North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Innovation, Science and Research, Svenja Schulze, visited Profil in Neuss
„Exemplary engagement for a higher quality of life“
In Germany about six million people have diabetes – with an upward trend. In order to make life easier for those concerned, scientists and industry work on further therapeutic improvements. Profil, located in Neuss and Mainz, is one of the institutes that work in this area. For about 17 years Profil together with the pharmaceutical industry has been working on the development of new drugs for the treatment of diabetes. In addition, Profil actively supports further development of known substances and technologies. To get informed about the current state of diabetes research, Svenja Schulze, Minister for Innovation, Science and Research, in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia just visited the prestigious contract research organization.
Image: Informed herself about the current state of diabetes research at the prestigious research institute Profil, Neuss: Svenja Schulze (centre), Minister for Innovation, Science and Research of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Dr. Sabine Arnolds (Medical Liaison), Dr. Carsten Benesch (Director Technical Development), Prof. Dr. Freimut Schliess (Director Science & Innovation) and Dr. Christoph Kapitza (Chief Executive Officer) – from the left to the right – Picture in front of the clinic entrance in Neuss.
The Minister was particularly impressed by the track record and the special research approach of Profil. “It is fascinating to see how well and close research, science and industry are cooperating,” Schulze said. Until now, the institute has remained true to its origin – science. In 1999 Profil began life as a spin-off of an academic study group at the Department of Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition at the University of Düsseldorf. What started with six people has developed to one of the leading institutes for metabolic research: today more than 340 employees, including experts in various medical and scientific areas, work in Neuss and Mainz. Clinical studies in the field of pharmaceutical research and medical technology are carried outin modern clinics comprising 80 beds. “Apart from contract research the scientific approach is of utmost importance to us“, Dr. Christoph Kapitza (Chief Executive Officer) pointed out. “We want to create values and actively push research and development as well as the knowledge of metabolic diseases. Therefore, we are always working on independent projects in cooperation with universities, associations and organizations. Profil is partner in the regional innovation network (RIN) diabetes, which is supported by the ministry of innovation, science and research of North Rhine-Westfalia, and in the European health initiative EIT Health.
New ways to lasting care
Prof. Dr. Freimut Schliess(Director Science & Innovation), Dr.Carsten Benesch (Director Technical Development) and Dr. Sabine Arnolds (Medical Liaison) gave the Minister an impression of the current state of research and the innovative way of working at Profil. Concerning the performance of so-called glucose clamp studies, a sophisticated method for the characterization of the time-action profiles of novel insulins – requested by regulatory authorities - Profil is the leading contract research institute worldwide. The company developed ClampArt®, a CE-certified medical device enabling the characterization of insulins at the highest quality and ensuring Profil’s market leadership in this field. A total of 23,000 „clamps“ have already been performed by the institute – this is unique all over the world. Thanks to the intensive and innovative research at Profil, the intake of insulin as tablet or bloodless measurement of glucose may become reality. Further progressive technologies such as continuous glucose measurement as part of an artificial pancreas are also being investigated both in Neuss and Mainz in order to improve the treatment of diabetes.
The patient as expert
Profil’s active engagement in the project “Patient initiated research“ underlines the importance of the patient being in the focus of research activities. Those concerned most shall be given the opportunity to get involved in the initiation of research projects and to influence current research to become more patient-orientated. ”The way of working and the spirit of innovation at Profil are exemplary“, the Minister concluded. „I am extremely confident that the engagement and know-how in Neuss and Mainz pave the way for a lot of further innovations helping to substantially improve the quality of life of people with diabetes and their families.“
No progress without clinical studies
A more comfortable blood glucose measurement, improved insulins, artificial pancreas – such scientific breakthroughs will need the engagement ofa lot of volunteers who support research as study participants. At Profil there were more than 1,500 screening visits only in 2015. Numerous voluntary study participants from all over Germany, thus, have successfully contributed to the development of novel drugs and therapeutic methods in order to substantially help those concerned. Those who would like to actively support the institute’s research activities, can get registered in Profil’s database of study participants any time.