It used to be that going public was a reason for biotechnology company executives to pop the champagne corks. In years past the goal was to achieve a public listing as quickly as possible in order to first obtain an infusion of cash for product development and then, as a public entity, be in a position to readily access further capital in follow-on offerings. While that goal still remains embedded in the business plans of biotechs, the financial climate that exists today has reduced the urgency for private companies to join the public ranks, and "going public" has become in many ways just another financing event.