Issue 09 17/05/13
inf orm at ion f rom t he BioQ u a r t er
Gathering pace…
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ve just returned from BIO 2013 and have to say that the mood was more upbeat than in either of the previous two years. We here at BioQuarter have also noticed a number of green shoots beginning to emerge. In this issue, you’ll read that Roslin Cells’ ATMP manufacturing facility is now fully licensed by the MHRA providing a shot in the arm for UK regenerative medicine. And we give an update on the BioQuarter spinout, Aquila BioMedical, which this month takes up residence in Nine as its business continues to grow. We have published the top five finalists in this year’s Innovation Competition on our website www.bioquarter.com. We received over 50 entries this year. Thanks to all those who entered and congratulations to our five finalists who will battle it out over the next few weeks to decide the overall winner. Finally, a huge thank you to Martin Mackay, ex-President of R&D at Astra Zeneca, who returned to his native Scotland as our keynote speaker for our most recent BioQuarter networking evening. As you might expect, he left us with plenty of food for thought to keep us occupied over the coming year!
W: www.bioquarter.com T: 0131 242 9444 E: Lorraine.Jackson@bioquarter.com
Roslin Cells R
oslin Cells was established in 2006 by the world renowned Roslin Institute. The business has now become a world leader in the development of cell therapies and pluripotent stem cells, providing a range of stem cells for clinical use and research customers. Roslin Cells also provides contract manufacturing services for cell therapy products and mammalian cell banks. Roslin Cells strategically relocated its operations to the Edinburgh BioQuarter in 2011 and operates the state-of-theart Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Cellular Therapy Facility within the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM). This University of Edinburgh-owned facility is operated in partnership with the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), and was partly funded by Scottish Enterprise. Roslin Cells were the first in Europe to derive clinical grade human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines and are also leading the way in providing an induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) service to industry and academic researchers, within a dedicated iPSC Production Facility at Nine BioQuarter.
‘We are delighted to be located in the Edinburgh BioQuarter, which provides an excellent opportunity to engage with other SMEs, leading academic researchers and clinicians, providing a strong network in which to expand our business’ Janet Downie, COO
2013 has been a successful year, seeing the company receive its MIA (IMP) and Specials Licence from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Earlier in the year the company also became an accredited Investors in People organisation showing the company are ambitious, forward-thinking and people-centric. These achievements reinforce the progression of the company to becoming the partner of choice for those wishing to manufacture cell-based therapies for clinical trials within Scotland and Europe.
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Issue 09 17/05/13
inf orm at ion f rom t he BioQ u a r t er
MEET THE TEAM: Dr Amy Lam
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joined Edinburgh BioQuarter in November 2011 as a Business Development Executive. I have held a number of positions specialising in commercialisation activities in the life sciences sector, and my experience ranges from evaluating commercialisation opportunities, managing IP portfolios, securing early stage seed funding through to carrying out commercial due diligence, valuation and licensing. I have a background in the medical sciences and a Masters in IP law and I have worked in academia and industry in the UK and the USA.
Since joining the BioQuarter, I am developing good relationships with my colleagues in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. My remit is to build strategic relationships between the various centres and institutions in the College and the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. This involves identifying and developing opportunities for new collaborations with scientists and clinicians and negotiating commercial terms to achieve the best deals. Having a background in the neurosciences and pharmacology, I work with a number of our neuroscience research centres, as well as researchers in the field of oncology and reproductive health, amongst others. Please feel free to contact me if you have anything that you wish to discuss.
e: Amy.Lam@bioquarter.com t: +44 (0) 131 242 9441 m: +44 (0) 78375 67793
Aquila BioMedical Enters a New Chapter at Number Nine
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ater this month Aquila BioMedical will be the 11th tenant to join the growing base of life science companies at Number Nine. Aquila has rapidly grown from concept through intense validation of its service offerings and now has multiple contracts signed with clients ranging from small biotech’s through to large Pharma both across Europe and the US. With an increasing demand for high end scientific models coupled with advice and interpretation from world-leading academics and clinicians, Aquila BioMedical is striving to be ‘the place to go’ for early drug research/discovery in the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and autoimmune therapeutic areas. Last year Aquila launched a number of its major services and has now recently added a suite of specialised in-vitro assays designed to provide high value data to our clients on the effects of their compounds on the remyelination process, to potentially provide new therapies aimed at reversing the disabling symptoms of MS. These services are coupled with scientific advice from Dr Anna Williams at the University of Edinburgh. Clare Doris, Aquila BioMedical’s Chief Operating Officer said ‘Aquila is going from strength to strength and we are looking forward to relocating to Number Nine at the end of May. This will bring about a new
W: www.bioquarter.com T: 0131 242 9444 E: Lorraine.Jackson@bioquarter.com
chapter in the development of the company where we will be able to group our expanding team and build on our initial successes whilst retaining close links to the excellent scientific community at Edinburgh BioQuarter.’ Aquila is now ready to embark upon the process of attracting a larger investment from the angel community to support plans for accelerated growth later in the year. This will see the company expand into a variety of other areas of Inflammation where there is a real need for specialised academic services delivered to an industrial standard.
Innovation Competition 2013
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he Edinburgh BioQuarter Innovation Competition is now in its third year. We have seen some outstanding entries from the 150 we have received since the competition was launched. The competition encourages scientists, students and researchers to think commercially for the benefit of human or animal health. We are looking for highly creative products or service concepts that can be turned into or sold on to successful businesses. This year’s competition is now closed; entries have been evaluated and whittled down to the final five. This event wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and assistance of our sponsors – Marks&Clerk LLP, Springfords LLP, City of Edinburgh Council and MBM Commercial. The sponsors and Dr John Brown FRSE CBE will take part in the judging panel in early May where the finalists are asked to undertake “Dragon’s Den” style closed-door presentations. The top five positions are decided and announced at the Award Ceremony in central Edinburgh in June. Stakes are high with the 1st prize winner securing £10,000 to develop their product/ idea. We would like to thank everyone who has entered this competition and hope that next year will be just as successful. Watch this space for the announcement on who scooped 1st place!
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