On October 13, the Innovation and Start-up Center for Biotechnology (IZB) hosted its third Biotech Press Lounge at the Faculty Club G2B (Gateway to Biotech). Dr. Zobel, Managing Director of the IZB, welcomed the nearly 100 guests.
“I am very pleased that our IZB companies were able to realize financing rounds, grants, and license agreements totaling 51.6 million euros in 2016.”,
said Zobel.
"And these are just the numbers that have been communicated. Many more deals and projects will soon be reported in the biotech scene from Martinsried,"
explained Zobel, who is celebrating his 20th anniversary at the IZB this year. Dr. Stefan Kropff, Executive Medical Director of Amgen GmbH, Martin Spitznagel, Managing Director of Dust Biosolutions GmbH, and Dr. Rainer Schubbert, Head of Operations Applied Genomics at Eurofins Genomics, delivered keynote speeches. Matthias Renz, Publishing Director of Venture Capital Magazine, moderated the event with guests from biotech and pharmaceutical companies, venture capital firms, communications agencies, and the press. The subsequent get-together provided an opportunity for networking.
A privileged place for the biotech scene
“We are hosting the Biotech Press Lounge here at the IZB to better connect the top researchers on the Martinsried/Großhadern campus and the IZB entrepreneurs with the players in the biotech scene,”
said Zobel in his welcoming speech. He was particularly pleased about the successful deals made by the IZB entrepreneurs in 2016: 4.6 million euros in first-round financing (VC and BMBF funding) for the Thermosome GmbH, 17.5 million euros for the Immunic GmbH (one of the largest first-round financings in the biotech scene in Germany), 15 million euros for the Rigontec GmbH (extended Series A financing) and 14.5 million euros for the Pieris AG as part of a private placement of shares and warrants.
"We see this Biotech Press Lounge and the IZB as a privileged place where exchange and mutual inspiration are possible, which is certainly of enormous benefit to the success of relevant therapeutic innovations. The story of the Munich-based company Micromet, which emerged from LMU Munich in the early 1990s and became independent within the IZB, was acquired by Amgen for $1.16 billion in 2012, is also an example of successful collaboration in a place with critical mass and critical capabilities."
so Dr. med. Stefan Kropff, Amgen GmbH.
