Australian Biotech Companies are Attracting Attention on the World Stage
The biotech industry globally is showing resilience despite challenging conditions, especially in accessing capital, to continue their journey through research and development to creating global solutions. Australian biotech companies are increasingly attracting attention on the world stage.
Australia’s number of listed biotech companies has grown from 30 in 1999 to 112 a decade later. In comparison the US has within the realm of 330. The Australian biotechnology sector ranks sixth in the world and in the past months has seen some milestone announcements, such as Acrux’s AUD $366.7 million deal with Eli Lilly for the commercialisation of its Axiron treatment.
The global financial crisis has seen more Australian biotechnology companies looking toward alternative methods of financing to capitalise on global opportunities. Australian public companies are increasingly attracting international investment from US and European companies through creative methods of financing.
In the current economic climate, investors are looking for higher, alternative sources of income. Creative funding, including hybrid investments, royalty investments and debt equity investments, provide companies with flexible and less expensive sources of capital to fund their commercialisation or development efforts. Interest in traditional forms of capital is waning during these tough economic times. Smart biotechnology companies are revaluating their finance options and increasingly taking a more creative approach, with excellent results.
Creative global investors will outline new developments and innovative financing options from an international perspective at the year’s industry conference for Australia and Asia Pacific AusBiotech 2010. The conference attracts over 1400 delegates from across the world each year and is renowned for its agenda-setting programs, significant business analysis and world-class Business Matching Program.
Immediately preceding the conference, AusBiotech will host a showcase of local companies at the Australasian Life Science Investment Summit 2010 - providing a one-stop shop for investing in the region. The event provides a snapshot of 40 local biotechnology companies; featuring 20 late-stage companies and 20 of the most promising early-stage companies and giving investors one day of summit program followed by three days of conference program.
Last year’s event was the largest of its kind in this part of the world, with more than 100 investors attending, representing 85 different companies; 32 of which were international participants. The summit attracted a wonderful mix of expertise from national and international investors, including angel investors, venture capitalists, fund managers, investment bankers and representatives of superannuation funds. Venture capital arms of the major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies from Australia, the Asia Pacific region, North America and Europe also attended.
Australasian Life Science Investment Summit, 19 October 2010
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
http://ausbiotech2010.com.au/alsis-home
AusBiotech 2010 National Conference, 20 - 22 October 2010
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
http://ausbiotech2010.com.au/
I hope to see you in Australia in October!
Dr. Anna Lavelle
CEO, AusBiotech
About AusBiotech
AusBiotech is Australia’s biotechnology industry organisation, which represents over 3,000 members, covering the human health, agricultural, medical device, bioinformatics, environmental and industrial sectors in biotechnology.
