Angels for Life Sciences Network Launches at BioIndustry Association UK Bioscience Forum

4 October 2012 -- The Angels for Life Sciences (A4LS) network was launched today at the BioIndustry Association's (BIA's) UK Bioscience Forum.

Simon Kerry, A4LS network manager, said:

"The Angels for Life Sciences network will address the need for a UK-wide angel investment network to provide angels with the opportunity to invest in high-quality, emerging life science businesses and provide these businesses with an important funding channel.

"The importance of the life sciences sector to the UK economy has been reinforced by the government's support for the sector, including its Strategy for UK Life Sciences and the Biomedical Catalyst. This support has helped create an environment where angel investors can make a positive return on life sciences investments."

A4LS will bring together sector-experienced angels and generalist angels to invest in high quality life science companies. The sector-experienced angels will provide guidance and validation to for the generalists to invest in the life sciences sector.

The network will be led by Simon Kerry and Will West, life science entrepreneurs both with 20 years experience including in early-stage life science companies, and Eileen Modral, Investor Development Manager at Oxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION). The network is supported by the BIA, Fasken Martineau, Nesta, OION and Wellcome Trust.

The first A4LS meeting will be held in London next month and life science companies are invited to apply for an opportunity to present. A4LS aims to secure investment sof up to £2 million per company.

Steve Bates, BIA Chief Executive Officer, said:

"Access to finance is the key challenge for life science companies and I am delighted that the A4LS network provides a new opportunity for start-up companies to access capital.

"A4LS stands alongside recently announced funding initiatives, such as the Biomedical Catalyst, Cancer Research Technology Pioneer Fund, Wellcome Trust Project Sigma and the Index Ventures life sciences fund, to make the UK a place with a range of funding opportunities for life sciences companies at all stages of development."

For further information, please contact Robert Winder, Head of Communications, rwinder@bioindustry.org, 020 7630 2191; mobile 07825 942 934.

Angels for Life Sciences

Angels for Life Sciences (A4LS) has been established to help overcome the perceived challenges of investing in early-stage life sciences companies. A4LS will create a forum in which angels can discuss, debate and invest in pre-selected, high-quality life science businesses. A4LS will provide angels with the opportunity to assess life science businesses that have already been selected by industry experts and that have the endorsement that comes from having already secured a cornerstone investor and an experienced business mentor. For further information email info@a4ls.com or visit www.a4ls.com

BioIndustry Association

Founded over 20 years ago at the infancy of biotechnology, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative enterprises involved in UK bioscience. Members include emerging and more established bioscience companies; pharmaceutical companies; academic, research and philanthropic organisations; and service providers to the bioscience sector. The BIA represents the interests of its members to a broad section of stakeholders, from government and regulators to patient groups and the media. Our goal is to secure the UK's position as a global hub and as the best location for innovative research and commercialisation, enabling our world-leading research base to deliver healthcare solutions that can truly make a difference to people's lives. For further information, please go to www.bioindustry.org

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