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EDITORIAL |
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Food for Thought If You Are Contemplating European Developments : Strong Tech Investment Trends in France
It has been reported earlier in February by Chausson Finance that investments by foreign venture funds (FVF) in French start-ups were up 62% in 2017 as compared to 2016. This upward trend dates back to 2010, and so far, 2018 seems to want to keep up with the beat. That report (compiled from CF News' data) covers all tech fields. |
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What will probably surprise you even more, is that the news for life sciences on the French front is just as good. As reported in a recent study published in January by MedCity, Paris has outperformed London over the last 5 years for total investments in life sciences, standing at 6.9 billion sterling as compared to 2.8 for London (and 1.5 for Berlin). Of course, the numbers vary with ups and downs over that period. I also admit that it is not always easy to make sense of reports on national investment metrics, particularly if you are a CEO or a CFO who is worrying about the next round of financing. There is, however, a strong message coming out of all that data and which is meaningful.
At the country level, France is clearly on a growth investment pattern in life sciences over the last 3 years. More specifically - and you'll no doubt excuse the pitch - I'd like to close by saying that with 40% of Paris' biotech companies, Genopole should rank high in your potential destination if you're looking to settle in Europe.
Jean-Marc Grognet, CEO
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ENTREPRENEUR IS A FRENCH WORD |
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Top 10 Reasons to Invest in the Paris Region
The agency Paris Region has reiterated in a recent online-update the 10 reasons to invest in the Paris region. Of particular relevance to foreign companies seeking a European landing pad, it is noteworthy summarizing those reasons:
1. Greater Paris is Europe's No. 1 business region with the highest GDP, with Europe's highest concentration of Fortune 500 corporations and France's largest labour pool with close to 12 million people.
2. Greater Paris is host to 816,000 companies, and the No. 1 region for developing start-ups in Western Europe.
3. Greater Paris is Europe's No. 1 region for R&D capability & expenditure with over 100 000 research scientists and the highest number of high-tech patents filed - as well as the most generous research tax credits in Europe.
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4. Greater Paris has 330 business parks, 52 million sq.m of office space, and 29 million sq.m of warehousing.
5. Greater Paris has outstanding transport connections, with 3 international airports and train connections (for journeys shorter than 4 hours) to London, Brussels, Frankfurt and Amsterdam.
6. Greater Paris has Europe's largest concentration of higher education students as well as world-class science universities and business schools.
7. Greater Paris has Europe's largest urban renewal project based on a business development policy focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy and preserving biodiversity (80% of Greater Paris' surface already occupied by parks and open spaces).
8. Greater Paris has an extensive transport network around the only megacity on continental Europe, with high-speed TGV trains, high-speed regional trains (RER), a dense circuit of metro and bus lines, Vélib self-service bicycles, Voguéo river shuttle, and Autolib self-service electric car rental. The project Grand Paris Express is expanding this network with a plan for 205 km of new lines and 72 new stations.
9. Greater Paris is the world's No.1 tourist destination with 42 million visitors per year, including 10 million trade show visitors (and the world's biggest hotel industry with 150,000 hotel rooms).
10. Greater Paris has a unique cultural heritage with a large number of first-class museums (e.g., Louvre, Orsay, Beaubourg, Orangerie).
To learn more, watch Top 10 Reasons to Invest in Paris Region video
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WHAT'S NEW AT GENOPOLE |
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Genethon Releases Interim Data of A Phase 1 / 2 Clinical Trial on Myotubular Myopathy Using A Gene Therapy Product Developed In Its Laboratories
Audentes Therapeutics launched the first gene therapy clinical trial in children affected with myotubular myopathy (MM) using a gene therapy product developed at Genethon. MM is an X-linked genetic disease affecting 1 in every 50,000 newborn boys.
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It is caused by mutations in the MTM1 gene encoding myotubularin, a protein involved in the development and function of muscle cells. It is characterized by extreme muscle weakness and respiratory failure, with an estimated 50% mortality rate by 18 months of age.
At the 12-week timepoint, the first 3 children treated show early signs of efficacy with significant improvements in neuromuscular and respiratory functions as well as
improvement of their general condition.
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NEWS FROM THE BIOCLUSTER COMPANIES |
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IntegraGen Partners With Twist Bioscience
IntegraGen has announced the addition of Twist Bioscience Corporation's Human Core Exome Complete Kit, a streamlined library prep and exome enrichment solution, to its next-generation targeted sequencing product offerings.
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As stated by Twist Bioscience's CEO, IntegraGen becomes the first company in France to offer Twist's differentiated, customizable enrichment solution as a critical component of clinical research services.
