The DDF group consists of three synergistic organizations that actively support each other. The synergy of the group companies helps to make DDF a platform that makes a difference in bringing life science innovations to patients. Presently 3 companies form the core of the enterprise:
1. DDF Ventures is supporting a portfolio of five promising early stage life science companies. Portfolio company activities range from anti-cancer drug development, to immunology platform technology, transdermal micro-needle based drug delivery and dietary supplements.
2. Catalyze is a fast growing organization working with European life science companies to secure non-dilutive grant or loan funding. The teams at Catalyze will also help to build the right consortia, not only for funding, but also for efficient collaborations.
3. Julius Clinical is a world wide operating Clinical Research Organization, used to organize and run large Phase III trials for pharmaceutical companies, but also with the flexibility and experience to do innovatively designed Phase II trials for small biotech companies.
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Drug Discovery Factory
Joop Geesinkweg 167
1114 AB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
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Writing in DIA’s Global Forum magazine for April 2024 on behalf of DIA Japan’s Open Innovation Community Fumitaka Noji, Takeshi Kono, and Makoto Nagaoka look at how the gap between…
At a transformational moment for Indian pharma, OPPI’s Anil Matai outlines how the country’s government is more receptive to innovation and action-oriented than ever before, how the industry is increasingly…
As the GCC’s largest market, Saudi Arabia, with its growing population, strong healthcare infrastructure and government commitment to developing the economy beyond oil through its Vision 2030, is increasingly attractive…
For the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic), one of the world’s leading regulatory authorities, 2023 was an important year. Not only did the agency gain recognition from the World…
Health Cluster Portugal is currently spearheading a EUR 90 million EU post-COVID Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) project in Portugal focused on smart health, secondary use of data, and clinical…
After transitioning from a fledgling biotech to a mature commercial-stage company on the back of its first approval, Zealand Pharma was hit with the challenges of commercialisation and the disappointing…
As part of our Transformative 2023: Regional Pharma Trends report, PharmaBoardroom’s Louis Haynes takes a look at a watershed year for drug pricing in the planet’s most lucrative pharma market.…
Nuno Sousa details the development of Portugal’s clinical research ecosystem, highlighting the creation of the Clinical Academic Center of Braga (2CA-Braga) and its evolution. He emphasises the necessity of building…
Medicines for Africa’s Lenias Hwenda argues that the success of the much-talked-about African Medicines Agency hinges on a critical mass of African national regulators achieving WHO Level 3 maturity status.…
The Portuguese Association of Hospital Pharmacists (APFH) is dedicated to the education and training of over 1000 hospital pharmacists; essential members of the multidisciplinary teams needed to tackle serious illnesses…
Founded in 2016, the groundbreaking healthtech start-up Aumet has set out to digitize the procurement cycle within the pharmaceutical sector with its AI-enabled business-to-business healthcare platform. Co-founder and managing director…
The biggest pharma industry stories coming out of China, including the impact of the US Biosecure act on Chinese giants WuXi AppTec and WuXi Bio; Novartis’ acquisition of SanReno Therapeutics;…
Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO) is a CRO that serves both Asian biotechs looking to do clinical trials outside of the region, and US and European clients wanting to conduct…
Mohamed Mostafa explains how PDC-CRO’s successful 2023 was driven by a direct-to-biotech strategy, with the company now well-established as a comprehensive partner for biotech firms across the Gulf and Levant…
P-BIO, Portugal’s leading association for its biotech industry, is approaching a quarter century in existence. Its president, Simão Soares, tells PharmaBoardroom that there has been “substantial positive change” in the…
A charismatic force at the forefront of the country’s health transformation efforts, Dr Amin Al Amiri currently serves as assistant undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Health as well as…
Since joining Moderna as its first ex-US commercial employee in Spring 2020, Dan Staner has played a leading role in developing what is now one of the world’s top 20…
Zenith Pharma’s Mohamed El Bouhmadi discusses the company’s approach to product development and the potential for Morocco to become an African pharmaceutical export platform. As Morocco transitions to universal healthcare…
Every year, the world’s top business and political leaders converge on the ski village of Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum meeting. Read on for some of the key…
