France Biotech Presents the 7th Edition of its Annual Biotechnology Industry Report 2007 / 2008

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--France Biotech, the association of French life science companies (www.france-biotech.org), is to present the results of its annual survey of the biotechnology industry, “The France Biotech Annual Biotechnology Industry Report 2007 / 2008, at the EuroBiO 2008 Congress in Paris. The report is in two parts: one part presents the key figures and major trends on the international scene while the other, comprising a survey conducted by France Biotech among French companies in the biotech sector - and provides a detailed examination of funding (venture capital, IPOs, SPOs, alliances, etc.), stakes, tendencies and initiatives and fields of applications, with various tables describing the situation in France and internationally).

“Although the promise that marked the biotech sector in 2007 was dented by the maelstrom on the international financial markets, the series of reforms, certain of which were inspired or supported by France Biotech, resulted in improvement of the environment for innovative biotechnology companies and SMEs, particularly through attribution of the Young Innovative Company Status (YIC), which has become a reference label for entrepreneurs, researchers and investors alike and has resulted in French companies becoming more competitive. We are counting on the French government to continue supporting this label, and to implement other measures needed to fund our innovative SMEs via savings scheme reforms. The introduction of the Innovative Young Listed Company status will help our SMEs attain the critical mass necessary to achieve greater competitiveness at the international level. There is still a gap with our British, German and Scandinavian neighbours, and Europe continues to lag far behind the United States!” stated France Biotech President, Dr. Philippe Pouletty, emphatically.

Spurred on by the growth of the US biotech giants, the biotechnology sector is approaching the profitability levels set in 2007. Worldwide sales for the sector stand at USD 95.1bn (+6% over 2006).

The biotechnology sector has become increasingly globalized, with the emergence of the Asia-Pacific zone in the biotechnology domain, creating a new competitive environment.

The US remains the world leader in the biotechnology sector with Genentech, Amgen, Gilead Sciences, Celgene, Biogen-Idec and Genzyme firmly ensconced in the Top 10 list of worldwide biotechnology companies and has created an environment conducive to the growth of other companies in the sector. A total of 1 502 companies in the US in 2007 currently employ 195 500 staff, with a mean 130 employees per company; sales revenue and R&D investment for 2007 in the industry were respectively USD 68.4bn and 30bn (with investment accounting for 44% of revenue).

For further information please visit: www.france-biotech.org

France Biotech
Haude Costa
haude@france-biotech.org
Tel.: 01 56 58 10 70 / 06 84 25 88 27
or
Alize Public Relations
Caroline Carmagnol / Juliette Vandenbroucque
caroline@alizerp.com
juliette@alizerp.com
Tel.: 06 64 18 99 59 / 01 41 22 07 32