Shortening time-to-market

Biovec LLC is a Chicago-based company focused on developing new gene therapy products. The company has established a joint venture with the University of Groningen Holding Company in the Netherlands to conduct clinical research aimed at a viral vector delivery vehicle to be used in coronary by-pass surgery. According to David Wolf, Biovec’s chief operating officer. “It is often less cumbersome to obtain regulatory approval in the EU. As a result, you can normally get a product to market with approval faster in Europe than in the US. Especially when you’re only spending money, the time required for clinical development can either make or break a company.” Biovec chose the Netherlands, and more specifically Groningen, for the availability of English-speaking researchers and Groningen University Hospital’s expertise in cardiovascular therapy and bypass surgery.