Nordic Life Science 1
“We have a great opportunity, and we know that th
ere's lots of movement in the sector now. It's incredibly busy right now, which is great news because it means that there's lots going on in the background with regards to deals and with regards to growth of companies – a lot of things are starting to happen that I hope we will see come to fruition throughout the rest of the year.” JANE WALL Jane Wall, Managing Director of the UK’s BioIndustry Association (BIA) And yet, Wall sees unmistakable signs of life returning to life sciences. Recruiters, investors, and dealmakers are all reporting heightened activity. Wall notes that, encouragingly, she sees more capital being deployed through funds as well. “We have a great opportunity, and we know that there's lots of movement in the sector now,” she says. “It's incredibly busy right now, which is great news because it means that there's lots going on in the background with regards to deals and with regards to growth of companies – a lot of things are starting to happen that I hope we will see come to fruition throughout the rest of the year.” T 50 | NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG he one factor no one can control is geopolitics, Wall notes. “The elephant in the room is that we’re geopolitically in a very challenging situation. Who knows what the summer will bring in terms of energy crises and other things that could detract from the recovery,” she says. “None of us have a crystal ball or indeed much power over the world situation, but we see a positive trajectory after an incredibly difficult time,” she concludes. NLS UK BIOTECH FINANCING Q1 2026 UK biotech financing in Q1 2026 showed signs of recovery, with total equity financing reaching GBP 552 million, up from GBP 466 million in Q4 2025. UK biotech companies raised GBP 516 million in venture capital in Q1 2026, representing a 17% increase from GBP 442 million in Q4 2025. There were no UK biotech IPOs in Q1 2026, extending into another year a prolonged period of inactivity in public listings that has persisted since 2022. Deal activity in Q1 2026 also increased from 17 to 24 transactions quarter on quarter and was up 60% from 15 deals in Q1 2025. UK follow-on financing totalled GBP 36 million in Q1 2026, down from GBP 46 million in Q1 2025. Source: BIA EUROPE // SPECIAL REPORT PHOTO TERESA WALTON