Pioneering Project for Pharmaceutics – Vifor Pharma and the University of Basel are Jointly Establishing the World’s First Research Professorship for Nanopharmaceutical and Regulatory Science
26.5.2019 10:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Nanopharmaceutics promises ground-breaking innovation in the development of medicines:
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190526005014/en/
- The Vifor Pharma Group is endowing two professorships for Nanopharmaceutical and Regulatory Science at the University of Basel
- The commitment by Vifor Pharma and the University of Basel is aimed at ensuring Switzerland has the specialist knowledge and equipment needed to compete globally in this important emerging area of life sciences
- With this decision, Vifor Pharma is demonstrating its commitment to Switzerland as a world-leading location for pharmaceutical research and development
Nanomedicines are playing an increasingly important role in the development of innovative new medications. These drugs are able to overcome specific cellular barriers in the human body with a view to targeting their effect even more precisely. Nanopharmacy therefore promises to help advance medical science and bring significant benefit to patients.
At present, however, researchers are only just beginning to acquire the in-depth scientific insights needed for a fundamental understanding of the development of nanomedicines, their applications and especially the regulatory requirements for their approval across Europe and worldwide. Likewise, there is a lack of experts with the necessary specialist knowledge – and these experts are urgently needed in industry, at regulatory authorities and in medical practice, including in Switzerland. As with other areas of cutting-edge research, this will take the form of a global race: those able to present findings as quickly as possible will be able to assert themselves as a centre of excellence in nanopharmaceutics.
Spread over 10 years, the commitment of CHF 10 million by the Vifor Pharma Group is intended to establish the field of nanopharmacy research at the University of Basel and to support the training of corresponding experts. The newly-created professorships in Nanopharmaceutical and Regulatory Science will be based at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. There are also plans to establish and develop an internationally renowned Excellence Platform for the development, authorisation and application of nanopharmaceuticals, as well as the training of experts in the field.
Vifor Pharma views its contribution as start-up funding for this Excellence Platform, which is supported and jointly endorsed by stakeholders from academia, industry and public authorities. The aim is for the platform to both focus on research and teaching, and also to seek out international partnerships, organise conferences and incorporate additional sponsors with a view to becoming a leading international centre for nanopharmacy. “In order to make rapid progress in nanopharmaceutics, we’re reliant on clear and scientifically sound parameters for authorisation and patient safety,” says Etienne Jornod, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Vifor Pharma. “The field of nanopharmacy is growing quickly, and it’s important to secure a leading position in this innovative area of medicine with the help of qualified experts. That’s why we want to help ensure that Switzerland establishes a strong research foundation in this emerging area of pharmaceutical development.”
For the University of Basel, this collaboration marks an important step in the further development of its life sciences focal area. “We’re proud to be able to develop this promising field of research in collaboration with a major industrial partner,” says Professor Andrea Schenker-Wicki, President of the University of Basel. “The crucial thing here is that we’re not only developing the scientific foundations, but also training the experts who will take this knowledge with them into industry and public authorities.” It is, she says, a key step for Basel and Switzerland in terms of their ability to compete on the international stage.
Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company
headquartered in Switzerland. It aims to become the global leader in
iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is
the partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused
solutions. The Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the
world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The
company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for
precision patient care. The Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position
in all its core business activities and consists of the following
companies: Vifor Pharma; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a
joint company with Fresenius Medical Care); Relypsa; and OM Pharma. The
Vifor Pharma Group is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss
Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348).
For more information, please
visit www.viforpharma.com.
In
Switzerland Vifor Pharma has four production and research & development
sites where the vast majority of medications are produced. Together with
company headquarters, these sites employ over 1,300 people in
Switzerland. The affiliate Vifor Pharma Switzerland is operating out of
Villars-sur-Glâne in the French speaking part of the country.
The University of Basel has an international reputation of
outstanding achievements in research and teaching. Founded in 1460, the
University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland and has a
history of success going back over 550 years.
As a comprehensive
university offering a wide range of high-quality educational
opportunities, the University of Basel attracts students from
Switzerland and the entire world, offering them outstanding studying
conditions as they work towards their bachelor’s, master’s or PhD
degrees. Today, the University of Basel has around 13,000 students from
over a hundred nations, including 2,800 PhD students. The University of
Basel has seven faculties covering a wide spectrum of academic
disciplines. At the same time, the university has positioned itself
amidst the international competition in the form of five strategic focal
areas: Life Sciences, Visual Studies, Nanosciences, Sustainability and
Energy Research and European and Global Studies. In international
rankings, the University of Basel is regularly placed among the 100 top
universities in the world thanks to its research achievements.
