Biotecnol
Encyclopedia
Biotecnol S.A. is a Portuguese
research
-based biotechnology
company headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal. About 90% of the workforce and about 80% of the annual budget are devoted to research.
The company's core activities centre around the development of novel biopharmaceuticals for therapeutic use, using bacterial, yeast and mammalian expression systems. The company operates a hybrid business model around these activities, providing protein expression and process development services for clients, from the laboratory up to clinical trial material for use in humans: the revenues from the services side of the company partly fund the development of an internal pipeline of products in the oncology field, based around recombinant antibodies.
science park in Oeiras near Lisbon
, Portugal
and the research and development facilities were located nearby. The company was funded through a mixture of private funding (72%) and Portuguese venture capital (28%).
During Q1 2006, Biotecnol consolidated all its activities into the current facility, a fully integrated 800 m2 biologics development facilities and offices at Lagoas Park in Oeiras, Portugal. To further complement this, and to expand activities into North America, Biotecnol has also established a wholly owned subsidiary, Biotecnol Pharmaceuticals Inc, in Durham, North Carolina, USA in 2008.
In addition to these activities, Biotecnol also co-founded the Portuguese Bio-Industries Association (APBio) in 1998 to promote the development of a biotechnological industry in Portugal. APBio is part of the European Bioindustries Association (EuropaBio
), which represents over 600 European companies.
at King's College
, London, he used his expert know-how to help create & oversee all of Biotecnol's research programmes, and take control of all intellectual property issues. Dr de Noronha Pissarra has worked at numerous institutions, including King's College, London, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, USA and the Centre for Biotechnology of the Technical University of Denmark
, Lyngby. To complement this scientific training he has also obtained a Master's Degree in science and technology management and commercialisation.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
-based biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
company headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal. About 90% of the workforce and about 80% of the annual budget are devoted to research.
The company's core activities centre around the development of novel biopharmaceuticals for therapeutic use, using bacterial, yeast and mammalian expression systems. The company operates a hybrid business model around these activities, providing protein expression and process development services for clients, from the laboratory up to clinical trial material for use in humans: the revenues from the services side of the company partly fund the development of an internal pipeline of products in the oncology field, based around recombinant antibodies.
History
Starting from a total workforce of just two in 1997, Biotecnol operated as a consultancy company, providing consultancy services to Portuguese pharmaceutical companies, and also European biotech companies. Furthermore, several R&D grants, both from the Portuguese government and the European Commission, complemented the financing of the company activities. In 2000, Biotecnol attracted its first investment and was able to begin independent activities. This allowed Biotecnol to develop into the first pharmaceutical biotech research & development-driven company in Portugal. Further in 2002 Biotecnol accomplished further financing, which allowed Biotecnol to start implementing its actual business model, and which also allowed the transition of Biotecnol from a "technology development" company to a "product development" company. The company's early administrative quarters were located in the TagusParkTaguspark
Taguspark is a science and technology park located in the municipality of Oeiras, Greater Lisbon subregion, Portugal. In an area of approximately 3.6 km², 2 km² of which are occupied by the Park, there are several research and development labs, innovative startups and business incubators in a range...
science park in Oeiras near Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and the research and development facilities were located nearby. The company was funded through a mixture of private funding (72%) and Portuguese venture capital (28%).
During Q1 2006, Biotecnol consolidated all its activities into the current facility, a fully integrated 800 m2 biologics development facilities and offices at Lagoas Park in Oeiras, Portugal. To further complement this, and to expand activities into North America, Biotecnol has also established a wholly owned subsidiary, Biotecnol Pharmaceuticals Inc, in Durham, North Carolina, USA in 2008.
In addition to these activities, Biotecnol also co-founded the Portuguese Bio-Industries Association (APBio) in 1998 to promote the development of a biotechnological industry in Portugal. APBio is part of the European Bioindustries Association (EuropaBio
EuropaBio
EuropaBio is Europe's largest and most influential biotech industry group, whose members include Monsanto, Bayer and other biotechnology companies...
), which represents over 600 European companies.
The founders
Biotecnol was founded jointly by Dr Pedro de Noronha Pissarra, the current chairman and chief executive officer, and Dr Andrew Kelly, the chief scientific officer. Dr Kelly's training included work as part of the European Community ECLAIR-funded project on commercially significant phytopathogenic fungi. After work on Escherichia coliEscherichia coli
Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms . Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls...
at King's College
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, London, he used his expert know-how to help create & oversee all of Biotecnol's research programmes, and take control of all intellectual property issues. Dr de Noronha Pissarra has worked at numerous institutions, including King's College, London, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, USA and the Centre for Biotechnology of the Technical University of Denmark
Technical University of Denmark
The Technical University of Denmark , often simply referred to as DTU, is a university just north of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in 1829 at the initiative of Hans Christian Ørsted as Denmark's first polytechnic, and is today ranked among Europe's leading engineering institutions, and the...
, Lyngby. To complement this scientific training he has also obtained a Master's Degree in science and technology management and commercialisation.