Best year for Medicon Valley

For the life science and biotech companies in Medicon Valley 2006 was one of the best years since the establishment of the cluster

In 2006 and early 2007 everything in Medicon Valley formed a synthesis: research, financing and business. During this period investors invested around EUR 830 million in the small and medium-sized biotech companies in the region.

- Capital was raised for private companies as well as for those already listed. Genmab made a record-breaking deal with GlaxoSmithKline, and BioInvent made another impressive deal with Genentech. Three IPOs were performed at OMX Nordic Stock Exchange, and several new therapeutic biotech products were launched, including Savene by TopoTarget and Grazax by ALK-Abelló, says Project Manager Niels Gerner Larsen from Medicon Valley Academy.

Coming listings

According to Niels Gerner, we can expect a few stock exchange listings this year - assuming, of course, that investors and the stock exchange maintain their confidence in the industry.

- If the window stays open for listings, I believe that we will also have a really good year this year. Maybe not as good as 2006 because the large companies that can usually attract a lot of money to the region also filled up their coffers in 2006 says Niels Gerner.

Swedish success

On the Swedish side of the Sound they are also happy with developments. In 2007 Active Biotech will have one new product in clinical phase III, four in phase II, and one in the preclinical phase with more to follow. Active Biotech is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, and since its establishment (8-9 years ago) it has had five share issues, which altogether have brought in around DKK 1.3 billion.

- Since our establishment we have received around SEK 3 billion, which has gone directly on our research. In our ownership structure we have some far-sighted, strong owners, which makes it possible to focus on our research and produce scientific results, says Sven Andréasson, President & CEO, Active Biotech AB.

Source: The Magazine MEDICON VALLEY, vol. 2 / May 2007