The
University of Basel has deep roots in the economically powerful and
culturally rich Basel region. The university also works closely with
domestic and international partners to make relevant contributions to
the advancement of the sciences and society. This also means that the
University of Basel pays particular attention to aspects of
sustainability, equal opportunity and knowledge transfer.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190526005014/en/
Contact information
Media Relations Vifor Pharma
Heide Hauer
Head of
Corporate Communications
+41 58 851 80 87
media@viforpharma.com
Media Relations University of Basel
Matthias Geering
Leiter
Public Affairs, Kommunikation & Marketing
+41 61 207 35 75 /
+41 79 269 70 71
matthias.geering@unibas.ch
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Xsolla Announces Reseller Program to Help Game Developers Unlock New Revenue Streams in Local Markets5.3.2026 19:00:00 EET | Press release
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, today announced the Xsolla Reseller Program, a new product designed to help game developers scale and capture untapped revenue in local markets with no development needed. The program launches with a curated cohort of resellers and distributors in Southeast Asia and Latin America, with expansion into additional regions throughout 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260305047070/en/ Graphic: Xsolla As game developers pursue global growth, they face a fundamental infrastructure challenge: billions of dollars in revenue remain untapped in emerging, cash-dependent economies, such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa, where players purchase digital content through local distribution partners. In mature digital economies, developers seek to extend their reach and distribute digital inventory at scale through more partners and chan
Xsolla Agency Launches to Empower Creators Across Entertainment-Based Intellectual Property5.3.2026 17:23:00 EET | Press release
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, today launched Xsolla Agency, a comprehensive service connecting game developers with premium entertainment-based intellectual property (IP). The integrated offering addresses critical challenges for game creators: access to world-class IP, global monetization capabilities, and the operational infrastructure needed to build sustainable businesses. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260305044119/en/ Graphic: Xsolla Xsolla Agency simplifies access to entertainment-based licenses through expert-led negotiations and industry relationships, offering affordable, monetization-focused deals structured for maximum ROI. Strategic IP partnerships increase discoverability, reduce user acquisition costs, and drive higher player spend through impactful LiveOps events and promotional campaigns. The service is backed by the same commerce infrastructure powering 1,500+ game developers
Onego Bio and Sigma Foods Enter Collaboration to Strengthen Egg Protein Innovation and Supply Resilience5.3.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Onego Bio, a food ingredient company producing non-animal egg protein, and Sigma Foods ("SIGMA"), a leading multinational food company, have entered into a collaboration agreement to evaluate the functionality and commercial potential of Bioalbumen®, a non-animal egg protein made with using precision fermentation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260305756400/en/ The partnership focuses on advancing ingredient innovation while addressing urgent challenges in today’s egg supply chain—including volatility, rising prices, and avian flu-related disruptions. Bioalbumen® offers a shelf-stable, animal-free alternative that delivers the same functional, nutritional, and sensory performance as traditional eggs, while helping safeguard supply continuity for food manufacturers. Additionally, this collaboration supports Sigma’s commitment to offering safe, nutritious, and high-quality food, while driving science-based inno
Vertex to Present New Data on JOURNAVX ® That Demonstrates Effective Pain Management Following Aesthetic and Reconstructive Procedures5.3.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced data from a Phase 4 study of JOURNAVX® (suzetrigine), a prescription non-opioid pain signal inhibitor for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain, in adults, that demonstrated effective pain management and enabled opioid-free recovery after a broad range of plastic surgical procedures. These data showed that the majority of patients (90.9%) in the study were opioid free through the end of treatment (up to 14 days), demonstrating the potential for JOURNAVX as a core element of opioid-free multimodal treatment for moderate-to-severe acute pain after aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. In contrast, the literature shows opioid-free rates of less than 10% with multimodal treatment without JOURNAVX. These data will be presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) PainConnect 2026 meeting, March 5-8, 2026, in Salt Lake City, UT. This Phase 4 open-label, multicenter, single-arm study evaluated JOURNAVX w
Andersen Consulting Expands Capabilities Through Collaboration with Opinno5.3.2026 16:30:00 EET | Press release
Andersen Consulting strengthens its platform through a Collaboration Agreement with Opinno, a global consultancy headquartered in Spain that integrates digital transformation with corporate innovation. Founded in 2008, Opinno helps organizations rethink how they innovate, transform, and grow in the digital economy. The firm applies design thinking, agile methodologies, and open collaboration models to deliver results across three core areas: digital transformation, innovation, and content and ecosystems. Its digital transformation practice emphasizes AI from both strategic and design perspectives, while its innovation practice accelerates the development and market launch of products and services. Through its content and ecosystem programs, Opinno drives engagement and helps build connected, future-ready organizations. “At Opinno, innovation and digital transformation are more than processes; they are channels for meaningful impact,” said Pedro Moneo, founder and CEO of Opinno. “Our hy
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
