Forbion’s Post

My only New Year’s resolution this year is to consistently think and act more positively.   So, as we're 10 days into the New Year I thought I'd share 10 reasons why we should be optimistic about the Life Sciences sector in 2024 🚀   1️⃣  The Life Sciences sector is currently sitting on $1.37 Trillion in available capital for M&A   2️⃣ Goldman Sachs closes a Life Sciences fund at $650M targeting early-mid stage biotech start-ups   3️⃣ Within the first 3 days of 2024 we saw $361.5M invested across 5 biotech's   4️⃣ JPM Conference has set the tone with huge M&A activity closing notable deals in the ADC, cell therapy, autoimmune and immuno-oncology fields   5️⃣ CGT continues to thrive with an expected 17 new therapies to be approved in the US and EU, with a forecasted market cap of $80B by 2029   6️⃣ 2024 expected to be remembered as a turning point in Life Sciences evolution as the sector aims to harness AI with integration in marketing, operations, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, precision targeting and more!   7️⃣ Radiopharma on the rise with improved science that has shifted the diagnostic/therapeutics balance targeting cancer at a cellular level, and advancement in clinical programs across broader therapy areas   8️⃣ Optimism in the IPO market as high interest rates begin to ease   9️⃣ The new world of work driving change in the talent landscape opening opportunity for transformational leaders and diverse thinking   🔟 I made it into the top 25% of Recruiters on LinkedIn last year, so expect to hear a lot more from me in 2024 😁   #lifesciences #biotech #pharma #fraserdove

I gave an interview where I briefly describe our investment strategy, share some thoughts on biotech, and outline my professional career

With ASCO in the rear-view mirror and drug development capital beginning to loosen in private and public markets, please keep us in mind for any PhD or MD level engagements or hiring to help solve your preclinical & clinical development challenges. Check out this comprehensive article from our friends at #bowtiedbiotech about public and private capital allocation from Q1 2024. Let's hope the headwinds are settling and smoother sailing is ahead. https://lnkd.in/esbqmzCT

As we move quickly through Q3 (does anyone else feel like it should still be March?!) I wanted to pause briefly and reflect on the investment landscape for European Biotech's so far this year. After a challenging couple of years there is reason for cautious optimism - do you agree? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Follow Nexa Life Sciences for regular market insights and updates! #biotech #investment https://lnkd.in/eh2WC3fx

For my LinkedIn Life Sciences investment network - I'm helping our University of California, Riverside spin-out Armida Labs raise an equity capital round. Reach out to me for more details. 🚀 Exciting News from Armida Labs! 🚀   We are thrilled to announce that Armida Labs is currently raising funds to propel our mission of revolutionizing drug discovery. Our innovative approach in developing covalent medicines positions us at the forefront of a paradigm shift in therapeutics.   Why invest? Armida Labs is pioneering a unique strategy to expand the target space of covalent drugs, unlocking new opportunities in precision medicine. With recent SBIR milestones and promising developments in targeting underexplored residues, we are well-positioned to drive significant advancements in drug discovery and development.   #DrugDiscovery #CovalentMedicines #InvestmentOpportunity #Biotech #Innovation

Japan to back $300m UK life science fund The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) is set to back the $200m-300m third fund of UK life science investment firm 4BIO Capital. Announced today, the DBJ – a development bank owned by the Japanese government – has entered an agreement to finance the final close of the UK-based 4BIO Ventures III fund, alongside Japanese pharmaceutical group Kyowa Kirin and paediatric health group Children’s Minnesota. The investment represents the first backing of a UK life science fund from the sovereign development bank of Japan. The fund is targeting private firms developing advanced cell and gene therapy, microbiome support, RNA-based therapy and other emerging technologies in the health tech sector. The London-based investor previously led the £20m Series A for Cambridge-based biotech firm ViaNautis. “At 4BIO Capital, we strongly believe that advanced therapies and other emerging technologies are the future of healthcare,” said 4BIO Capital managing partner Dmitry Kuzmin. “Our journey through Ventures II brought significant validation to our early-stage creation and incubation strategy, as seen by the upsized and oversubscribed financings of Entact Bio, Code Bio, and Ray Therapeutics as well as the continued success of our existing portfolio.” DBJ vice president Mami Matsunaga said: “4BIO Capital are true experts in company creation and incubation of some of the most exciting science in biotech. “Its network and knowledge of the advanced therapies sector in the UK, Japan and globally makes them the perfect partner.” In December 2022, the Japanese and British governments jointly formed the UK-Japan Digital Council to explore collaborative tech projects between the nations. #news #technews #technical

Japan to back $300m UK life science fund. The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) is set to back the $200m-300m third fund of UK life science investment firm 4BIO Capital. Announced today, the DBJ – a development bank owned by the Japanese government – has entered an agreement to finance the final close of the UK-based 4BIO Ventures III fund, alongside Japanese pharmaceutical group Kyowa Kirin and paediatric health group Children’s Minnesota. The investment represents the first backing of a UK life science fund from the Sovereign Development Bank of Japan. The fund is targeting private firms developing advanced cell and gene therapy, microbiome support, RNA-based therapy and other emerging technologies in the health tech sector. The London-based investor previously led the £20m Series A for Cambridge-based biotech firm ViaNautis. “At 4BIO Capital, we strongly believe that advanced therapies and other emerging technologies are the future of healthcare,” said 4BIO Capital managing partner Dmitry Kuzmin. “Our journey through Ventures II brought significant validation to our early-stage creation and incubation strategy, as seen by the upsized and oversubscribed financings of Entact Bio, Code Bio, and Ray Therapeutics as well as the continued success of our existing portfolio.” DBJ vice president Mami Matsunaga said: “4BIO Capital are true experts in company creation and incubation of some of the most exciting science in biotech. “Its network and knowledge of the advanced therapies sector in the UK, Japan and globally makes them the perfect partner.” In December 2022, the Japanese and British governments jointly formed the UK-Japan Digital Council to explore collaborative tech projects between the nations. #news #technews #technical

