A kind of speed dating came to the biotechnology and pharmacy sectors yesterday, with Irish companies meeting key US buyers and contacts at an event organised by Enterprise Ireland.

The project 'BioPharma Opportunities - The US and Ireland' is part of the agency's strategy to support the indigenous biotech sector and involved Irish companies meeting 13 key players from the US, including representatives from Biogen, Pfizer, Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Among the 21 Irish companies were Eirx Therapeutics, NeuroCure, Newport Pharmaceuticals, Biotrin, Cellix and Armatus. A number of the Irish companies had connections with third-level institutions.

At a special matchmaking event yesterday, 114 meetings took place over four hours yesterday in the Westin Hotel, Dublin.

"Multiple meetings mean multiple opportunities," according to Ms Marina Donohoe of Enterprise Ireland.

"It is a kind of first date, as the fist impression counts," commented Mr Ian Hayes, chief executive officer of Eirx Therapeutics, which is based in Cork. He added that it was an effective way to find and do business with companies.

The reaction from the US attendees was also positive.

"Not all matchmaking will be of direct interest," according to Dr Roger Hill, director in the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases at Pfizer global research and development in Gronton, Connecticut, but two or three will be of central interest, he said.

He met around 15 companies yesterday.

"But we can review all the opportunities and pass information to other divisions. It is worth the time."

As well as key buyers, the US visitors included figures from government and academia. Among these were representatives of Cornell University, Albert Einstein University, Rice University and the National Institute of Health.