Q1 2016 VentureDeal Quarterly Venture Capital Report
Biotechnology - Medical Devices -
Pharmaceuticals
Life Science companies secured $3.6 billion
in venture capital financing during Q1 2016, representing an increase of 6%
versus Q3 2015. The funding was allocated between 225 companies, a 6% increase.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology funding moved up sharply from
Q3 2015, increasing by 31% during the quarter. The number of companies funded
also increased, by 24% versus the previous recorded period.
Cancer specialist Grail secured $100 million in capital to continue development of its
pre-cancer blood screening technologies. Investors in the round included Bill
Gates, ARCH Venture Partners, Sutter Hill
Ventures, Bezos
Expeditions and corporate investor Illumina.
Redwood City, California-based Pliant
Therapeutics landed $45 million in its Series A round
from Third Rock Ventures and other
undisclosed investors. Pliant said that its “product engine has the potential
to address the needs of many patients by targeting fibrosis in a variety of
organs and conditions.”
Biotechnology
Funding History - to 1st Quarter 2016
Pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical fundings decreased to $753 million,
representing an 11% decrease in amounts funded but a 24% increase in the number
of companies funded vs. Q3 2015.
La Jolla, California-based Orexigen Therapeutics secured the largest
financing round of the quarter, receiving $165 million in venture equity and
debt capital from undisclosed investors, according to an SEC regulatory filing.
The company says that it is making progress in developing a novel, two-drug
approach to achieve and sustain weight loss. Proceeds purposes from the
financing were not disclosed.
Deciphera
Pharmaceuticals of Waltham, Massachusetts, received $15 million in
its Series B equity funding round from venture capital investor SV Life Sciences.
Deciphera will use the funding proceeds to continue developing its lead
tumor-targeting clinical programs, including its Altiratinib and DCC-2618
programs.
Pharmaceutical
Funding History - to 1st Quarter 2016
Medical Devices
Venture capital funding for Medical Device companies dropped
by 22%, resulting in $860 million in aggregate funding during the quarter. The
number of companies funded dropped nominally from the previous period.
The largest funding event during the quarter was $75 million
in Series C investment from a syndicate of private equity, corporate and
venture capital investors for Carlsbad, California-based Acutus Medical.
The company said it would use the proceeds to “continue to develop the entire
suite of AcQMap products necessary to perform any catheter-based procedure”
along with its other clinical programs.
Medical Devices
Funding History - to 1st Quarter 2016
Table 1
Venture Capital
Funding - 1st Quarter 2016
|
Industry
|
Total
Disclosed
Funding
|
% Change
Vs.
Prior Quarter
|
Number of
Companies Funded
|
% Change
Vs.
Prior Quarter
|
|
Biotechnology
|
$1.96
billion
|
+
31 %
|
107
|
+
24 %
|
|
Pharmaceuticals
|
$753
million
|
-
11 %
|
31
|
-
24 %
|
|
Medical Devices
|
$860
million
|
-
22 %
|
87
|
-
1%
|
|
Total
|
$3.6
billion
|
+
6 %
|
225
|
+
6 %
|
This material has been prepared and issued by
VentureDeal. The information contained herein is based on current information
that VentureDeal considers reliable, but we make no representation that it is
accurate in the future or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such.
It is provided with the understanding that VentureDeal is not acting in a
fiduciary capacity.