NOME companies conquering the Bay Area – the 5th NOME US trip
In June 2019, five NOME companies, Gedea Biotech, Gesynta Pharma, MediTuner, Precure and Te?ted Oy, joined NOME on the 5th US trip. For the first time, this NOME US trip took the companies to the Bay Area to an intense 6 days’ workshop organized by the California Life Sciences Institute (CLSI).
The US is the single largest life sciences market and thereby highly attractive for any Nordic life sciences company. For this reason, NOME brings a selected group of companies to the US for a workshop, where the companies get input and advice on US specific topics from local US mentors. Topics such as IP, legal, regulatory, market access, reimbursement were discussed both in a group setting but also in individual one on one sessions with the US mentors. This year, five companies joined NOME for the 5th NOME US trip, 3 Swedish companies (Gedea Biotech, Gesynta Pharma and MediTuner), one Danish company (PRECURE) and one Finish company (Te?ted Oy).
Already in late April, the companies were introduced to their US mentors, who were handpicked for each company by CLSI from their extensive advisor pool. With these introduction calls, the companies and the mentors set the stage for the different topics that would be discussed during their visit to tailor the program as much as possible to each company.
Hosted at the CLSI’s offices in South San Francisco, the 5th NOME US camp kicked off with the companies introducing themselves to the US mentors, prompting lively discussions around the individual cases. This intro session was followed by the first one on one mentoring session and happy hour at the local biotech meetup. Over the next days, the companies worked individually or as a group on topics relevant for them, which included presentations and discussions with both regulatory and reimbursement specialists.
“We joined the program as we are currently looking into the route to market in USA for our product. It was six very intense days filled with lectures by experts in regulatory route, reimbursement, market, investments etc with a focus on the US market, and after each session discussions with the experts as well as the four mentors, being senior advisors in different fields – cmc, ip, market, business – allocated to us the whole time. During the last days, at the international showcase we got a few good contacts with potential collaborators and investors. Really tailor-made for our need for insight in how our product can best reach the american market and a good setting for expanding our network in the SF Bay area and US.”
Annette Säfholm, CEO of Gedea Biotech
“We were amazed by the mentors´ great ideas, concrete advices, network, and passionate engagement in our company! True rock stars!!! This trip is highly recommended for NOME companies who have US plans, but you need to be prepared, open-minded, and ready to be put on the spot. If so, you will get significant value from the trip.”
Finn Bech Andersen, CEO of PRECURE
The trip’s highlight was the “CLSI FAST International Showcase”, where the NOME companies joined the companies from the other CLSI programs, for an interesting evening with company pitches and excellent networking with people from the Bay Area life sciences ecosystem.
In addition to the mentoring session and some business meetings organized by the mentors, the 5th NOME US trip also included several leisure activities. After a run-through of the companies’ pitches, the group headed out to a walking tour of San Francisco on Sunday visiting the iconic Mission Dolores Park, the Castro district, a tram-ride and a leisurely stroll along the piers to dinner with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Furthermore, the NOME companies had the opportunity to network with startups from CLSI’s own program, as well as other advisors and relevant people from the Bay Area.
The NOME ventures gathered many new impressions, expert advice, a clearer road map on how to enter the US market, as well as potential collaboration partners and potential new customers during this trip.
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