Access to US universities

Len Blavatnik, head of US-based conglomerate Access industries, has committed $75m to a new venture capital (VC) firm looking for deals in US academic laboratories.

The VC firm, Access BridgeGap, will back three to five early-stage therapeutics companies per year.

Blavatnik said: "Access BridgeGap is an important part of Access’ growing interest in life sciences and, specifically, therapeutics.

"Access BridgeGap will pursue the commercialization of academic and entrepreneurial innovations that possess the potential to make a major impact on disease…