Europe is at the forefront of the oncology startup scene, yet it is losing its competitive edge in the fastest-growing cancer innovations, according to a report by the European Patent Office (EPO). This study highlights startups that focus on technological advancements in oncology.
The Industrial Property Organization emphasized that cancer poses a major public health challenge in Europe, accounting for nearly 25% of global cases and over 20% of deaths, despite the continent housing under 10% of the world’s population. However, advancements in technology are enhancing survival rates, and European healthcare systems are recognized for their effectiveness in cancer prevention and patient care.
In conjunction with World Cancer Day, the EPO released its second report on cancer-related technologies, detailing the most rapidly growing sectors, including:
- Cellular immunotherapy (with patent applications increasing at an average annual rate of 37.5% from 2015 to 2021)
- Gene therapy (+31%)
- Image analysis (+20%)
The report, titled “New frontiers in oncology: an evolving innovation ecosystem,” reveals that Europe is losing ground in patent applications in these high-growth sectors compared to the US and China, with an average decline of 5 percentage points in the top three sectors. Nevertheless, Europe is home to approximately 1,500 oncology startups, surpassing the 1,325 in the US.
“The findings of this study are a wake-up call for the European innovation system in oncology,” stated EPO President António Campinos, referencing the Mario Draghi Report on the future of European competitiveness. He stressed the need for Europe to adapt to the rapid evolution of cancer technologies in order to maintain its leadership in healthcare innovation and ultimately save lives. While Europe’s thriving oncology startups are promising, they require funding and support to expand their breakthroughs.
European Startups in Early Development Stages
The study indicates that among EPO member states, the United Kingdom leads with 290 oncology-related startups, followed by France with 246 and Germany with 208. However, a clear disparity is noted in the development stages of these startups. While Europe has a greater number of early-stage startups, the US outstrips Europe in scaling those at more advanced stages. Close to 40% of US cancer startups are at this level, contrasted with only 24% in the EU and 27% in other EPO member nations, underscoring the difficulties European startups face in scaling up.
Research Institutions and Universities Drive Cancer Innovation
Additionally, nearly half of all patents from EU countries between 2010 and 2021 were issued by universities, public research organizations, or hospitals. Beyond patent filings, over 12% of cancer-related patent applications in the EU originated from research institutions but were submitted by companies. In other EPO member countries, research institutions accounted for almost 30% of all patents, with 6.4% being filed by companies.
The full study can be accessed on the EPO website: https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/european-startups-forefront-fight-against-cancer
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