Thirty-six biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies sought a capital raise on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the first half (H1) of 2025, a review by BioWorld found. Of those, 34 companies were from mainland China.

Illimis Therapeutics Inc. raised ₩58 billion (US$42 million) in a series B financing round. The funds will support development of ILM-01, its lead bispecific fusion protein candidate, into preclinical development for Alzheimer’s disease by the second half of 2025, along with the company’s neuroimmunology portfolio.

Carlsmed Inc. launched its IPO at a price of $14 to $16 per share for 6.7 million shares, which would raise just over $100.5 million at the midpoint. The spinal surgery technology company could well pull in more money, if recent history provides guidance. Most med-tech IPOs this year have settled at the upper end of their price range, with Caris Life Sciences Inc. notably raising its price twice before going public at $21, a dollar more than the top of its initial range.

Historically, Q2 has often been one of the strongest quarters for biopharma financing, but 2025’s figures suggest a more cautious investment climate. Biopharma companies raised $16.02 billion in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, a modest increase from the $13.11 billion brought during Q1. While the uptick signals some recovery from Q1, the sector is still pacing well behind the highs of recent years.