Researcher at Sandoz Development Center Slovenia receives Pregl Award

5. 12. 2014

The Pregl Award for an outstanding doctoral work in the field of chemistry and related sciences was bestowed today at the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana. It was awarded to Tina Trdan Lušin, PhD., a researcher at the Sandoz Development Center Slovenia, who studied, in the context of her doctoral work, pharmacogenetic aspects of metabolism and transport of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM).

»Research work in the field of SERM has recently gained a lot of importance. This type of medicine is namely very promising in the treatment of osteoporosis and breast cancer, diseases that affect a significant proportion of the modern-day population and represent a major health, social and financial burden for individuals and governments. With her research work, the nominee established the reason for inter-individual variability in the response to selective estrogen receptor modulators and thereby gained new information for treatment, which could be used in clinical practice,« wrote Prof. Dr. Aleš Mrhar from the Faculty of Pharmacy in the reasoning behind the decision to present this award.

The prestigious Pregl Awards were awarded for the first time on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the National Institute of Chemistry. They are named after a Slovene chemist Friderik Pregl (1869-1930), who was born in Ljubljana and won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1923. The awards were first bestowed in 2007.

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Lek, a Sandoz company, is one of key pillars of the second-largest generic pharmaceutical company globally. Its role within Sandoz is to act as: a leading global development center for products and technologies; a global manufacturing center for active pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines; a competence center for the development of vertically integrated products; a Sandoz competence center in the field of development and manufacturing of biosimilar products; and, a supply center for the markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), South East Europe (SEE) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and it is responsible for sales on the Slovenian market. For further information please visit http://www.lek.si/en.

Sandoz, the generic pharmaceuticals division of Novartis, is a global leader in the generic pharmaceutical sector. Sandoz employs over 26,500 employees and its products are available in more than 160 countries, offering a broad range of high-quality, affordable products that are no longer protected by patents. With USD 9.2 billion in sales in 2013, Sandoz has a portfolio of approximately 1,100 molecules, and holds the #1 position globally in biosimilars as well as in generic injectables, ophthalmics, dermatology and antibiotics, complemented by leading positions in the cardiovascular, metabolism, central nervous system, pain, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and hormonal therapeutic areas. Sandoz develops, produces, and markets these medicines, as well as active pharmaceutical and biotechnological substances. Nearly half of Sandoz’s portfolio is in differentiated products, which are defined as products that are more difficult to scientifically develop and manufacture than standard generics.
In addition to strong organic growth since consolidating its generics businesses under the Sandoz brand name in 2003, Sandoz has benefitted from strong growth of its acquisitions, which include Lek (Slovenia), Sabex (Canada), Hexal (Germany), Eon Labs (US), EBEWE Pharma (Austria), Oriel Therapeutics (US), and Fougera Pharmaceuticals (US).
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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, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2013, the Group achieved net sales of USD 57.9 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 133,000 full-time-equivalent associates and sell products in more than 150 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.novartis.com.

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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.

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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