Umicore supports pediatric oncology at German Würzburg's university clinic
Umicore’s business unit Precious Metals Chemistry donates € 5.000 to a parents initiative for children suffering from leukemia and other cancer diseases in order to support important R&D projects in the area of pediatric oncology at Würzburg’s university clinic.
Combating cancer, especially when children are affected, is an important concern to Umicore’s business unit Precious Metals Chemistry (PMC). Therefore, the materials technology company does not only develop and produce products for cancer treatment, but also helps directly. The pediatric oncology Würzburg is supported with a donation of € 5.000 to a parents initiative for children suffering from leukemia and other cancer diseases. This in Germany one-of-a-kind medical center is also engaged in difficult areas such as stem cell transplantation and brain tumours.
Michael Schwarz, Director Global API Business, explains: "The pediatric oncology at Würzburg’s university clinic is unique in Germany thanks to its outstanding achievements for children and adolescents suffering from cancer. Since we are working on products for cancer treatment for many years now, we wanted to help on the spot with a donation."
The university pediatric clinic takes care of approximately 90 to 100 children and adolescents each year, who have been diagnosed with malignancy. They are taken care of ambulatory and as an inpatient. Umicore’s donation supports important projects in the area of pediatric oncology, such as the development of new therapeutic approaches, for instance a tumour vaccination or the creation of tumour specific immune cells. Thereby scientists in Würzburg want to achieve that children and adolescents who cannot be entirely cured today, will receive the chance to full recovery in the future.
"We are very grateful for Umicore’s support. The donation will directly benefit both the improvement of prognosis for critically ill children and adolescents and their families", commented professor doctor Paul Schlegel, head of centre for paediatric haematology, oncology and stem cell transplantation.
Platinum based compounds were recognized as chemotherapeutic in the 1970’s. Since then, these products continue to play an instrumental role in cancer treatment. Umicore’s PMC business unit produces oxaliplatin carboplatin and cisplatin, so called active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). With over 40 years of experience in precious metal chemistry and over a decade of platinum API experience, Umicore globally contributes to cancer treatment.
Umicore Precious Metals Chemistry profile
Umicore Precious Metals Chemistry strengths are a combination of customer orientation, expertise in transition metals chemistry, Precious Metal based APIs, catalysts and chemicals manufacturing and process excellence, innovation leadership and diversity. Focused on answering accurately to its customer needs, it works in technology platforms aligning all necessary resources from Research & Development to Marketing & Sales through Production & Technology on a worldwide basis. It offers first class products and services allowing customers to use metal based technologies in the most effective and sustainable way.
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