Partners

In Cooporation with
SIX Swiss Exchange
The SIX Swiss Exchange ranks among the world’s most technologically advanced securities exchanges. Backed by the strength of Switzerland’s financial marketplace, it resolutely pursues an internationally oriented strategy. In transnational collaboration with partner organisations, the SIX Swiss Exchange provides first-rate securities exchange services to all parties involved. Not only is its broad product palette a convincing factor in this regard, but also its fully integrated and totally automated trading, clearing and settlement system that remains unique in the world. The SIX Swiss Exchange offers innovative, international companies access to the Swiss capital market. A public placement of securities in one of its trading segments affords companies a high degree of global visibility among investors. An initial public offering in Switzerland is an attractive opportunity for companies to raise equity capital, especially those in the life science, IT and micro- and nanotechnology industries.
Swiss Biotech Association
Swiss Biotech Association (SBA) was founded in March 1998. Today more than 200 companies represent this growing association. SBA is the industry association of small and medium-sized enterprises active in all areas of biotechnology but also a very good networking platform for the multinational companies active in the sector. The membership is open to companies of various size concerned with different aspects of modern biotechnology such as R&D, production, marketing and sales, finance, services and consulting. Activities of member companies span different sectors of biotechnology including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, agriculture, fod, environmental biotechnology, and specialty chemicals. The SBA is also managing the national Cluster for Biotechnology where the Swiss Life Science regions the finance market (SIX) and the industry work together to promote Switzerland as a key Biotech country.
Steering Committee of the Swiss Biotech Report 2010
The Swiss Biotech Report 2010 is published by the Steering Committee members: Domenico Alexakis, Swiss Biotech Association, Zurich, Oreste Ghisalba, CTI, Berne, Andrea Isler, SIX Swiss Exchange AG, Zurich, Heinz Müller, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, Berne, Antje Runschke, Osec, Zurich and Jürg Zürcher, Ernst & Young Ltd., Basel. Further project partners are the Swiss National Fund, the national competence network for biotechnology biotechnet Switzerland, the Swiss technology Transfer Association swiTT, BaselArea, the BerneCapital Area, BioAlps, Biopolo Ticino and the Greater Zurich Area. The Swiss Biotech Report 2010 can be downloaded from the website www.swissbiotechreport.ch as of April 13, 2010.
Premium Partner
Deloitte
Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in 140 countries, Deloitte brings world class capabilities and deep local expertise to help clients succeed wherever they operate In Switzerland over 830 employees provide support to our clients – globally, 169,000 employees are committed to our clients.
The Deloitte Life Sciences and Biotech Industry group, made up of the Life Sciences specialists from member firms, is comprised of more than 4,800 professionals in over 50 countries. Their understanding of the industry’s challenges and their ability to quickly respond with integrated and comprehensive services put the Deloitte member firms in a unique position to help our clients. From inception of a company, to an initial public offering or a global product launch, our professionals have the comprehensive experience that life sciences and biotech companies demand to address the assurance, tax and consulting needs of their business.
Partners
Bank CIC (Switzerland)
Bank CIC (Switzerland) is the epitome of a Swiss bank for both private and business clients. We are dedicated to finding innovative and above all practical solutions to meet all financial needs. Long-standing relationships with our clients are the cornerstone of our shared success. Our name belies a French connection: we belong to the leading international banking group Crédit Mutuel-CIC (rated AA- by both Standard & Poor's and Fitch). Being part of this solid, professional group founded in a spirit of partnership gives us a firm basis on which to operate with proven flexibility and a strong strategic focus.
CTI Innovation Promotion Agency

„Science to market“. That is the central idea behind the CTI Innovation Promotion Agency’s support for research-based innovation projects carried out by businesses together with universities. It offers to promote innovation, in addition to providing coaching, knowledge-transfer and training for SMEs as well as for start-ups.
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche’s personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2009, Roche had over 80’000 employees worldwide and invested almost 10 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 49.1 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.
