Liege can lay claim to excellent historical references in the field of biological sciences. It is around the University of Liege that the more specifically industrial activities have developed. On the Campus of Liege at Sart Tilman, 28 research laboratories are working in biology and dealing with the most modern applications of biotechnology. All major trends in modern biotechnology are represented: There are applications in medicine, pharmaceutical industry, toxicology, veterinary medicine, aqua-culture, agriculture, water treatment and cleaning, waste disposal, biodegradation, textile industry and technological development.

Prof. Willy Legros, Rector of the University of Liege, explains "Biotechnology is emerging as one of the most promising fields of activity with high added value. Its applications span the whole spectrum of daily concerns, from human or veterinary medicine to the pharmaceutical industry, toxicology and environmental issues. However, development, whether in research programs or on production lines, is always constrained by the skills and quality available and in facing this modern challenge, Liege and the surrounding area are equipped with both a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit and the presence of a university which is acclaimed throughout Europe".

Prof. Legros continues: "The regional Biopole was created by a unique collaboration between our scientists and our entrepreneurs and BioLiège is a dynamic group of biotechnologists working either at the University or in biotech companies, many of which are direct spin-off companies of the University. The ideal geographic location of Liege and its University at the crossroads of Wallonia, Germany and the Netherlands has favoured the scientific interactions in this area. Based on a stimulating synergy of competences in the academic and corporate sectors, the Liège Biopole has now become an internationally acknowledged center of excellence in biotechnology".

Bioliège: The Association of biotechnologists

Many biotech companies have settled in the Liege area, some of them being spin-offs of university laboratories. Most of them are located in the Research Park of Liege, close to the university campus. This proximity encourages cross-fertilisation between industrial and academic research, and it also allows collaboration for teaching mainly at the post-graduate level.

This synergy has been structured into an association: BioLiège. Its originality is to gather not only 15 academic laboratories, but also 8 biotech companies. So, one finds a wide range of interests united by a similar technological approach. All major trends of modern biotechnology are represented : human medicine, pharmaceutical industry, toxicology, veterinary medicine, agriculture and plant biotechnology, water treatment, waste management, biodegradation control, textile industry, etc…

BioLiège is a dynamic centre of biotech activities and it is devoted to promoting biotechnology in the region. BioLiège organises conferences for large non-specialised audiences; it stimulates contact with other universities in Belgium, in neighbouring countries and abroad; it encourages young scientists in biotechnology; sets up interactive forums and debates on current issues in the field and facilitates contact and collaboration between scientists and industrial partners in all areas of biotechnology. It is also a privileged intermediary between biotechnologists and regulatory or subventioning authorities. It acts as an efficient showcase for biotech development.

Supplementary information: Bernard Rentier, Chairman of BioLiège and Vice-Rector of the University of Liège;
Tel: +32 4-366 52 27

World-wide discovery at Biocode S.A. Biotechnology

Biocode S.A. Biotechnology is launching a new assay for the determination of the human placental growth hormone variant (hPGH) in serum or plasma. It concerns a world-wide discovery that could provide gynaecologists with a real control tool of the pregnancy evolution. Up to now, the hGH-V gene was considered to be silent and no expression product of this gene had ever been detected in any tissue or biological fluid. Today, only Biocode is capable of recognising a distinction between the growth hormone and its placental variant (hpGH). From a medical point of view, this is very important, since the percentage of the placental variant can reveal abnormal developments of the foetus.

Biocode was founded in September 1989 by Mr Gérard Blaise, now Chief Executive Officer, and by Dr Jean-Luc Cloux, now General Manager. The company's development was realised in close collaboration with the University of Liege Biochemistry Department and Endocrinology Laboratory directed by Professor Georges Hennen. In March 1997, Biocode moved to new facilities and enlarged its production plant. The company now employs 30 highly qualified people.

The company's production plant is on a 1500 square meter site in Sclessin, suburb of Liege. The facilities meet the most stringent GMP and ISO 9002 requirements and quality assurance is strictly enforced. The competence of its staff and the quality of its production is recognised by large international companies and Biocode is regularly subcontracted for the production of OEM products.

Biocode is solidly established on the Belgian market with its own sales force and has taken a dominant share of the thyroid auto-immunity "In-Vitro" Diagnostic (IVD) market. The company has also created a distributor network in other European countries, as well as in Asia and South-America. In North-America, Biocode works in collaboration with a US company with products receiving full FDA approval. At present, 65% of sales are earned in export market and since its foundation, Biocode's sales have doubled every two years.

For further information, please contact Mr Luc de Bast, Biocode Marketing & Sales; 
Tel: +32/4/252.26.36

BioWhittaker: A new member of the Cambrex group

From May 12th 1998 the joint venture between BioWhittaker Inc.and Boehringer Ingelheim is trading under the name BioWhittaker Europe SPRL, as a member of the Cambrex group, a New Jersey based corporation with interests in the biotechnology, pharmaceutics, fine and speciality chemical area.

The story of this state-of-the-art facility began in 1991 with the signing of an agreement between BioWhittaker Inc., an acknowledged Maryland based company leader in the American biotechnology market and Boehringer Ingelheim, the well known German pharmaceutical company. The aim of the project was to match the expertise of both partners to manufacture and supply the European market with BioWhittaker labelled cell culture products at the highest quality standards.

The efforts of the team to reach this commitment were rewarded in December 1994. Today, the plant covers 3300 square meters, includes sealed off areas of different classification and employs 30 persons in the different departments, most of them coming from the region of Liege.

Why should a leading American group such as BioWhittaker, in association with the German company Boehringer Ingelheim, choose Verviers in the Province of Liege, as the site for its production plant?

"Our location in an Industrial Zone of Liege enables us to conquer further markets", said Bruno De Bortoli, Managing Director of European Operations. "The Belgian high schools and Universities have an excellent reputation for providing the highly skilled manpower we require to run this plant. Liege's central position in Europe, combined with an excellent communication infrastructure allows us to rapidly deliver our products in most European countries without delays. It also enables customers to visit us easily and thanks to this winning combination of factors we are confident of reaching our targets for continued expansion and employment growth".

For further information, please contact Mr Hans Huttinga, BioWhittaker Europe SPRL European Product Manager;
Tel: +32/87/32.16.11