Tag Archives: Switzerland

Switzerland

JSR Life Sciences Expands European Gen-to-GMP Biology Manufacturing Facility for Selexis and KBI Biopharma in Geneva, Switzerland | Instant News


20 Oct 2020 11:00 UTC

SUNNYVALE, California – (BUSINESS WIRE) – JSR Life Sciences, LLC announced today that they are increasing their European footprint with a newly expanded state-of-the-art facility that will become the main European operating location for its affiliated companies KBI Biofarma and Selexis SA. The two companies combined will occupy at 8,700 square meters Stellar 32 campus within the ZIPLO Geneva (Industrial Zone Plan-les-Ouates). KBI Biopharma’s expanded facilities will enable the Company to offer the manufacturing of clinical cGMP biological medicinal ingredients for European clients. Selexis’ new workspace will enable the Company to meet the increasing demand for highly specialized mammalian cell line development technologies and services. Together, the companies anticipate the creation of more than 250 new, highly technical jobs at the new facility.

JSR Life Sciences invests in co-located operations to help meet the needs of its client base in Europe. This arrangement will facilitate additional options for clients to increase efficiency to integrate SURE SelexistechnologyTM protein expression platform with KBI’s advanced process and analytical development tools.

“JSR Life Sciences is proud to have a best-in-class company focused on translating customer ideas into new biologies that improve the lives of patients around the world,” said Tim Lowery, President of JSR Life Sciences. “This strategic investment in our European operations creates new options by linking the core strengths of our affiliates, increasing efficiency and ultimately accelerating the ability of our customers to bring innovative life science products to market. In addition, KBI and Selexis will benefit from the broad biopharma industry base, advanced technical resources, and special educational offerings in the region. “

KBI Biopharma’s 5,600-square-meter biological bulk drug manufacturing facility is scheduled to be operational in mid-2022 and will create more than 200 technical positions in development, operations and quality assurance. From this facility, KBI will supply cGMP bulk drug ingredients to customers to meet clinical trial requirements. The expanded capabilities include two 2,000L single-use cGMP manufacturing suites with on-site process development and analytical testing laboratories. CGMP quality control testing for release and in-process testing will be carried out on-site at the new Geneva facility, while cGMP testing for medicinal substances and drug product stability will continue at the KBI Biopharma BVBA laboratory in Leuven, Belgium.

The Geneva Selexis footprint will increase by 200% and is scheduled to be operational in mid-2021. The new spaces will include laboratory, office, health / fitness and employee common rooms. During the expansion, Selexis has maintained its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through investing in Minergie-certified buildings (a Swiss building standard intended for construction with above average quality, comfort and energy demands) with a 20% better energy balance. of Swiss recommendations for energy resources and conservation1. The floor plans support the unique technical requirements of Selexis cell line workflows, including whole-department segregation and a sophisticated monitoring system. In addition to the new standard cell line development suite, the new facility will also include two separate cell culture sequences to accommodate client-specific, quarantined cell lines or client-specific cell line spaces.

“This expansion is the cornerstone of our European growth strategy, which is built on Selexis ‘innovative cell line technology and KBI’s strong expertise in biologic manufacturing to meet the needs of our clients’ clinical trial requirements. This new facility allows us to increase engagement with a wider client base with whom we can partner more effectively because of our local presence, “said Dirk Lange, President and CEO of KBI Biopharma and CEO of Selexis SA. “As science advances, research and treatment becomes increasingly complex and sophisticated, and we are fully prepared to keep up with the needs of our clients by providing the latest life science discoveries and development technologies. In addition, by putting these operations together, the synergy for fast cell lines and process development as well as the introduction of manufacturing will be extraordinary, which we see as a real boon to our client base. “

The Stellar 32 facility remains at the center of a highly diversified industrial company in Geneva. It provides easy access for clients and employees, is located close to Highway A1, Geneva Airport, and public transportation including buses, trams and several rail lines. Its location will also provide easy access to three-star hotels as well as a restaurant and fitness center.

About JSR Life Sciences, LLC

JSR Life Sciences, LLC is committed to advancing human health worldwide as a strategic partner for companies that discover, develop and deliver products to treat disease and improve the quality of life for patients. Based in Sunnyvale, California, JSR Life Sciences operates a network of manufacturing facilities, R&D labs and sales offices. The JSR Life Sciences family of companies includes Crown Bioscience, KBI Biopharma, Inc., Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., LTD., Selexis SA and other affiliates throughout Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

About KBI Biopharma, Inc.

KBI Biopharma is an award-winning biopharmaceutical contract services organization that provides fully integrated and accelerated drug development and biomanufacturing services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide. With each of our 300+ client partners, we’ve worked together to quickly personalize and accelerate their drug development program. Built on a foundation of world-class analytical capabilities, we provide efficient process development and clinical and commercial cGMP manufacturing services for mammalian, microbial, and cell therapy programs. We have locations in Durham and Research Triangle Park (NC), Boulder and Louisville (CO), The Woodlands (TX), Geneva, Switzerland, and Leuven, Belgium. Further information is available at www.kbibiopharma.com.

