Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of German pharmaceutical company Merck, has awarded its 2015 Innovation Cup and €20,000 to an oncology team which has created an innovative hypoxia activated prodrug approach to treat cancer.
The Innovation Cup, which has been running every year since 2011, underscores the company’s commitment to developing the next generation of biopharmaceutical talents and discovering promising approaches to new medicines. More than 800 applications were received this year from more than 50 countries.
The members of the multinational 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); and Arne Sutter (coach).
Dr Ulrich Betz, Department Head Innovation & Entrepreneurship Incubator at Merck Serono, and the initiator and manager of the Innovation Cup, said: '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.
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
'Participants are given the opportunity to work with Merck Serono professionals 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 diverse team, 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, the teams presented their proposals to a jury consisting of senior Merck managers and external experts.
'Attending the Merck Serono Innovation Cup 2015 was truly an enriching and unparalleled experience,' said Srivastava of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).
'Beyond meeting some of the brightest young minds and experienced industry seniors, the intense week-long event provided us with a rare opportunity to look beyond academic pursuit and relate to the translation of innovative ideas to possible therapeutics in the pharmaceutical industry.'
