On the current practice of New Business Development in the German chemical industry

The results of a survey on the practice of new business development conducted in 17 chemical industry companies and related business sectors, such as service providers, are presented in this article. The objectives and organizational setup of New Business Development were found to be exceptionally heterogeneous and to cover a broad spectrum. The differentiation between New Business Development and Innovation Management was also not consistent between the companies. All the companies underlined the importance of technical and scientific know-how for new business development staff, but also emphasized the relevance of interdisciplinary competencies at the interface between natural science and business. Small companies follow a rather opportunistic New Business Development approach without dedicated organizational structures. Larger companies, on the other hand, employ a Stage-Gate process and largely derive their ideas from megatrends. Differences between small and larger companies are discussed in the article at hand

Understanding the market dynamics of biosimilars

Biosimilars represent an attractive market opportunity in the pharmaceutical industry. In order to understand the underlying market dynamics and to identify the success factors of the biosimilars market, a PEST (political, economic, social, technological) analysis was conducted based on desk research and expert interviews with market participants and stakeholders. The regulatory environment for biosimilars seems to be well established and both the required manufacturing technology and the necessary analytical capabilities for biosimilar development are available. The potential market is expected to grow due to the overall dynamics in the biologics market and the patent expiration of blockbuster drugs. The perspective of the scientific community towards biosimilars has changed from skeptical to rather positive in the last 10 years, probably reflecting the evolution of regulatory guidelines and technological progress. However, physicians, responsible for the prescription of drugs, are still rather skeptical about biosimilars and need to be better informed in order to increase the currently low market penetration of biosimilars. Taken together, the biosimilars industry is expected to step out of its infancy stage and now enter the growth phase

On the contentious sequence and glycosylation motif of the ribosome inactivating plant protein gelonin

International audienceThe amino acid sequence and the glycosylation motif of the ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) gelonin are identified by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Intact gelonin as isolated from the seeds of Gelonium multiflorum consists of at least three different post-translational modified forms: analysis of gelonin peptides as obtained by proteolytic digestion is consistent with the amino acid sequence published by Nolan et al. High resolution mass determination established a glycosylation pattern of GlcNAc2Man3-5Xyl. N189 was identified as glycosylation site. The proposed glycan structure is consistent with a standard plant N-glycosylation pattern as found in other RIP. Based on these results we suggest that gelonin is located in the vacuole of Gelonium multiflorum seeds. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Tradition vs. Moderne: Möglichkeiten und Limitationen eines neuen Vorlesungskonzepts in der curricularen HNO-Lehre

Background!#!Due to steadily dwindling student attendance, a new blended learning lecture format was piloted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University Medical Center Freiburg in the winter semester (WS) 2017/18: the ENT 3D series. In order to present complex ENT topics (e.g., middle ear) in a more understandable, appealing, and clinically relevant manner, the clinical disciplines of otorhinolaryngology and radiology cooperated with the preclinical specialty of anatomy. The aim of the study was to evaluate this teaching format and investigate preferences that could encourage students to attend lectures.!##!Methods!#!In all lectures, participants of the ENT block internship in the 2017/18 WS were asked about the quality of the lecture using an evaluation card. In addition, the increase in knowledge was examined in each of the newly designed lectures. A final questionnaire asked the students about their preferences regarding teaching methods.!##!Results!#!Overall, the new courses were not rated better than the regular ones, although the new concept was generally rated positively. It was not possible to attract more lecture attendees. However, the traditional teaching format 'lecture' is still regarded as up to date by a defined group of students.!##!Conclusion!#!Despite a principally positive student assessment of a new lecture format, the 3D lectures did not achieve top marks in any category. This can be explained by the accumulation of unexpected student criticisms (quantity of the course content). Thus, the parameters intended as indicators (e-learning, quality of the course, use of modern teaching methods) could not fulfil their task. The result of the evaluation requires critical reflection and, if necessary, partial reorganization of the course (streamlining of content)

Business Chemistry: The successful establishment of an interdisciplinary field

The article presents the development of Business Chemistry at seven German and one Swiss universities. Besides highlighting the course of study in general and its development, the respective universities present benefits but also specific challenges they had to face when introducing Business Chemistry. Followed by a short introduction of Business Chemistry itself, its development and the status quo, every university presented their individual perspectives on the course of study. Overall, the article should provide our readers with an overview of Business Chemistry and sensitizethem for the differences in the study programs, even though the courses of study were developed in accordance with all  respective universities