About Selexis SA

Selexis SA, the JSR Life Sciences Company, is a global leader in the development of cell lines with best-in-class modular technology and highly specialized solutions enabling the life science industry to rapidly discover, develop and commercialize innovative pharmaceuticals and vaccines. Our global partners leverage Selexis technology to advance more than 130 medicinal products in clinical development and manufacturing of eight commercial products. As part of a comprehensive drug development process, the Company’s technology shortens development times and reduces production risks. Further information is available at www.selexis.com.

1 That “The Cantonese Regulatory Model in the Energy Sector” (MuKEn) is a “whole package” of model regulations for the energy law in the building sector that the regions have developed jointly based on their experience in implementing them.

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Switzerland

Swiss gold exports to Asia fell as bullion poured into London | Instant News


LONDON (Reuters) – Swiss gold exports to China and India shrank in September, with the country instead importing a record volume of gold bullion from Hong Kong and shipping the metal to Britain, customs data showed on Tuesday.

Gold anode depicted at Swiss Metalor refinery in Marin near Neuchatel, Switzerland July 5, 2019. REUTERS / Denis Balibouse / File Photo

The figures underline how Western investors have overtaken Asian jewelery buyers as the main driver of gold demand since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The pandemic has resulted in the closure of jewelery shops and reduced disposable income among consumers, as well as sparking a rush of investors to hoard assets they think will hold their value during the crisis.

Switzerland is a major gold refining and transit center, while London is a storage and trading center where investors around the world stock up on gold.

Swiss gold exports to the United States, which surged earlier this year due to higher prices on the US market, fell sharply for the second consecutive month in September.

Graph: Swiss gold exports

Switzerland exported 1.5 tonnes of gold to China in September, with 2.4 tonnes exported to Hong Kong and 5 tonnes to India, customs data showed.

The previous month, they shipped 10 tonnes to China, nothing to Hong Kong and 20.2 tonnes to India as demand in that market appeared to be recovering.

The dominant flow of gold in September comes from east to west. Switzerland imported 37.7 tonnes from Hong Kong, up from 25.5 tonnes in August and the most for all months since Swiss data became available in 2012.

It exported 50.9 tonnes to the UK, up from 18.4 tonnes in August and the most since September last year.

Swiss shipments to the United States fell to 13.5 tonnes from 28.5 tonnes in August and for the second month were almost entirely offset by gold imports to Switzerland from the United States.

In total, Switzerland exported 105.9 tonnes of gold in September, up from 112 tonnes in August.

Reporting by Peter Hobson; Edited by David Goodman

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Switzerland

Tennis news: Roger Federer, world ranking, ATP, Switzerland, Basel, court name | Instant News


He may be the most universally adored athlete on the planet, but for reasons unknown Roger Federer is in trouble in Basel.

The push to rename Basel’s main sports arena after local tennis superstar Roger Federer fell short on Tuesday after failing to get enough signatures.

But hope that St. Jakobshalle will be renamed Roger Federer Arena is still burning despite the setbacks, the Swiss news agency ATS reported.

In Switzerland, replacing street, square, and the like with the name of a public figure is usually posthumous honor.

The idea to change the name of the arena has been around since 2012 but all attempts so far have failed.

Proponents believe the move will have a positive impact on cities, tourism and tennis.

But hampered by the coronavirus pandemic, Federer’s fans lost 1,800 signatures out of the 3,000 needed to trigger a local public vote on the proposal.

They keep filing their petition with the Basel City regional authorities in the hope that the request will be fulfilled.

St. Jakobshalle is hosting the Swiss Indoors men’s tennis tournament, which reigning champion Federer won for the 10th time last year.

Basel-born Federer, 39, used to live on the outskirts of the city where the hall is located. As a young boy, he spent two years as a ball boy at Swiss Indoors and currently hosts post-tournament pizza parties for football boys and girls in tribute to his formative years squatting the net.

St. The 12,400 capacity Jakobshalle opened in 1976.

Arena completed a three-year renovation in 2018 at a cost of approximately $ 150 million.

The last time Federer played against Swiss Indoors and failed to reach the final was in 2003.

Currently ranked fourth in the world, Federer has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles – a record now shared with Rafael Nadal following the Spaniard’s 2020 French Open victory.

She topped Forbes magazine’s 2020 list of highest-paid global athletes, raking in $ 106.3 million in pretax income – with $ 100 million coming from appearance fees and endorsement deals.

– AFP

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Switzerland

Covid in Europe: protests in the Czech Republic, Ireland to strengthen rules | World News | Instant News


Police fight anti-mask protesters on Czech Republic, Ireland prepared to announce difficult and new restrictions Switzerland making masks mandatory indoors as European governments struggle to contain a continuing record number of Covid cases.

