This week’s monthly meeting of the networking group “Jerusalem BioCity” showed just how much the city has emerged commercially. Once, the domain of bureaucrats and tourists, Israel’s capital now hosts venture capitalists with significant clout, in addition to world class working spaces and financial support from the public sector, all dedicated to the health community.

The meeting ‘s key speaker was Dr. Zvi Karni (middle of the picture), the CEO of Alma Lasers, who delivered an excellent summary of his company’s successes.

He was preceded by four leaders of Jerusalem-based medical or bio start ups, each offering a new solution in their individual fields. What I found fascinating is that most had created a solid business model and had found financing, despite being lodged in the supposed commercial backwater of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem BioCity is at the fulcrum of a change that has global impact. If you google the phrase ‘Jerusalem bio / pharma’, you discover an amazingly vast spectrum of IP. Two of the key factors in this development are the city’s leading hospitals and its multi-campused university. For example:

ITEM ONE: Asana Bio Group Ltd. has invested $2.3 million in the Lumir Lab, located at the Hebrew University, that will provide clinical trial services to companies that are developing a wide range of medical cannabis-based products in a bid to help them get widespread legitimacy.

ITEM TWO: An new HIV drub, developed by Zion Medical in Jerusalem, appears to be “99% effective”.

ITEM THREE: Now at Phase 3 stage for its leading product, Gamida has filed for a US$69 million IPO on NASDAQ.

What next? Keep googling. Blink and you could miss it.