In the Pipeline reports that George Freeman, Tory MP and biotech expert, is mustering entrepreneurs, VC groups and angel investors to potentially save the Sandwich R&D site -- specifically it's experienced staff recently displaced by Pfizer's decision to leave.
As reported in The Independent, the investment groups will try to determine if small company investors can employ former Pfizer scientists to create a new crop of spin-out ventures. Apparently, there is some precedence for an effort of this sort to bear fruit as evidenced by several small businesses to emerge from the R&D staff at the soon to close AZ Charnwood site in Leicestershire. Biocity Nottingham enabled some of this activity and is looking to do similar things with the Pfizer staff.
It remains to be seen how many staff want to or are able to make this type of transition from Big Pharma to small company - albeit certain that less than 100% will have the opportunity. How many Angels are out there to offer some chance at salvation?
Posted by Bruce Lehr Feb 8th 2011.
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