As Italy on Sunday reported 11,705 new infections over the past 24 hours, the largest number ever, and France On Saturday setting a new high of 32,427 cases, police in Prague’s historic tourist district fired tear gas and water cannons after demonstrations against strict anti-coronavirus restrictions turned violent.

Riot officers flooded the Czech capital’s Old Town Square with horses and armored vehicles after protesters were among about 2,000 people who were hurled missiles, including beer bottles, cans and bicycles, and set off firecrackers.

Sunday’s rally was organized by so-called ultra football and ice hockey fans angered by increasingly stringent restrictions introduced in response to a soaring number of cases in Czech Republic, is currently the worst affected in Europe by population heads.


The country on Friday reported a record 11,105 cases and another 8,713 cases on Saturday. In the past week, bars and restaurants have been ordered to close except for takeaways and schools have shifted to distance learning. The shop remains open.

Nonetheless, the country will wait at least two weeks before deciding whether to order a complete shutdown to contain the epidemic, said deputy prime minister, Karel Havlíček.

IrelandHigher education – and former health minister, Simon Harris, said the government would impose “decisive” national restrictions on Monday but would stop reintroducing the type of lockdown that was enforced. earlier this year.

“The government will act tomorrow, action will be decisive and it will take place nationally,” Harris said. “Tomorrow we have to impose more limits. It’s clear now that the virus is at such a level in all of our communities, the inter-district approach won’t be enough. “

Switzerland The government announced new restrictions will take effect on Monday, including a ban on gatherings of more than 15 people in public places and mandatory masks in all indoor public places including cinemas and shops.

Masks will also be needed at train stations and airports, as well as on public transport. Homework is recommended, the government says, while customers must sit down to be served in restaurants and bars.

These measures were taken amid a rapid increase in cases, with daily reported infections up 150% compared to the previous week. “The sharp increase in the amount of pollution in the last few days is worrying. Indeed, it concerns all age groups and all cantons, “the government said in a statement.


GermanThe Chancellor, Angela Merkel, urged residents to stay home whenever possible after 7,830 cases emerged over a 24 hour period. “What will determine our winter and Christmas will be determined in the coming weeks,” he said.

In Netherlands, that is last week closing all bars and restaurants for a month as part of a series of measures to contain a soaring infection, the prime minister said he was making “misjudgment” by failing to stop the king from going on vacation.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima cut short their holiday on Saturday a day after flying to Greece, saying they had received an “intense” public reaction. In a letter to parliament on Sunday, Rutte said he was aware of the king’s plans but should raise the matter with the king.

“I realized too late … that the intended holidays, which have been met [previous] regulations, could no longer be reconciled with increasing infections and stricter measures.“



The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, spoke to reporters in The Hague on Sunday. Photo: Phil Nijhuis / EPA

After the World Health Organization reported a “very worrying” 44% increase in European cases during one week, Poland and Belgium also announced the daily caseload on Saturday, as Paris and eight other major French urban centers that are home to some 20 million people enter at least one month’s curfew.

Global cases of the disease, which has killed more than 1.1 million people worldwide, have surged beyond levels seen in the first wave earlier this year – although the numbers cannot be compared directly due to the emergence of recent mass testing.

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Switzerland

Switzerland introduced the first national restrictions on mandatory face masks in indoor public areas | Instant News


Switzerland will make face masks mandatory in indoor public spaces and ban gatherings of more than 15 people starting Monday amid growing concerns over a surge in coronavirus cases.

Alpine country with 8.5 million people largely spared during the early stages of the pandemic, but Covid-19 has spread faster in Switzerland than in any other European country over the past week.

President Simonetta Sommaruga said the spread of the virus was “exponential” as she announced Switzerland’s first national restrictions and urged people to work from home. Previous actions to tackle the crisis have been left to local leaders in the country’s 26 cantons or states.

Restaurants and bars may remain open as long as they only serve seated customers.

A government statement said: “The sharp increase in the amount of contamination in recent days is alarming … It concerns all age groups and all cantons.”

It is not compulsory to wear masks at schools and officially scheduled events such as political rallies and sporting events are exempt from the ban on gatherings, provided protective measures are put in place.

However, some cantons impose additional local restrictions on sporting events. In Bern, a maximum of 1,000 spectators is now allowed.

In a sign of defiance of the new rules, several hundred protesters demonstrated on Sunday outside the Federal Palace, which houses parliament and the government.

Alain Berset, the health minister, urged the public to take responsibility and show common sense. “The second wave is here, earlier and stronger than we thought, but we are ready for it. We know how to act and it is time for all of us to take advantage of what we learned in the spring. “

Switzerland reported 3,105 new infections on Friday, compared with 1,487 the previous week. It has 1,822 deaths.

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