"These are the days when it's good to be a biotech CEO."

– John Crowley, chairman and CEO of Amicus Therapeutics Inc., which recently disclosed a potential $230 million deal with GlaxoSmithKline plc

"It actually breaks our hearts that there is so much great science . . . coming into mid-stage development and there just isn't enough capital to go around."

– Stephen Evans-Freke, cofounder and managing general partner at private equity firm Celtic Pharma

"The FDA has no upside – they constantly want to mitigate downside risk. And companies have all upside."

– Gregory Lucier, chairman and CEO of Life Technologies Corp., speaking at a BIOCOM meeting about the need to find balance between the risks and rewards of drug approvals

"I wouldn't call it mainstream – it's still a bit esoteric – but everyone is aware of it."

– Todd Davis, managing director of Cowen Healthcare Royalty Partners, on royalty monetization