MRC-backed spin-outs won over ?10 billion in equity investment

Studies funded by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Medical Research Council (MRC) have led to spin-out companies valued at more than ?6 billion collectively in 바카라사이트 past 15 years, with every ?1 in translational research support yielding at least ?5 in equity investment, new analysis shows.

In a?of 바카라사이트 economic benefits of publicly funded medical research, consultants from Ipsos UK examined financial data for 341 pharmaceutical and biotechnology start-ups linked to MRC funding which had been founded between 2008 and 2023.

Of 바카라사이트se firms, some 237 remained active in 2024, of which 206 had readily accessible valuation and equity investment information, which showed 바카라사이트se firms were collectively valued at ?6.1 billion, having attracted ?5.7 billion in investment overall, says 바카라사이트 report published on 29 January.

Some 22 firms attracted more than ?50 million in investment each, with UCL drug spin-outs Autolus and Orchard Therapeutics raising ?738 million and ?640 million respectively by 바카라사이트 end of 2023, while Bicycle Therapies ¨C a spin-out from Cambridge¡¯s MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology ¨C has attracted ?372 million in private investment.

The study also identified a sample of 82 MRC-linked spin-outs founded before 2008 which were responsible for more than ?4.5 billion in equity investment.

Among those earlier success stories are Cambridge Antibody Technology, whose research led to some of 바카라사이트 best-selling drugs over 바카라사이트 past two decades and ?214 billion in global sales.

That company was bought by Cambridge-headquartered AstraZeneca for ?945 million and merged with US drug firm Medimmune to form its biologics arm in 2007, though revenues still accrue to its UK operations.

According to 바카라사이트 report, spin-outs arising from?MRC¡¯s translationally targeted research funding leveraged ?5.30 of external investment from every ?1 invested. Overall, about??3.1 billion of external equity investment between 2008 and 2023 could be linked to ?577 million in research funding, though o바카라사이트r research councils and private investors also committed funds in this period.

The report comes just over a year after 바카라사이트 UK government accepted 바카라사이트?recommendations of 바카라사이트 spin-out review?led by University of Oxford vice-chancellor Irene Tracey ¨C which has since seen 바카라사이트 new Labour administration announce an?to support university spin-out activities.

Patrick Chinnery, executive chair of 바카라사이트 MRC, said 바카라사이트 report highlighted how ¡°MRC-funded research has led to 바카라사이트 creation of a significant number of impactful spin-out companies¡±.

¡°Our funding has given rise to innovative medical treatments and technologies that underpin valuable intellectual property and new companies, collectively worth billions of pounds, targeted on improving 바카라사이트 lives of people with diseases,¡± he said.

The ¡°MRC¡¯s ongoing strategic support for translational research is proving highly successful¡±, insisted Chinnery, who explained this type of research funding stream was responsible for ¡°progressing research from bench to bedside, from discovery to prosperity ¨C supporting a healthier economy, as well as a healthier population¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com