This year’s Novartis Scientific Awards, too, go to outstanding Slovenian scientists

Igor Legen, PhD received the Novartis award for his important role in development, innovation and implementation of biopharmaceutical approaches, which has led to a substantial improvement of the results of bioequivalence studies within Sandoz Development. Besides, he contributed importantly to the development of an innovative dissolution device (i. e. representing stomach and intestines), which can simulate the peristaltic of the human digestive apparatus thus providing for exceptional progress in biopharmaceutics and the development of generics in Sandoz. “I am very honoured to have received such a high award for scientific achievements, which indicates that we are developing highly innovative approaches being acknowledged within the entire Novartis group. Such achievement is only possible, if one is surrounded by an excellent team constantly searching for new approaches and upgrading the old ones. I’m also accepting this award as motivation for future innovations in the field of generics development, leading to more efficiency in development and enhancing access of our medicines to the patients.”

The leading clinical development researcher within the Development Center Slovenia, Marija Bošković Ribarski, PhD has received the award for her commitment to research in the field of clinical science. She is an expert in strategy development for complex and non-standard clinical programmes, she prepared more ten 160 clinical strategies for successfully marketed medicines as well as medicines still in development. “It is a great honour for me to receive this award, which emphasises the fact that our scientific achievements are acknowledged at the highest level of Novartis. Also, my achievements are reflecting the excellent teamwork on Clinical Development within the Development Center Slovenia, therefore my award bears acknowledgement of the entire team. To me the award means great motivation for future commitment at work as well as for the upgrade and exchange of knowhow. Thereby we are all motivated to strive for innovative solutions and new research achievements contributing to the growth strategy of our company.”

The third award receiver is Dušan Teslić, PhD head of Particle engineering and  Synthesis in early development of pharmaceutical products from the Development  Center Slovenia. As researcher in the field of planning particles of active  pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), he has developed numerous procedures for  active pharmaceutical ingredients with target-oriented physical and chemical  properties. “I am glad to be working in a research environment offering  opportunities for achievements to be proud of and that are recognized and  awarded by the company. I received the award for my work in the field of  planning chemical and physical properties of APIs particles. Managing those is  often of key importance for the successful development and production of  medicines. For me, the award represents great additional motivation for the  growth of my expertise and further cocreation of a research climate that will  continue offering our outstanding researchers the challenges and opportunities  for extraordinary achievements in development.”