Since its foundation three years ago, AgenoLab GmbH & Co. KG in Stuttgart has become a leading service provider in the area of life sciences and biotechnology. The company’s cell culture technology unit focuses on the preparation of cells that can largely eliminate the need for animal testing. In the area of regenerative medicine, AgenoLab GmbH concentrates on the growth of skin cells as transplants for patients suffering from burns and chronic wounds. The development of further cell therapeutics is another area of interest. The company has recently launched an innovative full-thickness skin transplant for healing wounds using the patient’s own cells. Within the framework of the Users’ Centre for Regenerative Medicine in the Neckar-Alb and Stuttgart health region (REGiNA), which is currently in the process of being established, AgenoLab is being supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with just short of Euro 1 million for two projects, one of which is the development of the above-mentioned full-thickness skin transplant.

Reutlingen’s Lord Mayor Barbara Bosch took up the reins on 5 February 2010 as the new chair of the Supervisory Board of BioRegio STERN Management GmbH. The role of deputy is being taken on by the previous chairman, Dr. Walter Rogg.

Work is now in full swing at Medical Valley Hechingen Akademie e. V., the academy founded by members of the “Medical Valley Hechingen” competence network on 1 December 2009. It aims to make the latest information from the medical technology enterprises involved in the competence network accessible to users, companies and research institutes. The first in a series of seminars is due to be held in February. As part of these events, speakers from a diverse range of areas within the field of medical technology will share their expertise. In addition, the academy is working with BioRegio STERN Management GmbH to provide non-bureaucratic support to new business founders.

Dr. Brigitte Angres and Dr. Helmut Wurst, founders and managing directors of Cellendes GmbH in Reutlingen, have developed an innovative synthetic hydrogel for cultivating cells. This enables better testing of new active substances, for example in the pharmaceutical industry, because it facilitates a more natural cell environment. This innovative hydrogel is set to be marketed worldwide from 2010 onwards.

The High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and Life Science Fonds Esslingen are jointly investing a total of 700,000 EUR in Amedrix GmbH, which was founded in January 2009. The Esslingen-based company develops innovative, acellular medical products based on animal collagen for wound regeneration and the reconstruction of degenerated soft tissue, for example. The new investment means that necessary steps can be taken to gain approval for first medical products and to set up the company’s own production operations.

A delegation of 15 from Biopolis in Singapore took advantage of their visit to „Medica 2009“ in Düsseldorf to get to know the STERN BioRegion. The visitors took part in an interesting programme which gave them insights into the activities of the regional biotech and medtech sectors.