Medicon Valley in European leadership

02-11-2005

Life science industries:
Biotech in the Øresund Region surrounding Copenhagen – called Medicon Valley – now shows so much energy that American investment bank Burrill & Co. in their latest annual report describes the region as the most interesting biotech cluster in Europe, writes Berlingske Tidende.

“The region with most results is Medicon Valley. Through partnerships Danish biotech companies have succeeded to create a product portfolio. In the wake of Novo Nordisk and Lundbeck we now see the development of a new pharma industry in Denmark,” says Florian Schönharting, general manager at Nordic Biotech.

During the first half of 2005 biotech companies received EUR235 million. Zealand Pharma received the most namely over EUR27 million at the beginning of February.

For several years the venture fund Vækstfonden has invested approx. EUR250 million in biotech companies - e.g. Zealand Pharma A/S and Symphogen - within bio pharmacy, biotechnology, medico equipment, diagnostics, diet supplements and nutrition.

The venture fund Nordic Biotech has invested EUR13 million in the four biotech companies: Life Cycle Pharma, Curalogic, Osteoplogix and Gastrotech. Overall Nordic’s first fund has invested over EUR25 million in nine companies. Nordic Biotech has recently found EUR43 million for a new fund that is expected to invest in 5-10 new European biotech companies, mainly in Denmark, over the next five years. (Source www.copcap.com)