Amador Bioscience (US) opens first EU branch in Flanders

Californian pharma consultant Amador Bioscience is committed to recruiting 120 biomedical engineers and statisticians in Flanders, more specifically from the University of Hasselt. The new recruits will be working for Amador Bioscience’s first European site on the Health Campus in Diepenbeek, Flanders. In the coming years, Amador Bioscience will invest up to EUR 8.5 million in its Flanders-based site.

As a consultant to small and large biotech and pharma companies, Amador Bioscience has already supported over 100 clinical drug trials in the US and China. The company specializes in the design and simulation of clinical drug tests, among other things, using the power of artificial intelligence and statistical data to make the development process run smoother.For its first European branch, the American company has set up an initial base at the Corda Campus in Hasselt (Flanders), where 250 companies and some 5,000 employees are already active. In time, Amador Bioscience will move to a larger, yet to be built office at the Health Campus Limburg in Diepenbeek, where numerous companies and healthcare organizations are located. The firm has committed to recruiting 120 biostatisticians and biomedical engineers mainly from UHasselt, one of Flanders’ universities, in the coming years.

Strong location and solid reputation

Founded in 2018 by four American specialists with years of experience at major pharma players such as Amgen, AstraZeneca and Novartis, Amador Bioscience already has offices in the US and China. Since its inception, it has raised over EUR 85 million in funding. So why has an American pharma consultant chosen to plant its first European flag in Flanders, more specifically in the province of Limburg?

“Europe is our next key market. Limburg not only has a strategically strong location, but also a solid academic reputation and know-how in life sciences and high-tech. With our experience in the sector, we can boost the development of the pharma industry in Flanders and the rest of Europe.” Bing Wang, CEO and co-founder of Amador Bioscience

Talent found virtually nowhere else

Also crucial in the negotiations leading up to the investment was the proximity of a knowledge institution, more specifically UHasselt, which has a strong reputation in biostatistics. This will come in handy: to triple its workforce in four years, Amador is looking for 120 masters’ graduates in biostatistics or biomedical sciences.The company will recruit and train these profiles internally over the course of six years. “There is an explosive need for such talent, but few educational programs in the US and Europe are delivering them,” the Amador Bioscience team confirms.

“Our university seeks to offer young talent numerous opportunities to develop while providing companies with the highly skilled profiles they need. The arrival of Amador Bioscience is a great illustration of how that works.” Bernard Vanheusden, UHasselt rector

EUR 8.5 million in the pipeline

The Amador site in Flanders is to become a copy of the company’s already existing sites in the US and China. The company will start up its activities in Hasselt before the end of 2021 and, depending on the growth and need, intends to invest up to EUR 8.5 million there in the coming years. That figure could rise even higher if Amador manages to launch clinical drug trials more quickly.

“The Health Campus in Diepenbeek, where Amador will be located, is growing into a major hub of innovation in healthcare, based on interdisciplinary cross-pollination between education, research and businesses.” Tom Vandeput, Limburg's deputy for economics

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