The credit crunch is strangling biotech. And with no access to capital, the only way out is to sell to big pharma.

As stock markets turn their backs on the high-risk sectors, France Biotech’s annual survey reveals the depths to which investment has fallen.

The pan-European biotech industry association has called for an end to the ten-year ban on genetically modified crop approvals.

The industry body France Biotech has changed its statutes of association to allow innovative life science companies to be more widely represented.

EuropaBio confirmed the appointment of Willy De Greef as Secretary General following the retirement of Johan Vanhemelrijck on 1 July.

Switzerland’s biotech sector enjoyed healthy growth in 2007, according to the latest annual report of the industry body, Swiss Biotech.

The tightening financial scene presents fresh perils for start-ups. Experts gathered together by the a UK regional biotech initiative suggest some coping strategies, Nuala Moran discovers.

Turmoil in the financial markets is having a disproportionate impact on biotech – and coupled with extra caution from regulators, is threatening innovation.