Presentation of Award 2005

The winners of the third-ever EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD - featuring a total purse of EUR 40,000 - have been determined. Prof. Dr. Peter J. W. Stadler, Chairperson of the Jury and Chairman of the German Biotechnology Industry Association (DIB) announced the winning companies at the opening ceremony for BIOTECHNICA 2005 (18 to 20 October).

First prize goes to MediGene AG from Martinsried, Germany
The Martinsried-based MediGene company claimed first-place honors, receiving prize money of EUR 20,000. This publicly listed biotech company, with a second location in San Diego, USA, discovers and develops new approaches for treating various types of cancer and tumors. Spun off from the Munich Gene Center in 1994, the company has grown to around 120 total employees and is the first German biotech enterprise to successfully introduce a new drug on the market.

Speedel and Paion AG come in second and third
The second-place finisher - Speedel Holding - specializes in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. With around 70 employees, this Basel-based firm occupies a world-leading position in the area of renin inhibition - a promising new therapeutical approach. Speedel's second-place award consists of three days of consulting services by Capgemini consultants.

Third place went to the Aachen-based Paion AG company, which develops and markets medications for strokes and other thrombotic illnesses. Employing some 60 staff members, Paion identifies, licenses and buys up promising substances with the goal of rapid clinical development and market approval of the active ingredients. The third-place award consists of a free tradeshow stand at BIOTECHNICA.

Departing Federal Economics Minister Wolfgang Clement, Lower Saxony's Minister of Economics Walter Hirche and Stephan Ph. Kühne, Managing Board Member of Deutsche Messe AG, presented the prizes before some 450 prominent biotech industry representatives from Germany and abroad.

The presentation of the EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD 2005 represents the opening act for BIOTECHNICA 2005, taking place from 18 to 20 October at the Hannover Exhibition Center. Around 900 exhibitors from 30 different countries will be on hand to display their latest products and developments in the sectors of red, white, blue and green biotechnology.