Israel is eighth in the number of patents granted in the life-sciences industry, which may be the most amazing statistic of all, given the amount of time and money companies must invest in getting a product or technology tested and patented.

This week, the Israeli biotech industry was having its annual conference, the Biomed Israel 2011 show, sponsored by the Life Sciences Industries Association in Israel (ILSI), a nonprofit organization founded to serve and promote the goals of the Israeli life-sciences industry in the international arena. The show, which is taking place in Tel Aviv and is celebrating its tenth anniversary, has become a can’t-miss affair for top executives of pharmaceutical and medical-technology giants around the world.

So how successful has the Israeli life sciences industry been? Check out the stats: There are currently about 700 active life-sciences companies in Israel; 56 percent of them (396) of them were founded in the last decade.

A quarter of them, 173, were founded only five years ago. Of the rest, 306 were founded before 2001, with the oldest, Teva Pharmaceuticals, founded in 1901 (amazing but true). Out of the 700, 401 (56%) are in the medicaldevices business.

From 2001 to 2005 the industry’s annual growth was 12%. Even though things have slowed a bit over the past three years, Biomed organizing committee chairperson Ruti Alon says growth has returned to the sector.

More than 100 of the companies established over the last decade are making money, she says, and “the most impressive fact is that 25 companies, about 8% of all companies that produce income, were founded only five years ago.”

Some testimonials as for ILSI- Biomed Israel 2011:

“Back to Paris I would like to thank you for the excellence of the organization and the quality of the Company we have met. We learned a lot and see several opportunities to partner with Israeli Biotech Companies”

- Philippe Goupit, Sanofi-Aventis, Business Development Corporate Licenses

“I would like to thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to talk about EU reimbursement during ILSI Biomed in Tel Aviv. I was impressed by the fantastic organization of the program and the conference itself.
It would be a very great pleasure for me to participate again next year”

- Dr. Hubertus Rosery MPH (CEO), AiM GmbH, Assessment in Medicine Research and Consulting

“Thanks for the nice introduction; I had a number of meetings and feel that I am slowly getting to know the needs and interests of the many wonderful technology companies born in Israel. Congratulations on a very successful conference!”

- Dan Mendelson, CEO, Avalere Health LLC

Really excellent. Well planned. Very nice atmosphere.
Key-note speakers were the best. Cocktail party was a delight.
Kenes did a great job. Kol Hakavod to ILSI & Ruti.

- David Blum

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Photo credit: Ilan Levi
www.ilanlevi.com

More photos are available at our Facebook page.

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The aim of the proposed NPO will be to shift the emphasis of research in Israel towards brain research through conventions, steering committees, and, most importantly, by raising money. The NPO will identify the most interesting and important subfields in brain research where Israel has the greatest comparative advantage, and raise capital to support basic and applied research in them via a range of research institutes, NPOs, and possibly young commercial companies.

Peres told “Globes”, “We intend to replicate our achievements in nanotechnology in neurotechnology, but the scale will be much greater and more impressive.”

The president’s aides said that Peres helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars for nanotechnology research, and that he could probably do the same for neurotechnology.

Gidron said that two areas would be the focus of research: the human-machine interface and therapies. At ILSI Biomed 2011, Peres and Gidron met top Israeli and foreign brain researchers, as well as Office of the Chief Scientist head of life sciences Ora Dar. They identified several important subjects for action, including early diagnostics for neurological and psychiatric disorders, support and for demonstration for academic ideas, and support for the use of advanced medical computer systems at Israel’s hospitals and health funds to collect data and conduct research on brain disorders, including depression, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, autism, strokes, and schizophrenia.

In the coming months, the NPO will convene a steering committee to formulate a road map for operations, after which it will begin raising capital and publish calls for papers for researchers and companies.

The first fruit of this activity is the raising of $10 million for neuron computability – the translation of brain activity for the computer. The money was raised from foreign donors for a special foundation that will finance a joint research team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne.

