CNBC Covers Record Funding in Colorado, the Hub for Health Impact
CNBC coverage highlights the growth and momentum of life sciences in Colorado, including record funding, top talent, innovative collaborations with leading academic and research institutions, and investments in lab space.
Colorado Bioscience Association: Record Fundraising
“Investors from Colorado as well as across the coasts are seeing opportunities here,” said Elyse Blazevich, president and CEO of the Colorado Bioscience Association. “Our ecosystem has raised in excess of a billion dollars for the past seven consecutive years — and early-stage funding in Colorado in 2023 grew faster than other life sciences markets around the country.”
The Colorado Bioscience Association plays a pivotal role in supporting the region’s life sciences sector. Notably, the association says the consistent rise in funding, with early-stage funding surpassing other markets in 2023, indicates robust growth and potential for further innovation.
BioMed Realty: Bold Investments
San Diego-based BioMed Realty’s acquired the Flatiron Park life sciences campus in Boulder for $625 million.
“This was a logical next step … to invest in Boulder and scale,” Tim Schoen, BioMed Realty’s president and CEO, told CNBC. “Boulder has all the elements you want in an innovation ecosystem — research universities, scientists, venture capital, and then ourselves who provide the mission-critical infrastructure.”
Edgewise Therapeutics: A Serial Entrepreneur’s Success Story
Entrepreneur Kevin Koch’s journey exemplifies the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. Co-founder of Array BioPharma, Koch’s company was acquired for over $10 billion, demonstrating the region’s track record of success. Koch’s current venture, Edgewise Therapeutics, continues to thrive, showcasing the region’s conducive environment for startups and talent.
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: Fostering Innovation
At the heart of Denver’s biggest suburb, Aurora, lies the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, an academic medical campus at the forefront of transformative education, science, medicine, and healthcare. The campus’s Center for Drug Discovery utilizes state-of-the-art technology to expedite drug development, potentially revolutionizing treatment timelines and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
Colorado’s ascent as a life sciences powerhouse underscores the convergence of innovation, investment, and collaboration, positioning the region as a global leader in biotech advancements around the country.