Novartis Sows his future in American soil

Novartis Sows his future in American soil -

New excavations. Novartis install in this building owned by MIT

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS -. It was not a mere bluster policy when US Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), last week called Kendall Square in Cambridge the "epicenter of the world of biotechnology." The giant Swiss drug Novartis, based in Basel, has the intention to set up a research center of $ 250 million here to guide its overall efforts of R & D

the new center. - the Novartis Institute for biomedical research Inc .-- will coordinate $ . $ 2.4 billion a year R & D of the company's portfolio in the US, Japan and Europe the laboratory, which is expected to open next year, initially will house 400 scientists - possibly staffing up 1000 -. and will specialize in the development of drugs against diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and viral diseases Novartis market is increasingly focused on this side of the Atlantic Less than a third of sales. of the company are in Europe, while 43% is in the US

Novartis move is the latest blow to European research drugs and reflects the company's efforts to keep American competitors in its sites. "Europe has created its own problems by not ... provide a dynamic research environment," said Novartis chief Daniel Vasella direction. In Europe, there is more resistance to the links between industry and academia and European governments have managed to match the prodigious investment in biology and biotechnology made by both the US government and Venture Capitalists, Vasella said: "the United States has pursued a much more intelligent policy"

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members of the Swiss scientific community agree that their research programs are underfunded and have few incentives to retain talent. Last November, the Council of science and technology Swiss launched a petition imploring Government to strengthen the 10% research budget within 5 years. "the Novartis movement is a very serious symptom during the descent of the Swiss research," said Catherine Nissen-Druey, vice president of the advisory body . "It sends a message to young Swiss scientists that research is more promising in the US than it is here."

With reporting by Helena Bachmann Geneva

Related Sites
Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research Inc.

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