Nordic Life Science 1
NORDIC LIFE SCIENCE EDITOR IN CHIEF: MALIN OTMANI
ART DIRECTOR: ANNIKI SKEIDSVOLL EDÉN REPORTER: ELLEN R. DELISIO, PIA ANDREA ENGLISH PROOFREADING: GAIL ADAM REPRO: LENA HOXTER COVER PHOTO: FARTEIN RUDJORD PRINTED BY: ÅTTA.45 2022 PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: MATTIAS OLME PRODUCT MANAGER: MATTIAS OLME MARKETING & SALES: ANDRES VARGAS ANDRES@NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG +46 8 588 941 56/ +46 8 588 941 51 COPYRIGHT 2022 BY NLS MEDIA GROUP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WHITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. A MAGAZINE FROM NLS MEDIA GROUP NLS MEDIA GROUP AB, KINDSTUGATAN 1 111 31 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN PHONE: +46 8 588 941 51 SUBSCRIPTION: ONE YEAR PRINT AND ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION: 1 990 SEK / 199 EUR / 219 USD 01. FOUR PRINTED ISSUES OF THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 02. ALL ISSUES ONLINE, READABLE ON YOUR PREFERRED DEVICE 03. WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES FROM OUR NEWSLETTER NORDIC LIFE SCIENCE NEWS CALL: +46 8 588 941 51 OR SIGN UP AT: NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG showed us how unprepared we were to respond to emerging infectious diseases. Bill Gates recently gave a TED talk on how we can make COVID-19 the last pandemic, and he is sure we can – if we take the right steps. He compared the preparedness we should have to pandemics to the preparedness we have learnt to have when it comes to fires – from being not prepared at all, during Roman times, to today, having a system of alarms, trained firefighters and equipment. We need a well-oiled system in place, complete with full-time professional personnel and innovative tools (diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, etc.), ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice, coordinated by the WHO and with national teams, suggests Bill. Also, investments in pandemic prevention will shrink the health gap between the rich and the poor. It would also be financially beneficial, he says, a billion invested would provide trillions. In line with this, together with the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Open Philanthropy, the Bill & Melina Gates Foundation have announced an initial commitment of up to 90 million USD supporting new antiviral medicines for future pandemics. The Pandemic Antiviral Discovery (PAD) aims to help ensure the world is prepared to quickly develop and equitably deploy effective, accessible antiviral treatments next time a pandemic threat emerges. PARTNERS: The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed shown that global health security cannot be achieved in silos and will require contributions from the public and private sectors. Here in the Nordics, joining forces would also benefit us in preventing a new pandemic, not least having a joint vaccine production. A feasibility study, initiated by the region’s governments, has been carried out for completion this month. In Sweden, Valneva just recently inaugurated its first COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing facility in the former post terminal in Tomteboda, Solna. This is an important step towards increasing our conditions for emergency preparedness. Many more Nordic national efforts can be named. Our region’s life science industry is filled with innovation capacity and willingness to aid and collaborate, and joining forces on pandemic preparedness, sharing knowledge and data, would not only benefit global health but also strengthen us as a life science region. MALIN OTMANI EDITOR IN CHIEF FOR DAILY UPDATES OF THE NORDIC LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY, VISIT: NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG.