Norwegian Cancer industry gaining momentum

Cancer research the Radium HospitalCancer research.Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB scanpix

44 years ago it was the oil sector that gave Norway a unique position. Now Norway is making its mark in biotechnology.- Ten Norwegian companies are, taken together, worth 21.5 billion.

The Norwegian Cancer companies are pioneering several types of cancer treatments: Vaccines, “killer cells” and radioactive injections. Many of the most promising cancer drugs on the market are now being tested in Norway, newspaper VG reports.
In 2013, a total of 27 new drugs were  approved for commercial use in the world. Of these, two came from Norway, a cancer medicine and a medicine against Alzheimer’s. The release of the Norwegian cancer drug lead to  sales for at least a billion.
Many believe that cancer industry may become as important to Norway as the oil sector have been for  many years.
– It is difficult, if not impossible, for a sector to replace 50- 60 percent of the oil industry. This is a task that need to  be done by several industries. But we we can take a closer look at the oil industry and learn how it became a success. We need to use the lessons of the oil industry, says Anita Krohn Traaseth, CEO of Innovation Norway.
The Ministry of Industry is open to investing more in research and development in the cancer industry.
– But we have to be realistic and realize that competition in the biomedical area is global and fierce,  State Secretary Lars Jacob Hiim said.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today