Bio in St. Louis

A lot is shaking in the bio-sector and life sciences in St. Louis.

Over 390 firms in plant and life sciences employ 22,000 people in greater St. Louis. These companies poduce an annual direct and indirect economic impact of $10.5 billion according to the St. Louis RCGA estimates.

St. Louis is also home to a variety of firms that are supportive to growing plant and life science firms, providing the support that scientific entrepreneurs need. One such source of support is the Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, a non-profit incubator for plant and life science firms. In 2001, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center opened, further enhancing St. Louis' position as a national center for plant and life science research.

Saint Louis University has been designated as one of the six sites for viral clinical trials for a potential AIDS vaccine and is part of a related national study. Washington University fas founded BioMed 21, a $300 million strategic initiative with the Center of Genomics and human Genetics, Division of Clinical Sciences, and the Center for Biological Imaging. Saint Louis University and Washington University together received over $420 million in NIH funding in 2003.

In the last year 8 St. Louis companies have received over $30 million in venture capital funds. Currently St. Louis has six local venture capital funds, with $300 million raised for investment in biotech and medical companies. The St. Louis life science venture funds are Ascension Health Ventures, BioGenerator Fund, Oakwood Medical Investors, Prolog Capital, RiverVest Venture Partners, and Vectis Life Science Fund.

More here.