Funding and Investments

What the current lack of venture capital means for the CRO market.

Small biotechs were forced to restructure and downsize.

The meltdown in the financial markets represents a sea change in the world of financing that will continue to affect the flow of much needed capital into the sector for the foreseeable future.

The biotech industry's year-to-date report card contains good grades despite the turbulent economic climate.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has announced that his agency is amending its budget request for FY 2009 to include an additional $275 million for the FDA.

Following the market crisis of the first quarter of 2008, biotech IPOs and financing are down, but partnering continues, and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) remain hot.

Despite the rising fears about a slowing economy, the biotech industry will continue to maintain its momentum this year.

The biopharmaceutical sector can look forward to a financially flush venture funding environment in 2008

Like a snowball rolling down Mt. Everest, stem- cell research was gaining momentum, not only in political and medical arenas, but on Wall Street, too.

Venture capital activity in Ireland grew 25.7% in the first half of 2005 compared with the same period in 2004. New life-sciences venture capital funds have been established and existing firms have ramped up their activity in the sector.

The ripple effects of 9/11 are still being felt, creating changes among individuals, businesses, and government organizations. The biotech community is no different; companies are taking a new look at the way they do business and shifting their focuses in response to new opportunities presented by federal preparedness programs. In 2004, President Bush signed "Project BioShield," a bill that made $5.6 billion in federal funds available over a 10-year period to develop countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack. An additional $2.5 billion was added to the initiative in 2005. Numerous grants and contracts have already been awarded to companies developing innovative prophylactic measures, treatments, and diagnostic tools to be used in the event of a biological attack.