anticancer drugs through innovative discovery technologies and development approaches. An additional special prize was awarded to the company in the form of three full-page ads in the "European Biotechnology Science & Industry News" published by BIOCOM AG in Berlin.

Second place went to Intercell AG in Vienna, Austria. This company discovers and develops new immunological products and technologies for the prevention and treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Intercell AG received the special prize of a 9-square-meter large, turnkey exhibition stand at the "BIOTECHNICA ASIA 2004" show taking place in Singapore from 12 to 14 October.

Third prize, consisting of five days of consulting services from Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, went to Munich-based enterprise Wilex AG. This biopharmaceutical company is also involved with developing new, targeted cancer therapies.

Other finalists for this award included MediGene AG from Martinsried and PAION GmbH from Aachen, both in Germany.

In his speech honoring the recipients, Prof. Dr. Peter J. W. Stadler praised the high level of all competing firms, underscoring the strict criteria underlying the Award, for which small and medium-sized enterprises in the fields of biotech and life sciences who have successfully established themselves in the marketplace are eligible to compete. Pointing to a common benefit of winning, he stated that "the true value lies in the PR significance of this Award. The prizes themselves are additional bonuses." Prof. Dr. Bernd R. Seizinger, President and CEO of GPC Biotech AG, thanked the Jury and vowed to continue the company's successful course.