In an article published recently in Nature's Bioentrepreneur, a comparison of initial public offerings (IPOs) and trade sale exits through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) seems to suggest that biotech prospects are shifting to Europe.

... second-quarter European biotech IPO volume was the strongest it's been since 2000. All told, in the first half of 2005, European IPO proceeds actually topped those in the US, reaching nearly $500 million, debunking yet another myth about relative exit opportunities across the Atlantic. In fact, the average value of biotech IPOs in Europe is rising. This year the average proceeds hit $40 million, more than twice what they were just two years ago. By comparison, biotech proceeds in the US have remained level at around $60 million.

Read the full article here.