Four pharmaceutical/biotechnology, medical technology, equity research/finance and competitive intelligence veterans have joined forces to provide a large spectrum of services geared at bringing creative solutions to support innovative bio-ventures
PA, USA and Paris, France, January 10th, 2012 – Alliance4Growth is born from the association of four bioscience professionals with expertise in drugs, biologics, diagnostics and medical technology. Dr. Gilles Avenard, Dr. Bernard Cambou, Mr. Christian Girard and Mr. Gérard Pontonnier have decided to pool their respective long-standing experience to provide their services to emerging or established life sciences companies, venture capital and private equity investors as well as technology transfer organizations.
Today’s context is one where pharmaceutical companies are facing the patent-cliff, intensively looking for products which have already achieved clinical proof of concept and re-engineering their discovery capabilities. Similarly, the financing of new ventures has never been so challenging in both Europe and North-America, and historical investors are either retreating from early-stage investments or looking at new models to expedite their exit. The founders of Alliance4growth are convinced that the sustainability of innovation requires that more collaborative undertakings and a faster path to risk-mitigating milestones and scale (diverse and leveraged project portfolio) be implemented at an earlier stage than before. The pro-activeness in the implementation and execution of such an aggressive growth strategy requires operational and financial prowess.
Innovation in life sciences requires considerable financial means and, regardless of the quality of the underlying science or technology, financial backers have become more risk-adverse and are looking for asset scale and/or ventures with sound fallback opportunities to take into account the tremendous risk associated with a limited project portfolio.
Alliance4growth is well-equipped to propose alternative solutions through early collaborative undertakings (in and out-licensing), creative mergers or acquisitions to accelerate scale, spin-offs of platforms/products fallen out of favor following mid and large size companies new focus and inter-industry or industry-academia consortia. Alliance4Growth will operate regionally in Europe and North-America but also across all major markets including Asia-Pacific.
Dr. Gilles Avenard, 60, MD., has many years of experience in the biopharmaceutical and biologics industry (LFB and Roussel-Uclaf now Sanofi) with major expertise in clinical development, clinical affairs and production operations. He was the co-founder and former Chief Operating Officer of Bio-Alliance (NYSE-EURONEXT: BIO) and is currently a board member of several biotechnology companies as well as the Chief Executive Officer of G1J, a Paris-based life sciences seed fund. Gilles seats of the board of several biotechnology and pharmaceutical trade organizations. Gilles resides in Paris, France
Dr. Bernard Cambou, 55, PhD., MBA, a biochemist by background, has biopharmaceutical R&D and business development experience in various roles in France, Japan and the United States (Aventis now Sanofi and Human Genome Sciences). He is the founder and/or CEO of three bioventures in both pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Bernard was also a venture capital partner with Birchmere Ventures/Bay City Capital (BVIII) based in Pittsburgh, PA and San-Francisco, CA. More recently, Bernard was CEO of Cytomics Pharmaceuticals, a Paris-based early-stage oncology company. Bernard resides in Sewickley, PA, USA.
Christian Girard, 51, an alumnus from the Paris Business School (ESCP) has a commercial background in medical technology products and has participated in the successful launch of several products while at Genzyme, including an autologous cell therapy. In 2004, Christian has founded Biotech-Intelligence, a provider of competitive intelligence information in the life sciences area. Christian is also an astute observer in orphan diseases and has co-founded a start-up company which is developing a treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Christian resides in Paris, France.
Dr. Gérard Pontonnier, 50, Pharm D., started his career as a clinical investigator before joining Pfizer as a regulatory affairs executive. About 15 years ago, he made his passion for stock-trading his new professional career path and worked in various investment banking institutions as their life science expert. Gérard is a registered equity analyst and has participated in many IPOs on Euronext/NYSE. Gérard resides in Paris, France.
About Alliance4Growth
Alliance4growth is a strategic advice firm dedicated to the field of innovative pharmaceutical or medical technology solutions. Alliance4Growth is headquartered in Paris, France. It operates in the US from its office in Sewickley, PA, USA and is in advanced partnering discussion with established Asia-based bio consulting firms. The name of this institution will be the subject of an upcoming release shortly.
Contacts
Dr. Bernard Cambou, PhD., MBA, Managing Partner (US Office)
+1 412 567 0434
bernard@alliance4growth.com
European headquarter:
Alliance4Growth
54 avenue Hoche
75008 Paris, France
contact@alliance4growth.com
http://www.alliance4growth.com
http://a4g-views.blogspot.com (blog)
