Science 37 Blockbuster SPAC Valuation Points To Growth In Decentralized Trials

Founded in 2014, Los Angeles-based Science 37 announced in May that it would trade on the public market through a merger with LifeSci Acquisition II Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter, will value Science 37 at $1.05bn, and Coman said he hopes the stock price will “get to $100 in short order, and we’re going to have to earn it.” LifeSci Acquisition II Corp., the blank check or SPAC party in the deal, was priced at just over $10 at close of trade on 21 May, 2021. SPACs became an increasingly popular route to market for health care companies in 2020. (Also see "SPACs Surge In 2020" - In Vivo, 15 February, 2021.)

For Science 37, the decision to go public using a SPAC rather than a traditional IPO came down to three...