Innovation centre for drug development on Bio Science Park
International pharmaceuticals company Grünenthal is to open an innovation hub on the Leiden Bio Science Park. The hub will make it easier for scientists and drug developers to work together.
Difficult-to-treat illnesses
The Innovative Medicines Unit (IMU) will be Grünenthal's European centre for open innovation and is intended to promote closer cooperation with researchers and scientific institutes. The mission of the IMU in Leiden is to work closely with partner organisations to develop solutions for patients who are suffering from illnesses that are difficult to treat. These include fibrotic diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
Working together at an early stage
The Grünenthal Group has subsidiaries in 32 different countries. Dr Klaus-Dieter Langner, Chief Scientific Officer at Grünenthal, commented: ‘Working together at an early stage with scientific institutes and other players can help generate new ideas that will ultimately benefit patients.'
Stimulating business climate
Willem te Beest, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board of Leiden University and Chairman of the Leiden Bio Science Park Foundation, is delighted with the new centre: ‘The location of IMU-Leiden on the Bio Science Park confirms that the biggest Dutch cluster in the field of biotech and biopharmacy is thriving, and that the park enjoys a stimulating business climate. It also shows that our University's strategy of open innovation is highly successful and that the new Biotech Training Facility on the park is a real asset and a offers Grünenthal some valuable benefits.’
The Biotech Training Facility, the first training centre in this field in the Netherlands, will be opened on 8 February 2016 by Minister Henk Kamp.
Highly valued addition
Alderman Robert Strijk (Accessibility, Economy, Inner City and Culture) commented that the innovation centre is an enormous asset. 'I am happy that Grünenthal has chosen to locate this centre on the Leiden Bio Science Park. It's one of the five most successful science parks in Europe, and Grünenthal will be a highly valued addition to our life sciences community.’
Some 17,000 people work on the Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP), developing new drugs and treatment methods. The Park is part of Medical Delta, a life sciences, health and technology cluster with a strong basis in research. It connects the LBSP with the most important universities and medical centres in the Delft-Rotterdam region.