International investors take interest in Australia's biotechnology industry at ALSIS 2010

AusBiotech has kicked off its annual conference with a hugely successful Australasian Life Sciences Investment Summit 2010 in Melbourne today. The premier life science investment conference for Australia and the Asia-Pacific region attracted 150 investors from more than 100 organisations to hear 39 selected Australian biotechnology companies.

Premier John Brumby opened the day’s proceedings with the launch of a $55 million action plan to promote an increasingly competitive, productive and capable biotechnology sector in Victoria to help grow the economy and create jobs. AusBiotech welcomes the Premier’s announcement today as positive for the future of Victorian biotechnology.

An invitation-only, one-day event, AusBiotech’s second annual Australasian Life Sciences Investment Summit (ALSIS) again showcased the high calibre of investment potential in Australia’s biotechnology industry to international investors. Of the unprecedented number of investors attending, more than 50 joined ALSIS 2010 from overseas, with 19 US investor companies sending at least one representative.

The attendance of so many investors from across the world reinforces the growing sentiment that Australia’s biotechnology industry is not only globally competitive but reaching the ideal stage for investment.

“Australia has an international reputation for its research capabilities, but increasingly we are expanding this reputation to include an ability to extract the value of these efforts through later stage licensing, investments, technology acquisition, and mergers,” said Dr Anna Lavelle, CEO of AusBiotech. “These efforts are now being recognised as equally, if not more important, than our efforts in proceeding down the commercialisation path alone.”

ALSIS 2010 saw the attendance of national and international investors including angel investors, venture capitalists, fund managers, investment bankers and representatives of superannuation funds. It also enjoyed the presence of venture capital arms from the major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies throughout Australia, the Asia Pacific region, North America and Europe.

AusBiotech’s ALSIS 2010 aims to stimulate and support investment in Australia’s biotechnology innovation.

“Ensuring access for the Australian biotechnology sector to global life science investors is vital for the future of the industry, particularly in times of economic instability,” said Dr Lavelle. “AusBiotech believes that one of the most effective ways to stimulate investment in Australia is to develop and manage independent investor meetings, with today’s ALSIS 2010 as the pinnacle event.”

Those invited to present at the summit included a mix of listed companies in late-stage development, private companies with identified product/opportunities and early-stage commercialisation companies from research institutes and universities.