IRF Communications AG
IRF Communications is a leading independent provider of capital market communications services and strategic IR advice to publicly held corporations as well as emerging companies intending to go public. IRF Communications has a broad experience in advising Swiss as well as international life science companies in their communications to the Swiss financial community. IRF Communications’ services range from positioning and strategic consulting all the way through to implementation of individual measures.
Merck Serono
Merck Serono is the division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative small molecules and biopharmaceuticals to help patients with unmet medical needs. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates through separately incorporated affiliates. Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer (Erbitux®, cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif®, interferon beta-1a), infertility (Gonal-f®, follitropin alfa), endocrine and metabolic disorders (Saizen® and Serostim®, somatropin), (Kuvan®, sapropterin dihydrochloride) as well as cardiometabolic diseases (Glucophage®, metformin), (Concor®, bisoprolol), (Euthyrox®, levothyroxine). Not all products are available in all markets. With an annual R&D expenditure of around € 1bn, Merck Serono is committed to growing its business in specialist-focused therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of research and development in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Novartis Venture Funds
Our primary focus is on the development of novel therapeutics and platforms. We enhance the therapeutic focus with investments in medical devices, diagnostics or drug delivery systems. In our investments we look for unmet need and clinical impact, novel proprietary science and understanding of mechanism, management and board experience and capital efficiency in the program.
We prefer to have our initial investment at the early stage to build the company and  follow with additional investment in pace with the company’s progress. We continue our approach of larger focused investments and anticipate total investments up to USD 15 – 20 mio per company over its life, but it can be as little as 100'000 USD to get started. We will increase our activities to lead  or co-lead deals further and remain open to participate in larger syndicates.
Legal Partner
VISCHER Attorneys at Law
VISCHER is one of the major independent Swiss law firms. VISCHER has extensive experience in advising both Swiss and international biotech companies in sector specific legal matters, including merger and acquisition, financing, partnering, research & development arrangements, commercial agreements, and regulatory matters.
Media- and Communication Partners
Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ)
The “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” (NZZ) looks back on a tradition of more than 200 years. It is a liberal, politically centred quality newspaper, of national stature and international calibre. Headquartered in Zurich, the NZZ occupies a leading position in the Swiss media market.The initials NZZ also stand for a modern, diversified media group which has interests in other newspapers (the “St. Galler Tagblatt”, “Der Bund”, “Neue Luzerner Zeitung”, and others) and printing companies, publishes the monthly magazine “NZZ Folio” and since 2002 the “NZZ am Sonntag”, and operates a highly respected book publishing house.The NZZ also has a strong presence in the electronic media. NZZ Television regularly produces TV programmes which are broadcast in Switzerland and Germany. NZZ Online is the NZZ’s Internet portal that provides visitors with a broad range of services.
Venture Valuation
Venture Valuation specializes in independent assessments and valuations of companies in high-growth markets, such as biotechnology, life sciences and medical technology. Clients include investors as well as companies for financing rounds, licensing deals or fairness opinions. Venture Valuation recently did the fairness opinion for the reverse merger of Arpida and Evolva. Further more, the company also provides information services like the global Biotech Database (www.biotechgate.com) around the world for clients like BioteCANADA, BioCom San Diego, Swiss Stock Exchange SIX, Swiss Biotech, Basel Area, BioAlps, Biopolo, Medicon Valley, Life Sciences Health (Netherlands) and over 25 country databases.
CTI Invest
CTI Invest is a platform where high-tech companies can find early and later stage capital. The deal flow originates out of the Swiss CTI Startup coaching program, out of the portfolio of our investor members or can even be external companies (against a service fee). In addition to the live presentation at the events, the companies can present themselves to the investors through video podcasting.
Swiss Private Equity & Corporate Finance Association (SECA)
The Swiss Private Equity & Corporate Finance Association (SECA) is the representative body for Switzerland‘s private equity, venture capital and corporate finance industries. SECA has the objective to promote private equity and corporate finance activities in Switzerland. Members of the SECA include equity investment companies, banks, corporate finance advisors, auditing companies, management consultants, lawyers and private investors.