Peres said, “Israel lives on its brain. This is not a one-time thing, it is something renewed constantly and ever more powerfully. We’re now embarking on the fourth revolution. The first were the agricultural, industrial, and information revolutions, and now comes the revolution of the brain. This is a problem that Israel devotes itself to solving as quickly as possible and as strongly as possible.”

Gali Weinreb
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – www.globes-online.com – on May 23, 2011

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10 more years!

ILSI-Biomed starts tomorrow!
Want to win an iPad2 at ILSI-Biomed? Shizim’s iPad2 lottery campaign for Biomed companies: Tell us about your company, and get a chance to win an iPad2 !

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To download the participation form: http://www.lsahome.com/competition/application_2011_iPad.doc

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Statistical reports prepared by the Israeli Chief Scientist office towards the ILSI – Biomed Israel 2011 Week, which will open in Tel Aviv next week (May 23-25, 2011), show that the Chief Scientist helped support life science projects in Israel, with NIS 430 million in 2010. Avi Hasson, the Chief Scientist, will speak at the conference at the opening of the day devoted to young biomed companies.

10 more years!

Of the NIS 430 million of support funds, NIS 49 million were given to pharmaceutical development; NIS 173 million to biotechnology, and NIS 209 million to medical equipment. In all, the R&D Committee of the Chief Scientist Office considered 338 project applications from 193 companies, of which 265 projects were approved, representing a total R&D budget of NIS 701 million. This is 10.5% less than the State support given to life science R&D in 2009, the sector’s record year of the past decade. However, the bio technology sector benefited from increased grants with NIS 4 million more that in 2009.

The figures also reveal that State support of life science innovation of the past years has been ranging between 30% in 2007 to 28.1% in 2010, a significant increase from 14% in 2000 and 22% in 2003.

Commenting on the figures, Hasson said Israel’s outstanding excellence centers in the academy, combined with entrepreneurial spirit and technological life science capabilities results in Israel being positioned as a significant life science player on a global level. “Israel is unique in combining life science with additional areas, such as nanotechnology, intelligent materials and advanced electronics,” said the Chief Scientist.

Hasson pointed out the Chief Scientist office is committed to continued support for the life science sector, with life science companies benefiting from a preferred status regardless of the stage in their evolution. “With our support, more companies were able to reach advanced stages of clinical development in recent years,” he said.

The chief scientist noted in this context, the recently-announced win of OrbiMed Advisors of the tender to establish dedicated life science R&D funds in Israel. “When an international company mobilizes USD 160 million, which is more than twice than the minimum required to bid in the tender, this is the best evidence of the trust the global capital market places in the Israeli life science industry and its technological and commercial potential for economic growth.”

2011 marks the 10th anniversary of ILSI Biomed Israel 2011 Week. Over the past decade, it has grown into an international conference hosting the biggest (and hottest) names of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical instrumentation industries. The conference organizers, the Israel Life Science Industry (ILSI), and Kenes Congress Group, expect more than 1,000 overseas guests to join thousands of local bio-pharma and medical instrumentation executives, scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, opinion leaders, VC fund managers and private investors who confirmed their participation at the Conference.

About ILSI Biomed Israel 2011

The ILSI Biomed Israel 2011 is the central annual event of Israel’s life science industry. It consists of an international professional conference, targeted at the best experts and executives from bio-pharma and medical instrumentation companies, as well as scientists and researchers, entrepreneurs, opinion leaders, VC fund managers and private investors from Israel and abroad. The adjoining exhibition displays the most recent innovations of these areas. With the years, ILSI Biomed Israel 2011 has won international acclaim and is considered today as the second largest conference of the life science industry after the USA. It will be held from May 23rd to 25th at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv.

Visit the conference website at http://www2.kenes.com/biomed/pages/home.aspx

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Abbott Diagnostics will be attending Biomed 2011 and is interested in discussions with potential collaborators leading toward the development and commercialization of novel IA/CC biomarkers in all therapeutic areas:
o Evidence of clinical utility
o Well characterized antibody development
o Preferably, a developed ELISA format
o Workable, defendable, global IP position

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The Embassy of Italy in Tel Aviv In collaboration with Israel Italy Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Cordially invite you to attend the

FIFTH Italian Israeli Conference on Life Sciences:

“Collaboration and Innovation in Cancer Research and Treatment”

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv From 09.00 to 13.00
for informations info@italia-israel.com

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10 more years!

