Two events - two topics - one connection. Equal weight. Last week, Leipzig and Saxony were doubly characterised by growth and shrinkage - both at the 1st Annual European BioPharma Obesity Innovation Forum (EBOIF) and at the anniversary celebration "25 years of the Saxony Biotechnology Initiative" in Leipzig. By Urs Moesenfechtel
Body, Balance, Biochemistry
On 11 and 12 June 2025, Leipzig became a hotspot for metabolic medicine. With the support of the City of Leipzig, biosaxony e.V. and leap:up GmbH, Sachs Associates organised the European edition of its San Francisco-based format for the first time: the 1st Annual European BioPharma Obesity Innovation Forum (EBOIF). Around 80 participants from Europe, North America and Asia discussed drug research, supply issues and international market trends. On the programme: GLP-1 receptor analogues, multimodal therapies, digital tools for therapy monitoring and new approaches in biosensor technology. Also in focus: guidelines for reimbursement, smarter integration into healthcare systems. The central question: How do we create a healthy balance - biologically, technologically and systemically?
Business, breakthroughs, significance
There is enormous economic potential associated with the fight against body circumference. Despite rising costs and challenges in healthcare systems, the global market for metabolic diseases is estimated to be worth over 100 billion US dollars by 2030. The forum therefore also placed a clear focus on Europe's role as a driver of innovation and the economy. Panels such as "Investing in CardioRenal, Metabolic & Obesity Platforms" dealt with market potential, regulatory strategies and the importance of interdisciplinary alliances - especially for start-ups such as Skye Bioscience (oral CB1R inhibitor), Rejuvenate Biomed (muscle mass maintenance in weight loss), Aphaia Pharma (nasal GLP-1 analogue) and Lipocyte BioMed (fat cell metabolism).
Focal point, base, bridge
With institutions such as the Helmholtz Institute HI-MAG and the newly founded Leipzig Centre of Metabolism (LeiCeM), it is clear that Leipzig is not only the right place for these debates in terms of content, but also structurally. With a growing ecosystem of start-ups and research partners, the city has established itself as a centre for metabolic medicine. There are also numerous spin-offs, funding programmes and start-up centres in Leipzig - from the BioCity Campus and CityLab to innoSpace and SpinLab. The EBOIF thus sent a clear location signal: Leipzig is an active co-creator of global solutions in the field of metabolism and healthcare.
BIO CITY LEIPZIG, BioSquare, Building
Parallel to the conference, the Saxony Economic Development Corporation and the City of Leipzig organised a tour of the BioCity Campus. Stops included the Vita34 / FamiCord AG cell storage facility, the medical:forge start-up centre, the Fraunhofer IZI and the new building of the biotech company c-LEcta. An inner-city life sciences campus is being created on an area of around 50 hectares. 355,000 m² have already been sold or are in use, and a further 105,000 m² of net building land is available exclusively for the industry. Over EUR 395 million has been invested in Leipzig to date. The signs are clearly pointing to growth.
Togetherness, enthusiasm, consistency
Later in the day, the Saxony Biotechnology Initiative celebrated its 25th anniversary in the recently completed new building of OFB Projektentwicklung GmbH, which will be the new home of enzyme developer c-LEcta. Around 150 guests from the worlds of politics, science and business came together to look back on a success story that began a quarter of a century ago and is now a firm pillar of Saxony's innovation landscape. Marc Struhalla, Managing Director of c-LEcta, emphasised that the new building symbolises structural progress and a change in thinking in the industry.
Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer recalled with a smile the beginnings of the initiative, which was seen by many as a bad investment at the time and has now turned out to be a great success. Since 2000, the Free State of Saxony has invested over one billion euros in biotechnology. Today, Saxony has more than 2,700 companies in the health and biotech sector, which employ around 15,000 people - 5,300 of them in Leipzig alone.
Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter described this development as a model for success, but also referred to the shrinking budget. Despite the upcoming financial restrictions, the state wants to continue to vigorously support the biotech location and promote growth. The fact that this location is characterised by a remarkable dynamism was demonstrated on this day not only by the balance sheets, but also by the prospects. Several young companies provided impressive examples of the innovative strength of Saxony's biotech cluster. These included the Leipzig start-up Primogene, Seamless Therapeutics and Cancilico. ignite:medical, which is still in the process of being established, also presented itself. It sees itself as a link between medical needs and technical solutions and focuses on the close integration of clinics, technology development and start-up culture.
View, balance, biotope
Both the Obesity Forum and the anniversary celebration provided a snapshot of current developments and emphasised how Saxony - and Leipzig in particular - is resolutely expanding its role as a dynamic player in the healthcare and biotechnology sector. Those who stepped onto the roof terrace of the future c-LEcta building at the end of the event got a direct impression of the progress made: the view of the Alte Messe Leipzig site clearly revealed how much the location has developed in recent years. André Hofmann, Deputy Chairman of biosaxony e.V., emphasised in this context that the visible growth is the result of many years of cooperation, mutual support and a common strategic orientation with the aim of positioning Saxony competitively in the international arena in the long term.
To the anniversary video "25 years of the Saxony Biotechnology Initiative" by Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH
