Meanwhile, scientific researchers who have links to the University of Basel have been awarded no less than eight (8) Nobel Prizes and two (2) Lasker Awards. Although Watson and Crick discovered the double-helix structure of DNA, Friedrich Miescher is credited with being the first to actually isolate DNA from cells, doing so after completing his medical studies at the University of Basel, and before returning to Basel as a faculty member who was instrumental in literally establishing the entire field of biochemistry!

Imagine the scene in a café in the middle of Basel: A brilliant future Nobel Prize winner is meeting an up-and-coming US-based Chief Scientific Officer of an emerging advanced therapeutics company over an espresso; a professor from D-BSSE connects a start-up CEO with his former scientific protégé, who is now Chief R&D Officer of a large-cap biotech based in Boston. These interactions happen frequently and organically in the Basel biotech ecosystem, which warmly supports and connects innovators operating in the geography.

Funding flows in Basel: Incubators, venture capital and strategic partners

Incubators abound in Basel. Whether it’s the University of Basel’s Innovation Office or BaseLaunch, capital is available for deployment in the geography. BaseLaunch has raised a portfolio of in financing, with an average first VC round of over $28 million per company. Given market conditions like these, it’s not surprising that biotech and healthtech startups have emerged in the region. Although $28 million is the average first VC round for BaseLaunch, the top end of fund-raising achievements in the region is even higher. For example, Windward Bio recently emerged from stealth with a $200 million Series A – a level that’s on par with US-based initial funding rounds from the early 2020s!

Importantly, these Basel-based startups attract investment interest well beyond venture capital. They’re also magnets for strategic partners looking for an acquisition, or founders searching for a robust exit. Recent success stories include:

• VectivBio, acquired by Ironwood Pharmaceuticals for $1 billion
• Fgen, acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks
• NBE Therapeutics, acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim for EUR 1.18 billion
• T3 Pharmaceuticals, acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim for up to CHF 450 million
• Corlieve Therapeutics, acquired by Dutch biotech UniQure

External ecosystem support differentiates Basel

Basel’s life sciences ecosystem thrives on a diverse range of specialized companies that provide critical infrastructure and expertise, supporting both industry giants and innovative startups. For example:

• Lamprecht Pharma Logistics plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of biopharmaceutical supply chains.
• Bucher Biotec AG delivers cutting-edge scientific instruments essential for research and manufacturing excellence.
• Genedata (part of Danaher) is a bioinformatics company that develops enterprise software solutions to accelerate research and development.

These companies add depth and resilience to the Basel ecosystem by offering specialized capabilities to advanced therapeutics organizations of all sizes. Efficient, innovative and solutions-focused, these suppliers add to Basel’s robust and interconnected scientific network.

Leading from the front with CDMOs in Basel

CDMOs perform pivotal work for emerging therapeutics players, enabling biotechs and other advanced therapy companies to scale efficiently and effectively.

Basel is home to Lonza, often recognized as the world’s leading CDMO, as well as many other leading CDMOs such as Bachem (peptides), Celonic (biologics/cell & gene) and Carbogen Amcis (drug product services). Just recently, Corden Pharma announced an expansion of its platform with an investment of at least €500 million to build a greenfield facility. The Basel Area is a top player in this sector of the drug development marketplace, and the pace continues to accelerate with emerging CDMOs like Ten 23 Health pushing forward with new, innovative solutions for complex injectable products.

A magnet for U.S. biotechs with a range of small- and mid-cap biotechs (“SMIDs”)

Although Basel is clearly most famous for being home to powerhouse pharma companies like Roche and Novartis, a range of other variously sized players have also established locations in the area. For example, Moderna, BeiGene and Regeneron are but a few of the large-cap biotechs with Basel offices. An exciting crop of innovative U.S. small- and mid-cap biotechs (“SMIDs”) have also chosen Basel as their European business hub or European base of operations for lab work, including Neurocrine Biosciences, Ultragenyx and Skyhawk Therapeutics.  Regardless of their size, these organizations will often eventually establish and grow a range of functions in their Basel headquarters, from pre-clinical research, clinical operations, medical and regulatory affairs to commercialization, marketing and sales to quality control and supply chain management.