Finance Watch

Public Company Edition: While panelists at Biotech Showcase argued merging with a special purpose acquisition corporation is not as attractive as it used to be, firms continue to pursue this go-public alternative. Also, Hillstream launched a small IPO and Cytokinetics accessed cash from Royalty Pharma. 

Private Company Edition: NVCA and Pitchbook data show pharma and biotech companies raised $37.8bn in venture capital in 2021, up 41% from the record $26.8bn total in 2020. Recent mega-rounds include $190m for Maze and $200m for Alumis, and Sound Bioventures raised a €110m fund.

Public Company Edition: Mergers with special purpose acquisition corporations also continue to take companies public, with three new SPAC offerings in late 2021. Also, Xeris raised $30m in a private placement of stock to support its recently approved drug and Sirnaomics went public in Hong Kong.

Private Company Edition: Omega Funds closed its seventh venture capital fund, far exceeding its $500m goal. Also, Anaveon raised a CHF110m ($119.8m) series B round, Ambys brought its series A total to $107m with $47m in additional investment and Mythic launched with a $103m series B round.

Public Company Edition: Genenta, Cingulate, ImmixBio, Bionomics and NeuroSense launched initial public offerings, grossing just $118m between them. But Amylyx, with a recently filed ALS drug, has filed to raise up to $100m. In follow-on offerings, Legend took advantage of ASH goodwill to raise $300m. 

Private Company Edition: Newpath Partners’ second fund totals $350m, Merck KGaA committed €600m to M Ventures, Eir Ventures raised €122.3m and Breakout Ventures has $112.5m. Recent financings were led by SOTIO ($317.5m), Odyssey ($218m), Avistone ($200m) and Acepodia ($109m).

Public Company Edition: It has been almost a month since a biopharma firm launched an IPO in the US, but special purpose acquisition corporations continue to take drug makers public, including Alvotech and Aerami. Outside the US, MaaT closed an IPO in Paris and BeiGene priced a Shanghai offering.

Private Company Edition: Scrip spoke with DDF US partner Jonathan Behr about the convergence of emerging science, venture capital investment and rising big pharma interest in neurodegeneration. Also, in recent VC financings HotSpot raised $100m, while Curie and Ablaze debuted with $75m each. 

Private Company Edition: Recent VC financings across biopharma sectors include three major mega-rounds as Generate Biomedicines bringing in $370m, followed by $250m for Acelyrin and $125m for Chroma Medicine. Also, Treadwell raised a $91m series B and Ncardia brought in $60m-plus.

Public Company Edition: SVB Leerink predicts a rebound from an ongoing trough in biotech stock valuations during the second quarter of 2022. Also, Vaxxinity launched the third US IPO of November, bringing the year’s total to 102 and BridgeBio led recent financings with a $750m debt agreement. 

Private Company Edition: Arbor is developing drugs based on proprietary gene editors, Acrivon is applying proteomics to precision cancer therapies, and bit.bio is producing differentiated cell products. Also, Marengo launches with $80m, Sanofi invests up to $60m in Gyroscope and Shasqi raises $50m.

Public Company Edition: Blade will merge with a special purpose acquisition corporation to go public, Bluebird spins out 2seventy with $442m in cash and Compass raises $125m in a move to the Nasdaq.