MERCK KGAA
Heather Connor
+1 - 978-294-1660
Merck Serono Innovation Cup 2015 awards novel idea for a new innovative hypoxia activated prodrug approach for the treatment of cancer
Initiative is designed to support new talent interested in drug discovery
Darmstadt, Germany, July 21, 2015 - Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck, recently announced the winners of the 2015 Innovation Cup - a program that underscores the company's commitment to developing the next generation of biopharmaceutical talents and discovering promising approaches to new medicines. An oncology team, consisting of PhD and post-doctoral researchers, won the Innovation Cup trophy and € 20,000 for their idea to create an innovative hypoxia activated prodrug approach for the treatment of cancer.
The members of the 2015 Innovation Cup Winning Team are:
Francis Hunter (University of Auckland)
Wang Shan (Tsinghua University)
Jia Lin (Tsinghua University)
Kshitij Srivastava (German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg)
Sotirios Sotiriou (University of Geneva)
Oliver Thorn-Seshold (LMU München)
Arne Sutter (coach)
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Merck KGaA www.merckserono.com Merck Serono is a division of Merck. Frankfurter Strasse 250
64293 Darmstadt
Germany
Hotline +49 (0) 6151 72-5000 www.merckgroup.com
Tel. +1-978-294-1660 heather.connor@emdserono.com
"For the fifth year in a row, we are excited to work with bright young students from around the world to uncover the next great innovation in medical science," said Dr. Ulrich Betz, Department Head Innovation & Entrepreneurship Incubator at Merck Serono, initiator and manager of the Innovation Cup. "Participants are given the opportunity to work with Merck Serono professionals and to learn how drugs are successfully discovered, developed and brought to market to benefit patients in need."
During a week-long Innovation Summer Camp, 31 participants gathered to learn the essentials of drug discovery and development in a highly stimulating and competitive environment. Working together in six teams of high diversity, students generated new ideas in the areas of oncology, immuno-oncology, autoimmune diseases, chemo- and bioengineering, medical devices/electronic health and innovations for emerging markets, receiving guidance and support from Merck Serono coaches to turn their ideas into business plans. At the end of the week, teams presented their proposals to a jury consisting of senior Merck managers and external experts.
"Attending Merck Serono Innovation Cup 2015 was truly an enriching and unparalleled experience", said Kshitij Srivastava of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg. "Beyond meeting some of the brightest young minds and experienced industry seniors, the intense week-long event provided us a rare opportunity to look beyond academic pursuit and relate to the translation of innovative ideas to possible therapeutics in pharmaceutical industry."
Since 2011, Merck Serono has invited annually top students in the fields of life-science and business administration from all over the world to apply for participation in the Merck Serono Innovation Cup. More than 800 applications were received this year from more than 50 countries. For more information, please visit innovationcup.merckserono.com. The application phase for the 2016 edition of the Innovation Cup will start at the end of
this year.
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In March 2015, Merck received the German Industry Innovation Award in the "companies with innovative HR concepts" category, in part because of the Innovation Cup initiative.
About Merck SeronoMerck Serono is the biopharmaceutical business of Merck. With headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany, Merck Serono offers leading brands in 150 countries to help patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders as well as cardiovascular diseases. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates as a separately incorporated subsidiary of Merck Serono.
Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines of both chemical and biological origin in specialist indications. We have an enduring commitment to deliver novel therapies in our core focus areas of neurology, oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology.
For more information, please visit www.merckserono.com.
All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.
Merck is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six businesses - Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Merck Millipore and Performance Materials - and generated sales of around
€11.3 billion in 2014. Around 39,000 Merck employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company - since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business
success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70% interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials.
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