Access to Capital Challenges Future of UK Life Sciences Industry – Urgent Government Investment Required
Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles.
Results from 295 companies were analysed yielding the following key findings:
• 78 per cent of respondents found that access to finance had become more challenging over the last 12 months
• 76 per cent of companies seeking to raise equity finance over the last 12 months have experienced some level of difficulty; of these 47 per cent were not able to obtain all the finance required and a further 37 per cent were unable to obtain any finance
• The majority of companies were seeking to raise less than £1m (44 per cent) closely followed by those seeking to raise between £1-10m (35 per cent)
• The most frequently cited reasons among investors for their reluctance to commit finance included that either the company or the sector was considered too risky
• The impact of the funding difficulties being faced by companies has resulted in plans being abandoned or deferred and reducing head count
• The majority of finance was required for research and development, closely followed by working capital requirements, and protecting intellectual property
Access to capital is the most pressing challenge facing emerging life sciences companies in the UK, and this has been further exacerbated by the current global economic environment. Although this Government has supported the life sciences sector, the global environment has become more competitive. The sector now needs a financial commitment from Government in order to reinvigorate the investment environment for SMEs.
Dr Clive Dix, BIA Chairman, said:
“In the current economic climate investors’ risk appetite has declined dramatically even for relatively small sums of finance. This is having a significant impact on many of the small and medium sized enterprises in the life sciences sector. The urgency of the problem must not be underestimated. If action is not taken, not only will the UK lose a world-class industry but the development of new therapies and treatments will slow, which will delay the delivery of much needed solutions for patients.
“As the UK comes out of the recession the life sciences sector will play a significant role in helping the UK economy to grow. It is essential that potential high-growth sectors such as the life sciences industry are safeguarded through these times.
“The findings of this survey demonstrate that serious financial commitment is now needed from Government to support levels of fund raising up to £10 million. As highlighted in the recent Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team Review and Refresh of Bioscience 2015 report, a Government-backed UK investment fund matching VC investment for early stage high tech companies would help to safeguard the future of the UK life sciences sector.”
The BIA is running a major event next month, BioFinance and BioInnovate Europe, to highlight some of the existing sources of finance available to companies with sessions on alternative financing models, early-stage financing, public sector finance and collaborations with big pharma. Speakers include Sir David Cooksey, Chair of the Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team Review and Refresh Steering Group; John Aston, Chair of the Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team Finance and Investment Working Group; Kevin Johnson, Advisor, Index Ventures; and Malcolm Weir, Chief Executive Officer of Heptares Therapeutics Ltd.
