Finance Watch VC Edition: Biopharma Venture Investment Rises In Second Quarter

Venture capital investment in biopharmaceutical firms for the first half of 2017 show that this year is on track to exceed 2016 levels. Recent financings include two $50m Series C rounds for two different companies developing later-stage drugs for itching: Trevi and Menlo Therapeutics.

A total of 274 biopharmaceutical companies raised $4.58bn during the first half of 2017, which means that this year will exceed last year, during which 534 therapeutics firms raised $8.09bn – a trend that likely is helped by the uptick in initial public offerings during the second quarter.

The Venture Monitor report, produced by Pitchbook for the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), shows that after a decline from 2015's peak of $10bn in VC investment in biopharma companies last year, the industry's total is inching back up in 2017

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