Haematological oncologist Dr Raymond Liang, gives his take on the adoption and challenges of CAR-T therapy in Hong Kong, the necessity of collaboration with mainland China for patient referrals and…
While not a major player in clinical trials at the European level, Portugal has untapped potential in this field, leveraging a first pioneering centre in Braga, the country’s strong scientific…
João Rito introduces Bluebio Alliance, a Portuguese association focusing on bio-based marine resources and their sustainable utilisation. Rito’s work involves extensive collaboration across sectors, including pharmaceuticals, to promote the blue…
Mohal Sarabhai, managing director of Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises Limited (ASE) on transforming his family’s failing century-old business and creating new companies beneath the ASE Holdings umbrella, including a joint venture…
Dr Vivienne Marshall, senior director of the Center for Advanced Therapies at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, part of BioBridge Global, outlines some of the major barriers to…
Dr Anthony Y. Lauw, GM & Head of Human Pharma Northwest Africa at Boehringer Ingelheim, explains the operations of a cluster that has typically worked with local partners, but that…
Indian pharma companies have been building a broader presence in LatAm markets over the past two decades. With well-established trade relations already in place, the region offers a series of unique…
Writing in the March 2024 edition of the DIA Global Forum magazine, experts from Moderna, Cencora PharmaLex, CureVac, and BioNTech review the scientific potential and regulatory challenges, such as the…
As secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) Sudarshan Jain represents the interests of 25 leading Indian pharmaceutical companies, both at home and abroad. He outlines the association’s focus…
The latest news from Chinese pharma, including progress on the US Senate bill targeting BGI and WuXi AppTec, a report on why drug research is slowing in the country, and…
Mexican voters will be heading to the polls next June for what will be the largest election process in the country’s history with concurrent state and federal elections. The election will…
The European Union’s just-released and first essential medicines list is the latest in a series of measures designed to limit the bloc’s reliance on countries outside its borders and avoid…
Senior director and general manager for North, East & West Africa at IQVIA Hocine Mahdi discusses the positive aspects of Morocco’s healthcare landscape and the challenges that remain for multinational…
India’s chemical industry is of vital importance to several industries, including pharmaceuticals, and exported USD 30.18 billion worth of products in 2022-23. Chemexcil’s Raghuveer Kini discusses his industry’s key role…
Pfizer’s David Isom and Monica Mihedji, writing in the November 2023 edition of the DIA’s Global Forum magazine, examine how the European Medicines Agency is attempting to integrate the use…
Diabetes is a rising threat to the Portuguese people, the country’s healthcare system, and its economy. Portugal’s National Diabetes Observatory observed that 1.1 million Portuguese people between the ages of…
Obesity is pharma’s new El Dorado. Following the spectacular market success and sky-high sales projections of next-generation obesity treatments, many actors – both large and small – are looking to…
Sérgio Alves describes the personal and professional factors that drove his return to Portugal, where he draws on enriching experiences gained from working in various European markets. He also discusses…
Two leading regional pharma executives, from Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim respectively have recently moved to head up China operations; perhaps a sign that despite recent geopolitical tensions, multinational biopharma…
Toshi Tominaga of Keio University Hospital, writing in the January 2023 edition of the DIA Global Forum magazine, outlines some recent updates to Japanese drug registration legislation, including how domestically…
Luis Abrantes explains how Generis, as one of the leading companies by volume in both the retail and hospital segments of the Portuguese pharma market, serves a huge number of…
Having forged a solid position in clinical research in 2020 and 2021 when it became the fourth nation in the world and the first in Europe for studies conducted around…
A staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, Helena Freitas today leads the Portuguese affiliate of Sanofi, consistently ranked among the leading pharmaceutical firms in the country. With a focus on…
The APAC region —with an approximate ten percent growth in trial numbers between 2017 and 2022— is rapidly becoming the world’s leading market for clinical trials. Karen Chu, CEO of…
Monica Bettencourt-Dias of the Gulbenkian Institute for Science highlights the IGC’s pioneering role in biological sciences, supporting scientists and innovators who have significantly contributed to the field globally for over…
Cooper Pharma is one of Morocco’s leading domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers and has expanded its presence across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in recent years. CEO Ayman Cheikh Lahlou emphasizes…
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