Mark Harvey to focus on driving life science investment with AusBiotech

Driving investment in Australian life science companies is the primary focus of AusBiotech’s latest board member, Dr Mark Harvey, who is a partner at CM Capital Investments.

Harvey has spent over 20 years in the life science sector, first as an academic researcher working in cell biology and developmental biology, then working in technology transfer as a part of the lauded UniQuest, attached to the University of Queensland.

He then shifted his attention to the investment end of the sector as managing director of Symbiosis Group Limited, an early stage life sciences investment company.

He has been with CM Capital since 2006, and is a member of the board of directors of Sunshine Heart, a NASDAQ and ASX-listed company developing a treatment for heat failure, Osprey Medical, an ASX-listed medical device company commercialising a coronary catheter system, and Pathway Therapeutics, a clinical-stage oncology company based in San Francisco, using technology that originated in New Zealand.

Given the difficult times life science companies have of attracting investment, Harvey is keen to work with AusBiotech to promote the sector to investors.

“Times are tough at the moment,” Harvey told ALS. “Financing to get early stage technology out of universities is very tight, and the funding available for existing companies is tight as well.

“That said, there are a number of companies that are doing very well, advancing products and kicking goals. These are tough times, but a lot of people are working hard and achieving great things.”

Harvey heartily endorses AusBiotech’s programme of investment summits, and is keen to see them continue.

“The investor forums are just superb at getting investors and companies – both advanced and early stage – into the room,” he said.

As a member of the board, he is aiming to aid AusBiotech in improving the conditions for Australian life science companies to seek investment from the private sector, including working with government to make the sector more attractive to investors.

“AusBiotech plays an important part in the Australian life science industry in financing and finding investors. I want to look at how can we improve the investor market in Australia, and how can we better work with the government to help promote investment in this space.”

Harvey’s appointment to the AusBiotech board was announced on Tuesday.