This year’s Regional BioCamp to explore for effective anti-infective therapies

  • Novartis in Slovenia is organising its eighth consecutive Regional BioCamp. The forum enables selected young natural science students to gain a direct insight into the business environment of an international pharmaceutical company. 
  • This year, 150 students applied for participation at the forum. Among them, 35 best applicants from ten countries were selected.
  • This year, the future scientists will focus on anti-infective therapies and challenges on the journey to effective therapies. One of the key global challenges in this field is antibiotic resistance. 
28. 5. 2018

At this year’s eighth consecutive Regional BioCamp, organised by Novartis in Slovenia from 27 to 29 May, the selected natural science students will learn about anti-infective therapies and challenges on the journey to effective treatments, both in terms of science and research, as well as patient experience. Today, strong emphasis is placed on anti-infective therapies and particularly resistance to treatment with antibiotics, as it poses a global threat to health and development. Consequently, this calls for change in attitude, greater preventative protection against bacterial infections, raising awareness among patients and health professionals about the use of antibiotics and intensive work on new scientific evidence that could limit the resistance to antibiotics.

At the Regional BioCamp, the students will listen to leading experts, scientists and lecturers with many years of experience. This will enrich their knowledge in the field of innovations in the generic pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, development of biosimilars, patient experience with treatment and innovative approaches to the development of novel medicines. They will also have an opportunity to learn from successful managers how to start up and run their own business and how to develop a career in the pharmaceutical industry. 

''Every year we look forward to the occasion when Novartis in Slovenia hosts talented and ambitious students from near and far. The event is not only a unique opportunity for them, but also for us as we have an opportunity to meet young talents and establish contact with flourishing future scientists. As a result of the Regional BioCamp’s seven-year existence, we have employed 28 participants through this event, offering them the opportunity to start their career in an international pharmaceutical company,'' commented Darja Ferčej Temeljotov, PhD, Head of Strategic Programs at Lek and the Chair Organizing Committee of the Regional BioCamp, stressing the importance of the Regional BioCamp for Novartis in Slovenia. Over eight years, 280 students have participated at the Regional BioCamp. 

35 best individuals from ten different countries

Among more than 150 applications that arrived this year, 35 best applicants were selected from ten countries, most of them coming from Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia and Germany.

The Regional BioCamp 2018 is hosting top international and domestic experts: 

  • Shawn Lee Silvestri, PhD, Global Head Product Development, Sandoz;
  • Mario Riesner, Site Head Drug Substance Bioproduction Mengeš, Novartis Technical Operations;
  • Rex Clements, PhD, Head of Global Franchises, Sandoz; 
  • Prof. Hans Uwe Simon, MD, PhD, Dean, Medical Faculty; Director, Institute of Pharmacology, University in Bern;
  • Elisabetta Traggiai, PhD, Director, Mechanistic Immunologies, The Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research;
  • Prof. Mojca Matičič, MD, PhD, Head of the Viral Hepatitis Unit; Head of the Outpatients STI Service, Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses, University Medical Centre Ljubljana;
  • Rok Starič, Head of Manufacturing Science and Technology, Antiinfectives Prevalje, Novartis Technical Operations; 
  • Mateja Šikovec, PhD, Project Manager, Development Center Slovenia, Sandoz;
  • Matevž Kmet, PhD, Head of Business Development, Acies Bio d.o.o.;
  • Boris Brus, PhD, Laboratory Formulation Development Team Leader, Global Drug Development, Novartis Facilitators and all participants.

Students gathered at the forum also to present their own case study which they tackle in teams demonstrating their way of thinking, innovation skills and ability in constructive teamwork. The expert panel then selects the winning team that best translates the newly acquired knowledge and ideas into the language of business. Among all participating students, the expert panel also selects three best performing individuals.

* * *

Novartis is the leading provider of medicines in Slovenia, where Lek, Novartis Pharma Services and Sandoz, operate. Together we are building and maintaining the reputation of a dynamic, ethical, and trusted pharmaceutical company. Lek develops, manufactures, and markets effective, safe, and high quality medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients. With our knowledge, quality, and experience we have gained an important role in Novartis' organizational structure, especially in the Novartis Technical Operations, Global Drug Development, Novartis Business Services, and the generic division Sandoz. We are the leading Sandoz development center, and one of the key development sites for technologically complex projects. We invest a great deal in the development, education, and training of our employees. Novartis invested in Slovenia more than EUR 2 billion since 2003. More than half of this investment has been devoted to development, and the rest to modernize and expand our production capacities.

Sandoz is a global leader in generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals. As a division of the Novartis Group, our purpose is to discover new ways to improve and extend people’s lives. We contribute to society’s ability to support growing healthcare needs by pioneering novel approaches to help people around the world access high-quality medicine. Our portfolio of approximately 1000 molecules, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2016 sales of USD 10.1 billion. In 2016, our products reached more than 500 million patients and we aspire to reach one billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area.
Sandoz is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Sandoz_global at http://twitter.com/Sandoz_Global (link is external).

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 122,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

* * *

This press release contains statements and conclusions based on projections of Lek’s future business operations. These estimates are derived from the best information currently available. In case these forecasts prove unreliable, the actual results could prove different from those projected.

- end -

For additional information contact:
Katarina Klemenc
Corporate Communications 
Lek Pharmaceuticals d. d.
Phone: +386 1 580 22 43
Fax: +386 1 580 24 32
katarina.klemenc@sandoz.com