🚀 Tata Capital Healthcare Fund Invests $20 Million in Orbicular Pharmaceutical Technologies! 🚀 We are thrilled to announce that Tata Capital Healthcare Fund (TCHF) has invested approximately $20 million in Orbicular Pharmaceutical Technologies Private Limited. This significant investment will expedite the development of Orbicular's robust product pipeline. 🔍 About the company: Orbicular Pharmaceutical Technologies, based in Hyderabad, is a pioneering company dedicated to developing innovative pharmaceutical solutions for regulated markets. 👥 Meet the Leadership Team: Dr. M.S. Mohan: Founder and CEO , Dr. Mohan has a rich background in pharmaceutical sciences and innovation. His vision and expertise have driven Orbicular’s success in developing a strong product pipeline for regulated markets. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Mohan's leadership ensures the company remains at the forefront of pharmaceutical advancements. Vikas Khattar : MD and Co-Head of Investment Banking and ECM at Ambit, Vikas played a pivotal role in facilitating the investment deal, leveraging his extensive experience in investment banking to support Orbicular’s growth. Ritesh Desai : Executive Director of Pharma & Healthcare Investment Banking, Ritesh’s strategic insights and industry knowledge have been crucial in forging this partnership, ensuring Orbicular receives the support needed to scale its innovations. 📈 Funding Details: Investment: $20 million by Tata Capital Healthcare Fund. Purpose: To accelerate the development of Orbicular's product pipeline and drive growth in regulated markets. Key Facilitators: Vikas Khattar and Ritesh Desai played pivotal roles in securing this investment, bringing their extensive expertise in the pharmaceutical and healthcare investment sectors. 🌟 Vision: Visalakshi Chandramouli: Managing Partner, Tata Capital Healthcare Fund, highlighted the fund's commitment to supporting dynamic teams and identifying major industry shifts. “Under the able leadership of Dr. M.S. Mohan has developed a strong product pipeline for the regulated markets. We are proud to support the dynamic team at Orbicular and be a part of their growth story," she said. 🌟 Aspirants Space Encouragement : Orbicular’s growth journey is set to create numerous opportunities for top talent in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. If you're passionate about contributing to innovative healthcare solutions, this is an exciting time to get involved! 👉 Use the services of Aspirants Space (https://lnkd.in/gYkc-Ni8 ) to hire top aspirants for your growth and expansion! #AspirantsNews #FundingSuccess #Pharmaceuticals #OrbicularPharma #HealthcareInnovation #StartupGrowth #Investment

Are you a faculty member or trainee engaged in life science research? If so, please join PCI and Autobahn Labs, Inc. this Friday, April 12th for an info session and lunch. Come learn how Autobahn identifies high-value proposals and leverages industry resources to supercharge academic drug discovery. Following a short presentation on Autobahn's model, attendees will have the opportunity to network with members of the Autobahn team, PCI, and other drug hunters in the UPenn community. Autobahn Labs is a venture-backed accelerator that develops novel drugs by partnering with academics. We invest in the best ideas in academic biotech and take a high throughput approach to de-risking projects. Autobahn works closely with PIs at 7 university partners and has funded 12 programs spanning a breadth of disease areas and modalities. Model Highlights: -Partner with academics on drug discovery -Transform early-stage research projects into de-risked development candidates -Initial investment up to $1M with R&D to de-risk projects at all stages -Maximize value for stakeholders and accelerate drug development -Commitment to providing valuable feedback on any project Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/gxwY7CRn

🚀 Private Financing for Life Science Tools and Diagnostics Firms Surges in H1 2024: Have We Turned the Corner? 🤔📈 According to Genomeweb private investment in life science tools and diagnostics surged in H1 2024, with a 53% increase, totaling $1.39 billion compared to $907.4 million in H1 2023. The number of transactions rose by 7%, and the average transaction size increased by 39% to $31.6 million. Major Deals: 👉 Freenome led with a $254 million fundraising round, backed by Roche, ARK Investments, and Bain Capital Life Sciences. 👉 BillionToOne and Alamar Biosciences followed with substantial rounds of $130 million and $128 million, respectively. 👉 Karius also closed a significant funding round, raising over $100 million. This trend reflects a stabilization in valuations, making the sector more attractive to investors. The market reset post-2021, leading to a more grounded valuation landscape. Investors show growing interest in precision medicine, AI-driven diagnostics, and proteomics. Women's health and early cancer detection are also highlighted as hot areas for investment. 🤔 Critical Takeaway: While the uptick in financing suggests renewed confidence, it's worth questioning whether we've truly turend the corner. The bounce-back in funding could be fleeting, with market stability still in question due to macroeconomic and political insability as well as regulatory uncertainties due to the recent FDA LDT rule in the US and the continuing challenges with implementation of IVDR in Europe. 🔗 (Paywall) https://lnkd.in/dfc3zuFB