BIA and Informa Pharma Intelligence Announce UK Biotech Raised $1.7 billion in 2019

On Jan. 22, 2020, the United Kingdom’s BioIndustry Association (BIA) and Informa Pharma Intelligence announced that the UK biotech sector raised £1.3 billion (US$1.7 billion) in 2019. This was the third highest year recorded and investment has increased more than 400% since 2012, the report said.

According to a BIA press release, other highlights from the report include:

• More than £679 million (US$889 million) was raised in venture capital, £64 million (US$83 million) was raised in Initial Public Offerings, and £596 million (US$780 million) in all other public financings.

• Over £1billion (US$ 1.3 billion) plus of investment has been raised over five consecutive years.

• The UK is the leading cluster in Europe for amounts raised through venture capital, which makes up 26% of the continent’s total.

• The long-term growth of 400% since 2012 has guaranteed the UK’s position as the third global life-sciences cluster.

“The investment landscape has been perceived as challenging due to both national and global uncertainty, but the amount raised by UK biotech companies has continued its upward trend in 2019,” said Kate Rowley, investment director, Bioscience Managers, in the press release. “Despite the continued uncertainty from the global political arena, there are many who see the opportunity to support life sciences as a worthy investment and these investments should help to underpin growth in the sector in 2020 and beyond.”

“Globally, investment into life-sciences companies remains fairly robust. In the past five years, the global sector has raised more than $140 billion in equity,” said Mike Ward, head of content, EBD Europe, in the press release. “Consequently, biotechs have the resources to translate groundbreaking science into clinically effective solutions for patients. In Europe, the UK has maintained its pre-eminent position, accounting for just over a quarter of total VC funding in 2019.”

Source: BIA