Venture Capital Funding Quarterly
Biotechnology • Pharmaceuticals • Medical Devices
2nd Quarter, 2009 – United States
Published by: VentureDeal
Summary
Life Science companies secured $1.98 billion in venture capital financing during the second quarter of 2009, representing a 15% increase versus the first quarter of 2009. This reverses the downward trend of funding for the three sectors of Biotechnology, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals. The funding was allocated between 184 companies, a 5% increase versus the previous quarter in the aggregate.
The Medical Device sector received the most amount of funding by a significant margin, raising $867 million among 85 companies. The Biotechnology sector came in second with $643 million, representing a 2% increase versus the previous quarter and slightly reversing its previous downward trend. Pharmaceutical startups received $474 million between 39 companies, a 2% decrease in amounts funded.
Funding Activity
Biotechnology
Biotechnology funding reversed its previous downward trend by posting slightly increased funding amounts while the number of companies funded dropped by 17% versus the previous quarter. The largest venture financing during the quarter was Clovis Oncology's mammoth $146 million funding round. The company helps him very early-stage biotech and pharmaceutical development companies continue their R&D efforts for cancer related technologies.
Cempra Pharmaceuticals completed a third round of funding, receiving $46 million from a large syndicate of venture capital firms. The company said it would use the funding proceeds to continue development on its lead macrolide compound and its oral antibiotic for gram-positive infections.