>Biotech IPOs are also expected to move back into the spotlight next year on the heels of the recent strong performance of the Caliper Technologies Corp. {CALP} and Maxygen Inc. {MAXY} IPOs, which are up 200 percent and 300 percent, respectively, since both firms went public in recent weeks.
CALP post-IPO stock performance
MAXY post-IPO stock performance
According to BioCentury, a biotech industry newsletter based in San Carlos, Calif., at least 23 other private biotech firms are angling to go public in the not-too-distant future.
Caliper Technologies
Maxygen
The most notable include Aclara Biosciences and IntraBiotics Pharmaceuticals Inc., both based in Mountain View, Calif.; New York-based Antigenics LLC; Diversa Inc. and Sequenon Inc., both based in San Diego; and Orchid Biocomputer Inc. based in Princeton, N.J.
"The industry's gathering momentum," says Jim McCamant, publisher of the Medical Technology Stock Letter, based in Berkeley, Calif. "We're going to see a lot more action next year. The indexes are up over 100 percent over where they were a year ago, and people are moving money into the group again." |
