Biotop-report 2014

6

BioTOPics 47 | May 2014 

BioTOP-Report

 Biotechnology 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1.000

1.100

1.200

1.300

1.400

1.500

1.600

1.700

1.800

1.900

2.000

2.100

2.200

2.300

2.400

2.500

139 companies 1-10 employees

Number of Employees According to Company Size

74 companies 11-50 employees

19 companies > 51 employees

'04 '05 '06

'09 '10 '11 '12 '13

'07 '08

'04 '05 '06

'09 '10 '11 '12 '13

'07 '08

'04 '05 '06

'09 '10 '11 '12 '13

'07 '08

Number of

 emplo

yees

602

1.542

2.442

In comparison to the previous year, the average number of  employees per company decreased by 9,2 % in the 1-10 category 

and increased 15,9 % in the 11-50 category. The average number of  employees in the category > 50 employees increased by 3,7 %. 

(Source: Own survey, BioTOP database, 232 companies questioned, February 2014)

reoisomer RNA aptamers and a non-immunogenic alternative 

to antibodies. NOXXON is approaching the completion of  multi-

ple proof-of-concept studies with a diversified portfolio of  clini-

cal-stage Spiegelmer

®

 therapeutic agents exhibiting high safety 

and tolerability, and promising signs of  efficacy. Emapticap pegol 

(NOX-E36), an anti-CCL2/MCP-1 Spiegelmer

®

, is currently in a 

phase IIa study in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Olaptesed 

pegol (NOX-A12), an anti-CXCL12/SDF-1 Spiegelmer

®

, is cur-

rently in phase IIa studies in two hematological cancers: multiple 

myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Lexaptepid pegol 

(NOX-H94), an anti-hepcidin Spiegelmer

®

, has shown efficacy in 

a subset of  anemic cancer patients with functional iron deficiency 

in a pilot study where the pharmacodynamic parameters of  iron 

metabolism and erythropoiesis were positively influenced and 

hemoglobin levels increased following lexaptepid mono-therapy. 

The product will also be evaluated in a phase IIa study in dialysis 

patients with ESA-hyporesponsive anemia.

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7

BioTOPics 47 | May 2014 

BioTOP-Report

 Biotechnology 

0

500

1.000

1.500

2.000

2.500

3.000

3.500

4.000

4.500

5.000

'13

Employees in Biotech SMEs

'04

'05

'06

'09

'10

'11

'12

'07

'08

Number of

 emplo

yees

4.586

Employment rose to 4.586 in 2013. This is a growth of  5,6 % in 

comparison to the previous year. The number of  companies went 

up to 232, reflecting the arrival of  24 companies (18 start-ups) 

and 14 departures. (Source: Internal survey, BioTOP database, 

232 companies questioned, February 2014)

Epigenomics, a molecular diagnostics company in the process 

of  developing and commercializing a pipeline of  proprietary 

products for the screening and diagnosis of  cancer, announced 

the outcome of  a meeting of  the Molecular and Clinical Genetics 

Panel of  the FDA’s Medical Devices Advisory Committee held in 

conjunction with its premarket approval for its blood-based col-

orectal cancer screening test Epi proColon

®

. The members of  the 

Medical Devices Advisory Committee voted favorably, determin-

ing that the benefits of  Epi proColon

®

 do outweigh the risks for use 

in patients who meet the criteria.

Caprotec bioanalytics and Syngenta International AG announced 

a joint research agreement in which Syngenta will gain access 

to caprotec’s proprietary capture compound mass spectrome-

try technology. The companies will work together to profile the 

interactions of  one of  Syngenta’s novel active compounds with 

the proteome in its relevant plant biological system. caprotec’s 

platform enables the unbiased evaluation of  the interactions of  

small molecules with protein mixtures in a targeted and directed 

manner, which facilitates the identification and elucidation of  trac-

table targets and accelerates the development of  promising leads.

Cell Medica announced that the European Medicines Agency 

(EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products has issued a 

positive opinion on an application for orphan designation of  a 

novel T cell immunotherapy under development by the company. 

The cell therapy Cytovir ADV targets the treatment of  adenovirus 

infections in patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell 

(bone marrow) transplant. It is comprised of  adenovirus-specific T 

cells derived from allogeneic donor leukocytes, expanded ex vivo. 

co.don is one of  the world’s leading specialists in the cultivation 

of  cells for the joint-preserving treatment of  articular cartilage and 

intervertebral disk defects. Using the company’s patented thera-

peutic products, doctors are able to avoid joint and intervertebral 

disk prostheses in many cases. An increasing number of  orthope-

dists, orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons are relying on this 

regenerative therapeutic procedure. This minimally invasive meth-

od for articular cartilage regeneration has been successful with 

approx. 6,000 patients in Germany. Experts estimate the overall 

European market to have a potential annual worth of  approx. €1.2 

billion. With its current infusion of  capital, co.don is paving the 

way for the EU-wide approval of  its biological therapeutic co.don 

chondrotransplant

®

 DISC – an autologous method for treating in-

tervertebral disk damage.

MetrioPharm was able to complete the regulatory pre-clinical 

study package. The most important outcome was MP1032’s 

superior safety profile as confirmed by the results from the var-

ious regulatory pharmacology and toxicology studies conducted 

throughout the past year. The results of  these tests surpassed 

all ambitious expectations. Repeated daily administration of  up 

to 150(!) times the normal therapeutic dose for 28 consecutive 

days did not cause any side-effects or adverse events whatsoever. 

A clean safety profile is a highly valuable asset for a new drug. 

With the impeccable animal safety data obtained for MP1032 an 

important foundation for entering clinical Phase I trials in 2014 

was laid. For the first time, MP1032 can now be tested directly in 

humans.

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