Ireland’s life sciences and health tech companies raised a record-breaking €491.3 million ($572.9 million) in venture capital funding across 89 deals in 2024, according to a report from Enterprise Ireland. The investment underscores investor confidence in the country’s ecosystem, which looks set to continue despite global headwinds such as trade tariffs, economic uncertainty and rising operating costs.
Fresh cash infusions are on the way for European biotech after two leading venture capital firms announced large new funds. Asset-focused Medicxi has closed an oversubscribed €500 million (US$580 million) fund, while Sofinnova Partners exceeded its target of €500 million to close its Capital XI fund at €650 million (US$753.5 million).
A year ago, BioWorld published a special series on the women’s health drug development ecosystem, showing that while women make up half of the population, venture capital investment and life sciences partnerships in the space – specifically those deals supporting innovations for conditions primarily affecting women – pale in comparison to efforts addressing diseases more men experience. That appears to be changing, according to an updated look of BioWorld data, supported by findings in the Silicon Valley Bank 2025 Innovation in Women’s Health Report published in April, and Clarivate’s Nov. 13 release of its latest Companies to Watch 2025 report, Rediscovering women’s health.
Med-tech financings with reported values reached $23.33 billion through the first three quarters of 2025, putting the sector on pace to surpass last year’s full-year total of $25.37 billion. Activity peaked in the first quarter with $9.33 billion raised, followed by $8.23 billion in Q2 and $5.77 billion in Q3.
French VC Andera Partners has reached the first close of its Biodiscovery Fund 7 at more than €300 million (US$349 million) and says it is on track to surpass the size of the previous fund, which closed at €456 million during the pandemic-driven boom of 2021.
U.K. biotech companies raised 46% less in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025 than in the previous quarter, at £187 million (US$249.3 million). The Q3 2025 figure was also in the shade compared to Q1 2025, when biotechs raised £881 million, and 73% less than in Q3 2024.
French VC Andera Partners has reached the first close of its Biodiscovery Fund 7 at more than €300 million (US$349 million) and says it is on track to surpass the size of the previous fund, which closed at €456 million during the pandemic-driven boom of 2021.
Japan’s investor community is ramping up both inbound and outbound investment to create a cross-border fertile hub of innovation in Japan, investors said during a panel discussion at Bio Japan 2025 held in Yokohama Oct. 8 to 10.
Total biopharma financings reached $18.69 billion in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, rising 14% from $16.41 billion in Q2 and 42% from $13.12 billion in Q1. While still far below the pandemic-era peaks, when quarterly totals often surpassed $30 billion, Q3’s raise stands among the highest since 2022.
Japan’s investor community is ramping up both inbound and outbound investment to create a cross-border fertile hub of innovation in Japan, investors said during a panel discussion at Bio Japan 2025 held in Yokohama Oct. 8 to 10.
