Venture capital firms and research institutions have launched the European Life Science Coalition in a bid to strengthen Europe’s VC ecosystem by mobilizing more private and public investment.

Med-tech companies looking for capital will have to work harder this year to attract investor attention. Even though investment firms have money to deploy, the capital will go toward more targeted opportunities and later-stage companies. For early stage med tech, 2026 is expected to be a tough year, which is raising concerns about the pipeline of innovative technologies in the long term.

After closing an oversubscribed $85 million series B round, Quantx Biosciences Inc. is gearing up to begin clinical trials of its two lead immunology compounds, a STAT6 oral small-molecule inhibitor and an IL-17 oral small-molecule inhibitor.

Ascletis Pharma Inc. raised HK$843.53 million (US107.93 million) in a placement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to advance its lead program, ASC-30, a small-molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that can be dosed once monthly subcutaneously and once daily orally for treating obesity.

Global investors in med tech are confident about exit opportunities in the year ahead. The strategics have already started making acquisitions, the IPO window – which reopened last year – is expected to remain active, and the investment firms have companies in their portfolios that are well-positioned for exit. With fundamentals in the sector still robust, 2026 is expected to reward companies that deliver clear clinical value.