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Butagaz and Global Bioenergies Develop Bio-sourced Gas Bottles
Butagaz and Global Bioenergies have presented a preview of their first bottles containing bio-sourced isobutene whose physical properties are close to those of butane and propane. Butagaz is a subsidiary of the Irish group DCC and a leading French multi-energy company that distributes natural gas, electricity, wood pellets, as well as propane and butane.
The bio-sourced gas will be distributed for the first time in France at Intermarché's Benfeld point-of-sale in Alsace (east of France).
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These first batches of bio-isobutene were produced in Global Bioenergies' demo plant at Leuna in Germany. The incorporation of bio-isobutene in Butagaz' butane and propane gas bottles reduces CO2 emissions by up to 40% over the entire life cycle of the bottled gas.
Butagaz and Global Bioenergies see this breakthrough development as a first step in their commercial relationship, as Butagaz will have the potential to purchase large quantities of "Made-in-France" bio-isobutene when Global Bioenergies' first full-scale production plant comes on stream at a sugar producer Cristal Union's site in Champagne (north-east of Paris).
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Novolyze Raises €2.2 Million |
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Novolyze has raised €2.2 million from private investors, family offices and business angels as well as from French public research programs (including France's Programme d'investissement d'avenir - Investment of the Future).
The proceedings will be used to boost international expansion and to speed up the pace of commercial development of the Surronov® range of surrogate microorganisms, in the United States, Europe and Asia. These surrogate microorganisms are similar to probiotics and non-pathogenic, ready-to-use, and can be manufactured in industrial quantities in dry form. |
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Enterome Raises €32 Million in a Series D Financing
Enterome is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering innovative therapies to treat microbiome-associated diseases with a focus on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and immuno-oncology (IO) indications.
All current Enterome investors - Seventure, Health for Life Capital, LundbeckFonden Ventures, Omnes Capital and Nestlé Health Science - have participated in a Series F financing round, alongside new venture investor Principia SGR and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
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The proceeds of the fundraising will be used primarily to progress two proof-of concept clinical trials of Enterome's lead development programs, a Phase 2 study of the Company's oral FimH blocker EB8018 for the treatment of Crohn's disease, and a Phase 1b study of EO2315, a novel immuno-oncology candidate, in patients with aggressive brain cancer (glioblastoma multiform).
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VISITS |
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Genopole Hosts Delegation From Genome BC
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The President and CEO of Genome BC, Mr. Patrick Spothelfer, and its CSO and VP Sectors, Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa, visited Genopole as a part of a European tour to meet Genomics England and Scotland's active players in genomic medicine. Genome BC, a non-profit research organization, leads genomics innovation on Canada's West Coast and facilitates the integration of genomics into society. |
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Genome BC has been working on developing a Genomics and Precision Health strategy to help advance the implementation of genomics in the health care system in British Columbia (Canada), focusing on the implementation of genomics in four therapeutic areas, i.e., Cancer, Rare Diseases, Pharmacogenomics and Infectious Diseases.
Genome BC was in France to learn more about the Genopole's activities as well as meet representatives of France Médecine Génomique 2025 to discuss genomics and precision health initiatives that it is coordinating with the ministry of health in British Colombia. The BC delegation met on its two days at Genopole Patrick Curmi, President of the Université d'Évry-Val-d'Essonne, Jean-François Deleuze, Director of the National Research Center on Human Genomics, and Franck Lethimonnier who is COO of France Médecine Génomique 2025, France's national plan on genomic medicine.
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UPCOMING |
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Genopole Announces its 2018 Summer School
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Genopole's Summer School on Bioinformatics And Biostatistical Tools In Medical Genomics will take place on June 24-29, 2018.
The program is structured around lectures by keynote (or guest) speakers and hands-on practical sessions with experts. It covers statistical methodologies and bioinformatics tools that are used in genomics and metagenomics for a comprehensive approach to understanding pathological mechanisms. |
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The Summer School is intended for research scientists, engineers and PhDs already involved in, or planning to start, research projects in the field of genomics for medical research.
This is a residential summer school with all lectures and sessions taking place on the campus of Châteauform' Les Berges-de-Seine, a beautiful countryside resort located a stone's throw from Paris. Participants will be hosted on campus with accommodation and meals included in the registration fees.
The Summer School is limited to 20 participants and applicants must complete a selection form providing a short description of their current (or planned) research projects. A working knowledge of UNIX (use of UNIX commands, creation and modification of files…) is mandatory for the practical sessions. |
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