2014年7月22日訊 /生物谷BIOON/ --根據(jù)美國媒體統(tǒng)計，在剛剛過去的2014年，各大風投公司在生物醫(yī)藥領域投放的資金達到了18億美元之多，這也比去年同期水平激增了約30％左右。相關分析人士表示，造成這一現(xiàn)象的重要原因是，從去年延續(xù)至今的生物醫(yī)藥產(chǎn)業(yè)IPO熱潮為各大風投公司提供了一次絕好的投資機會。同時市場對生物醫(yī)藥公司研發(fā)的追捧也促使生物醫(yī)藥產(chǎn)業(yè)的兼并重組，這無形中又促進了風投公司的投資熱情。
然而，隨著今年兩個季度的IPO熱潮，今年生物醫(yī)藥公司IPO的勢頭似乎已經(jīng)呈現(xiàn)出衰退的趨勢。一些生物技術公司由于未能在資本市場上獲得足夠的重視而被迫放棄了IPO計劃。不過這是否是生物醫(yī)藥投資市場的拐點還需要時間來驗證。
詳細英文報道：
Biotechs raked in a whopping $1.8 billion in venture cash last quarter, the industry's biggest haul since PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association started keeping track in 1995.
According to PwC and NVCA's latest MoneyTree Report, based on data from Thomson Reuters, biotech's record sum came from 122 deals, representing a 61% jump in dollars and a 9% increase in transactions over the previous quarter. The total was propped up by a couple of megadeals--Intarcia Therapeutics' $200 million raise and Proteus Digital Health's $119.5 million round--but, subtracting those outliers, biotech still pulled off a nearly 30% jump over the prior period.
The industry's stellar fundraising quarter is due in part to a virtuous cycle for biotechs, PwC life sciences partner Greg Vlahos said. The IPO boom has provided VCs with some very real exit opportunities, he said, and the public markets' warm reception to drug developers has pushed M&A valuations skyward. Combined, those factors have led to a great deal of liquidity for investors, allowing VCs to quickly put together new funds and back more companies.
"It is a cycle that we see, and a positive cycle," Vlahos told FierceBiotech. "So that does bode well for the industry."
Whether it can keep rolling remains to be seen, however. The market for biotech IPOs has recently taken a turn for the bearish after two quarters of widespread success, forcing a few entrants to cancel, delay or significantly reduce their offerings. If Wall Street interest dries up, VCs might start to see exit signs switching off, thereby constraining their willingness to invest.
But Vlahos believes things will largely stay on the up and up. It would be unrealistic to expect a run of double-digit biotech debuts every quarter, he said, but companies with strong stories and promising assets should still be able to make it out the IPO window, however narrow.
"I would say we're cautiously optimistic," Vlahos said, adding that the VCs he talks to expect a market correction, but nothing on the level of a sector-wide downturn.
Meanwhile, a stable of biotech's biggest backers is out raising new funds. Last week, Sofinnova Ventures, Versant Ventures and Essex Woodlands each revealed fundraising plans, seeking a combined $1.6 billion to fuel new investments. The three join a bevy of biotech VCs amassing or unveiling new funds over the last 12 months, following Arch Venture Partners and its April filing to raise a $250 million 8th fund. In February, the U.K.'s Abingworth closed a $375 million raise, while early-stage backer 5AM Ventures revealed a $250 million second close in December, and VC giant OrbiMed launched a $735 million fund the month prior.
