Pregl Award for outstanding achievements in science goes to Zdenko Časar, Ph.D., from Lek, a Sandoz company
- On the occasion marking the 70th anniversary of the National Institute of Chemistry, prizes for the outstanding achievements of the past five years were bestowed. One of two recipients was also Zdenko Časar, Ph.D., from Lek, a Sandoz company.
- Lek, a Sandoz company, has been closely cooperating with the academic sphere for 70 years and thus co-creating the development of knowledge and science. This has a significant impact on the overall economic environment as the perspective of our country lies in knowledge.
- Lek, a Sandoz company, and the National Institute of Chemistry have enjoyed several decades of active mutual cooperation in a number of scientific projects.
On the occasion marking the 70th anniversary of the National Institute of Chemistry, prizes for outstanding achievements in science were bestowed on tuesday, June 7. Zdenko Časar, Ph.D., from the Development Center Slovenia at Lek, a Sandoz company, received the Pregl Award for outstanding achievements in chemistry and related sciences over the last five years.
»This remarkable recognition is the result of the top-level work of all research teams at Lek, a Sandoz company, and of the long-term active cooperation with the National Institute of Chemistry from which many successful and innovative science projects have evolved. Together with the Institute we are sharing a mutual festive year, as Lek, a Sandoz company, is also marking a 70th anniversary of its operation. Thus, the award is one of the important pieces in the mosaic of this jubilee year,« said Zdenko Časar, Ph.D., Head of Prototype Analytics at the Development Center Slovenia at Lek, a Sandoz company.
Zdenko Časar, Ph.D., is one of the leading researchers at Lek as well as at Sandoz and Novartis. He is also a recipient of three golden awards for innovation bestowed by the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce in 2012, 2013 and 2015; winner of the 2010 VIVA Award for exceptional scientific achievements at Novartis and the »Innovator of the Year 2008« award at Lek, a Sandoz company. Časar, Ph.D., has published numerous scientific articles in leading global journals in the field of chemistry and is also a co-inventor of 48 granted patents over the last five-year period. The commission for bestowing the Pregl Awards has recognized in the role and oeuvre of Zdenko Časar, Ph.D., a pervasive researcher whose scientific excellence and originality has made a significant contribution to research-development work in the pharmaceutical industry. At the same time, he is striving hard to integrate his activities with academia.
Lek, a Sandoz company, has been closely cooperating with academia for seven decades and thus shaping the development of knowledge and science in Slovenia. In joint projects, they develop new curricular contents together with an increasing number of master’s and doctoral theses introducing an interdisciplinary approach to themes and linking technical innovations with economic efficiency . In this way, they are entering into European programs and a smart specialization strategy, which brings new employment opportunities for the young and the creation of new jobs. This has a significant impact on the overall economic environment, as the perspective of our country lies in knowledge and the development of industries with high added value.
»This year we are celebrating 20 years of Novartis and 70 years of Lek, a Sandoz company. We are enriching this important year with various new projects and activities for the development of knowledge, innovation and talents such as internships for young experts, mentoring academic works, encouraging innovation, participation in EU projects and organization of the Regional BioCamp. In cooperation with the Chemical Institute, we designed an expert exchange project , bringing academia and industry even closer together,« said Darja Ferčej Temeljotov, Head of Strategic Programs at Lek, a Sandoz company.
Lek, a Sandoz company, is one of the key pillars of the second-largest generic pharmaceutical company globally. Its role within Sandoz is to act as: a leading global development center for technologically demanding products and technologies; a key 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 active ingredients and products; a supply center for the markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), South East Europe (SEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and is responsible for marketing and sales of Sandoz products on the Slovenian market. For further information, please visit www.lek.si.
Sandoz, a Novartis company, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, driving sustainable access to high-quality healthcare. Sandoz supplies a broad range of affordable, primarily off-patent products to patients and customers around the globe. The Sandoz portfolio comprises approximately 1,100 molecules, which accounted for 2015 sales of USD 9.2 billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area. The company holds leading global positions in biosimilars as well as in generic anti-infectives, ophthalmics and transplantation medicines.
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 and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit 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.
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
