THE region's growing life sciences economy has received a boost, after a specialist Cambridge company announced it was coming to the North-East.

Ithaka Life Sciences, which provides consultancy and management services, is opening an office at Netpark, near Sedgefield, County Durham.

The Centre of Excellence for Life Science (Cels) and regional development agency One NorthEast hope Netpark will mirror the success of Cambridge, which has an internationally renowned cluster of life science businesses.

Dr Ian Robson, Cels business development director, said: "Ithaka has already provided consultancy support to a number of university spin-outs in the region.

"Its decision to set up an office in the North-East is significant. It emphasises not only the excellent research taking place within the region's universities, but is also recognition that our efforts to grow the region's economy are starting to pay off.

"By attracting businesses such as Ithaka, we will ensure that the North-East's life science economy has the expertise necessary to support burgeoning companies in the sector. "