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Is The Downturn A ‘Darwinian Moment’ For Biotech? The View From The Frontline

Cutbacks And Threat Of Closure Hitting Small To Medium Biotechs

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

After the boom of 2020 and 2021, the biotech sector is experiencing one of the deepest and longest downturns but there are hopes that catalysts could soon revive confidence.

NASDAQ
Don't cross over: this year has seen negative sentiment hitting biotech valuations, with very limited public market raises or IPOs. • Source: Alamy

After two years of seemingly unstoppable optimism, growth and IPOs, the boom times for publicly-listed small to medium biopharma came to a shuddering halt late last year and 2022 is seeing many companies facing a funding crisis or even closure.

The 2020-2021 period was fueled by blossoming innovation in the sector, plentiful funding and investor confidence. After the sector came to the world’s rescue with near-miraculous COVID-19 vaccines, there was...

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