The Lead Discovery Center has won Dortmund’s Business Prize, awarded yearly by the Wirtschaftsförderung and the Sparkasse Dortmund.
March 29, 2019, Dortmund, Germany – The Lead Discovery Center (LDC) has won Dortmund’s Business Prize, awarded yearly by the Wirtschaftsförderung and the Sparkasse Dortmund. The distinguished jury selected the LDC for its innovative business concept and its outstanding achievements for the benefit of society. The company forms a vital link between academia and industry. In close collaboration with both partners, it helps transform great ideas into medicines that can change the lives of millions of people.
Since it was founded in Dortmund 11 years ago, the LDC has initiated 79 drug discovery projects, each one targeting a severe unmet medical need. The portfolio covers common conditions such as cancer and infections, as well as rare diseases frequently neglected by industry. 15 projects have progressed into co-development or licensing partnerships with industry.
“The award highlights the exceptional commitment of our team and our partners, both in academia and industry. Their expertise and energy has enabled us to get that many projects off the ground,” said Dr Bert Klebl, CEO of the LDC. “We are proud to be part of Dortmund’s innovation ecosystem and grateful for the collaborative spirit we have enjoyed here over the past decade.”
Last year, the LDC opened a subsidiary in Munich for the development of therapeutic antibodies. Altogether, the LDC has created over 75 qualified jobs, most of them at their headquarters in Dortmund.
“Dortmund has always been a superb location for the LDC providing easy access to a high-tech infrastructure and great support from the local network around the TZDO and Sparkasse Dortmund”, Klebl added.
Contact
PR Lead Discovery Center
+49 (0)231-97 42 70 00
pr@lead-discovery.de
About the LDC
The Lead Discovery Center (LDC) was established in 2008 as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need.
The LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from academia and industry, the LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential.
The LDC sustains a strong partnership with the Max Planck Society, has licensed assets and formed alliances with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi-Sankyo, Qurient, Johnson&Johnson Innovation, Sotio, RaND, Apeiron Biologics and Gruenenthal as well as leading translational drug discovery centres around the globe.
More information at www.lead-discovery.de
