Investors looking Swedish biotechnology – helagotland.se

Investors looking Swedish biotechnology – helagotland.se

We have not done anything actively to find a partner or buyer, says Galecto Biotech CEO Hans Schambye.

The company is developing a treatment for the deadly disease pulmonary fibrosis. For almost a week since it was part of an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), which gives the right to buy BMS Galecto in about two years.

-Several different potential partners have expressed interest, and it has led to this agreement. Scandinavia is known for good research and to be useful in biotechnology, says Hans Schambye.

clear shift

Galecto is a typical example of how the industry operates, according to Ingrid Heath, vice president the trade association Bio Sweden. For the past ten years there has been a clear shift, where more and more research is done in smaller companies.

-then will the majors in when the store is a bit more mature. It is good that we have Swedish companies included in this ecosystem globally, she said.

nearly 1000 people from 28 countries came to the conference for investors that the industry staged earlier this fall, an increase from the year before, seen as a sign of the times. During the year, there have also been a number of IPOs in the health sector.

The trend in the industry has attracted the interest of investors, according to Erik Hultgård, pharmaceuticals analyst at Nordea. Interest has been exacerbated by the many shops in recent times, not only with smaller companies involved.

-Also large companies have been bought. This leads to much attention and speculation. Some shares have been rushed, he said.

Growth Industries

Pfizer’s bid for Astra Zeneca did not go through, but the potential deal was a hot topic a long time.

From investors’ perspective, it is also interesting with the aging population in the world, combined with people generally consume more care.

-There is a stability and structural growth in the industry, says Erik Hultgård.

Medicines are simultaneously united with great risks.

-You need to take risks in this business. At an early stage it is impossible to know what will fall out. But when a big company buys a little, it becomes a dilute risk, says Erik Hultgård.