The East of England is a world leader in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and development. The region is home to over 230 biopharma and medicinal chemistry companies, as well as globally renowned academic institutions conducting groundbreaking research. It contributes 25% of the UK's total R&D spending and has one of the strongest drug development pipelines in Europe. Key industries include oncology, neuroscience, and age-related disease treatment. The region provides strong support to companies and institutions through its business networks and enterprise hubs to advance biomedical research and innovations.

1. The East of England
A world centre for biotechnology
230 biopharma Excellence in
and medicinal drug discovery,
chemistry cell and gene
companies therapy,
diagnostics
Globally acclaimed
academic research
advancing human
health
The East of England: The East of England is home to 50% of the entire UK biotech
G Contributes 25% of UK R&D spend – industry and has one of the strongest drug pipelines in Europe.
over three times the national average The region couples excellence in bioinformatics with a long history
G Part of the Greater South East – the
in sequencing the human genome, triggering discoveries that
10th largest economy in the world
G Home to London Stansted – with more form the basis of global products and are revolutionising
daily flights to Europe than any other personalised medicine. Key therapeutic areas include oncology;
airport worldwide metabolic disorders; neuroscience; cardiovascular; infection and
immunity; women’s health and muscular skeletal disorders.
GROUNDBREAKING THERAPEUTICS
Antisoma – acquires promising early-stage cancer drug candidates from
academic and commercial institutions and manages development, testing
and trials to bring them to market.
Phytopharm – develops pharmaceutical products and functional foods from
medicinal plants; reducing development risk, cost and time to market.
Senexis – uses small-molecule drug development to revolutionise diagnosis
and treatment of age-related diseases.
Vernalis – uses and develops fragment and structure-based drug discovery
Business support funded by the
methods to address novel targets in areas including cancer, neuropathic
East of England Development Agency pain and diabetes.
www.eei-online.com/lifesciences

2. Tap into our region’s R&D
The Cambridge Biomedical Campus – awarded Academic Health Science
Centre status by The National Institute for Health Research, which
is leading a drive to make the UK’s National Health Service one of the
leading biomedical research organisations in the world. The Campus
is one of Europe’s leading research centres and offers an exceptional
environment for collaborative research and its translation, with current
occupants including Cambridge University Hospitals, University
of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine; the Medical Research Council
and Cancer Research UK.
Genzyme established its first dedicated
research facility outside the US University of Essex – covering a broad range of medical and health
in Cambridge, UK research in Biophysics and Molecular Medicine. Key research includes
protein structure and its application in the design of therapeutic agents
and the development of biophysical tools in molecular imaging and
interactions. The Ageing Research Group is developing new inhibitors
and imaging for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
University of Hertfordshire – the University’s Health and Human Sciences
Research Institute houses the School of Pharmacy which includes
state-of-the-art analytical chemistry, synthetic chemistry, solid dosage
form manufacture and characterisation and sterile manufacturing facilities
and a simulation centre. In addition, the Topical Drug Delivery Unit enables
leading-edge research in the development of dermal, ungual, airway and
mucoadhesive drug delivery systems.
University of East Anglia (UEA) – UEA’s Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Institute encourages cell biologists, immunologists, nutritionists
and epidemiologists to generate multidisciplinary research programme
studying infectious diseases and the role of diet in optimising health and
healthy ageing. UEA also houses a category 3 microbiology containment
Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Trials Research Unit.
Thinking of setting
up a UK business?
EEI’s commercially-focused
Business Development Managers Be supported by our enterprise
will use their sector knowledge and
connections for your benefit. hubs and networks
Let us: Health and Life Sciences Enterprise Hubs – driving innovation
G Provide you with specialist local by bringing knowledge-based industries together. The hubs include
sector knowledge Babraham Bioscience Technologies (biomedical); CardioThoracic
G Quickly identify technology BioIncubator (medical devices and healthcare); Colworth Park (food,
partners health and wellness); BioPark (bioscience and health technology);
G Align you with key academic Health Enterprise East (convergent technologies, healthcare and medical
contacts devices) and Norwich Research Park Enterprise (health, food, plant
G Embed you in the supply chain and microbial sciences).
G Put you in touch with business
service providers ERBI – with 300 members, ERBI is one of Europe’s leading regional
G Find you appropriate premises bio industry associations. ERBI’s aim is to facilitate and accelerate the
G Help source expert staff growth of biotech in the East of England through networking events,
special interest groups, training, publications and partnering and
Our services are free member promotion.
and confidential
For expert help contact:
East of England International
2 Quayside Cambridge CB5 8AB
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1223 450 450
E: info@eeia.com www.eei-online.com/lifesciences
09/80 Copyright October 2009