Biotech stocks are once again on a fundraising spree, with at least 22 companies announcing fundraising plans by the end of April, totaling approximately NT$10 billion. Among them, companies like TMB, Handa, Tanvex-KY, and AP biosciences have initiated fundraising starting from NT$1 billion. Additionally, Chlitina-KY has launched its first stock issuance after listing, marking a trend where biotech companies are stockpiling capital.
In addition to domestic fundraising efforts, Lin BioScience's subsidiary Belite received a capital injection of USD 25 million (approximately NT$800 million) from a large international biotech fund. BenQ Medical is also planning to raise funds overseas through common stock issuance or issuance of overseas depositary receipts.
Among the fundraising initiatives in the biotech market, Taiwan Biomedical Manufacturing Company (TBMC) stands out. With the appointment of Patrick Y. Yang (founder of Resilience in the United States) as chairman and You-Hsiang Chang (former vice president of Roche Pharmaceuticals) as CEO, TBMC's initial plan to raise NT$4.5 billion to NT$6 billion in Series A funding has been oversubscribed several times, setting a new record in Taiwan's biotech fundraising history and attracting overseas funds from the United States, Japan, Singapore, and other countries, which helps enhance its international reputation.
Preliminary statistics show that this year's fundraising efforts in the biotech industry are particularly active among companies listed on the Emerging Stock Market. Apart from Handa's move to go public and raise funds, fourteen other companies including AP biosciences, Taiwan Bio Therapeutics, Holy Stone Healthcare, U-Neuron, Diamond Biotech, Enimmune, GNTbm, 3D Global Biotech, NaviFUS, BPM Biotech, Lukas Bio, Perfect Medical, AMS BioteQ, and Han Biomedical have joined the fundraising ranks, setting a new high for the number of fundraising companies during the same period in history.
TaiwanJ, which has not yet applied, plans to raise NT$150 million; Taiwan Bio Therapeutics, to expand its operational footprint, has received board approval to conduct a private placement of 30,000 shares to supplement its operating funds.
Of note, this year's fundraising frenzy in the biotech industry has also seen new faces. TMB is handling a new issuance for the first time since 2015, highlighting the company's accelerated development and operational layout in the AIDS drug sector, with management increasing their stakes in anticipation of favorable operational prospects.
Chlitina, on the other hand, joins the fundraising ranks for the first time after its IPO. Chairman Bi-Hua Chen stated that being well-prepared financially is essential for future investments. Analysts believe that Chlitina's low-key approach to the Taiwanese market in recent years, besides acquiring stakes in GBCX and U-Neuron, has seen it launch a series of natural alkaline water, P113+ oral care products, and the "Original Muscle Secret" skincare line in collaboration with U-Neuron. This proposed fundraising of NT$480 million may be aimed at establishing a production base.
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