European VCs Launch Life Sciences Coalition to Boost Homegrown Biotech Investment

The European Life Sciences Coalition (ELSC) launched in Brussels in association with Invest Europe to strengthen Europe's biotech and life sciences VC ecosystem by mobilizing public and private capital.13

Members include heavyweight VCs like Novo Holdings, Sofinnova Partners, Forbion, Omega Funds, HealthCap, law firms Cooley and Covington & Burling, and the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB).1245

Coalition members manage over €24 billion in life sciences assets and have invested in or founded more than 1,400 companies.135

ELSC aims to address challenges like fragmented capital markets, regulatory hurdles, and low European VC share (7% globally vs. 63% US), pushing biotechs to list outside EU, by lobbying policymakers for reforms.145

The coalition focuses on structural reforms, not subsidies, to retain innovation in Europe and engage on initiatives like the EU Biotech Act.45

Sources:

1. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/european-life-sciences-coalition-launches-strengthen-continental-biotech-financing

2. https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/12/europe-biotech-startup-funding-venture-investment-coalition/

3. https://pharmatimes.com/news/european-life-sciences-coalition-launched-to-boost-investment-ecosystem/

4. https://www.belganewsagency.eu/flemish-biotech-institute-joins-eu-coalition-to-boost-investment

5. https://european-biotechnology.com/latest-news/europes-life-sciences-investors-step-up-as-biotech-financing-gap-widens/