PRINT THIS PAGE Year-end 2006 healthcare venture capital results up again
17/01/2007. Source:Healthcare Corporate Finance News. Gretchen S. Swanson
For the fourth year in a row, the total amount of venture capital committed to health care companies grew, rising to more than $8.6bn for the year ended December 31, 2006—up nearly 18 per cent, compared with 2005. The year 2006 produced 463 deals (median size, $12.5m), representing an increase in deal volume of nearly 5 per cent over the previous year, and an increase of 16 per cent, compared with 2004. “Investments in health care services companies helped drive up the quarterly and year-end totals, including several deals announced by specialty providers,” noted Gretchen S. Swanson, Associate Editor.
Health care services companies procured $959.6 million of venture capital in 34 deals in 2006, the first year in a few years that health care services companies have announced a significant number of venture capital investments. Pharmaceutical companies, with the most funding for a single sector, announced 67 venture capital deals totaling $2.05 billion.
“Several venture-backed pharma companies have been established in the past year to in-license or acquire a technology, product, product candidate or portfolio,” remarked Stephen M. Monroe, Managing Editor.
Investors also continued to fund biotechnology companies, which raised $1.7 billion in 107 deals, and biopharmaceutical companies, which raised $1.7 billion in 87 deals. Medical device companies announced the most deals in one sector during the year, with 123 totaling $1.8 billion. E-health and other health care companies accounted for the remaining transactions.
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2006, health care companies raised about $2.2 billion, representing close to a 29% increase in dollar volume over the year-ago quarter. Deal volume was up by about 11%, with 120 deals announced in Q4:06, compared with 108 in Q4:05. Health care services companies were responsible for raising the greatest amount of venture capital in one sector, with $515.2 million spread over 16 deals.
Medical device companies announced 32 deals, the largest number in one sector, totaling $439.7 million. Pharmaceutical companies announced 19 transactions that raised $505.7 million. Biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies together raised $633.7 million in 38 deals, with e-health and other companies accounting for the remainder.
The top venture capital firms for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2006, based on participation in number of investments, are listed in the following chart.
Healthcare Corporate Finance News reports bi-weekly on financial events in the fast-paced venture capital, private and public equity, and merger and acquisition markets. This well-researched newsletter is published by Irving Levin Associates, Inc., a leading financial publisher and source of market intelligence since 1948.
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