In preparation for the closing session of the upcoming ILSI biomed conference, dealing with the issue of local management vs. international management, ILSI-Biomed is conducting a survey to assess current attitudes towards management of an Israeli start up companies.

The session will be led by Dr Dalia Megiddo.

If you could answer a few short questions, your name and company will be kept confidential.

1. Is in necessary at some point in an Israeli healthcare company’s life cycle, to recruit a CEO who is part of the US market and culture, preferably a US-born and raised CEO (as opposed to an Israeli CEO with less experience in the US market)? Yes/No Comments_____________
2. Is in necessary at some point in an Israeli healthcare life cycle, to recruit a CEO who is part of the Europe market and culture, preferably a European-born and raised CEO (as opposed to an Israeli CEO with less experience in the European market)? Yes/No Comments ________
3. If so, at what stage of the company’s life should this change be made? (R&D / Clinical trials / advanced clinical trials / sales) Comment _____________
4. What is the main contribution of an American/Europe CEO to an Israeli company? (Relationships and networking / experience in running a healthcare company / deep understanding of the US market / has no specific advantage over an Israeli CEO)
5. If you have experienced a multi-cultural management system, feel free to give you opinion on the best ways to raise the chances of such an arrangement actually benefiting the company
_____________________________________________________________

ILSI will appreciate if you respond as soon as possible to michal@ilsi.org.il or sima@ilsi.org.il

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Shlomo Yanai has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Teva since March 2007.

Prior to joining Teva, Mr. Yanai was President and Chief Executive Officer of Makhteshim-Agan Industries Ltd. from 2003 until 2006. Previously, Mr. Yanai served in the Israel Defense Forces (the “IDF”) for 32 years, where he achieved the rank of Major General, the highest rank below Chief of Staff, and successively held two of the most senior positions: Commanding Officer of the Southern Command and Head of the Division of Strategic Planning.

Mr. Yanai was the head of the Israeli security delegation to the peace talks at Camp David, Shepherdstown and Wye River. Mr. Yanai was a board member of Bank Leumi Le-Israel Ltd. from 2004 until 2007. Mr. Yanai is a member of the Board of Governors of the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) and of the International Advisory Board, M.B.A. Program of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, as well as an honorary member of the Board of the Institute for Policy and Strategy of the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya.

Mr. Yanai received a B.A. in political science and economics from Tel Aviv University in 1983 and an M.P.A. in national resources management from George Washington University in 1990, and graduated the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School in 2000.

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Dr Megiddo has been involved in the Life Science Venture Capital Industry since 1999 and is well recognized as one of the leaders in the healthcare investment community both in Israel and internationally. She is a frequent speaker at local and international meetings and served as a board member at Given Imaging (NASDAQ-GIVN) and Elron (NASDAQ- ELRN). She is also involved in founding several successful companies such as Medingo, Chiasma and Alcobra.

Dr Megiddo holds an MBA from Kellogg- Recanati School of Business , and teaches at various entrepreneurial programs in Israeli universities. She completed her medical studies at the Hebrew University’s Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem in 1978.

After spending a few years as a faculty member in the Family Medicine department at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Dr. Megiddo founded and sold two successful businesses in the medical field: The Journal Club – Israel’s leading provider of Continuing Medical Education for physicians, and Academia Medica – a medical multimedia developer and worldwide distributor for Continuing Medical Education programs for physicians.

Dr Megiddo will moderate the closing session entitled MANAGEMENT TEAM – GLOBAL OR LOCAL? in the up-and-coming ILSI-BioMed week at the Wednesday, May 25, 2011.

ILSI-BioMed week – program at a glance.

ILSI-BioMed week – detailed program.

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