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The article discusses venture capital (VC) and trends in its availability to the health-care industry. With the global economic crisis, VC firms are favoring investments in existing portfolios rather than in start-up ventures or so-called seed financing. VC firms also have smaller reserves of investment resources since mid-2008. Fund raising among VC firms has become a challenge. The article mentions four major events of financing medical technology in the third quarter of 2008, including ongoing deals, and specific VC firms and recipients involved. The article notes that all health-care VC firms are rethinking their policies for investing in start-up biotech firms. Commentary is given on anticipated shifts in medical venture investing in 2009.

The article discusses the role that venture capitalists play in taking scientific innovations from theoretical concepts to commercial realities. They provide financing and advice to companies with potentially successful technologies and products. The average day of an investment professional at a venture capital firm incorporates evaluating investment opportunities, negotiating terms for investments, and potentially even taking an operational role in a start-up company. Activities of the firm Thomas, McNerney & Partners are discussed.

The author reflects on a consortium of several pharmaceutical companies. He offers an example of Enlight Biosciences, a research and development (R&D) startup that focuses on generating tools for drug discoveries. He suggests that the three pharmaceutical companies, Merck & Company Inc., Pfizer Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company who are backed by venture capitalist company PureTech, will be the first of its kind to offer enabling technologies while making a profit.

The article focuses on the progress of biotech companies and economic growth in Denmark. The article discusses that the collaboration of powerful research laboratories and pharmaceutical companies with the local biotech companies backed by efficient management has caused the development of the country. A list of biotech companies in Denmark that are financed by international venture capital is also presented.

The article reports on the Internet-related services provider Google's announcement related to launch of its venture capital arm Google Ventures, which will invest on European companies including life sciences firms.

Several charts and graphs are presented related to the stock performance of the biotech industry in the financial markets which include global biotech initial public offerings, global biotech industry financing, and global biotechnology venture capital investment.

The article reports that venture capital (VC) firms have started to demand post-marketing control plans from companies seeking funding. VC firms are increasingly using the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) planning requirement introduced by the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA) of 2007. REMS is expected by investors to help expedite approval and extend the market exclusivity of a product.

The article states that the internet company Google has begun a corporate venture capital arm named Google Ventures that will be managed by the entrepreneurs Rich Miner and Bill Maris. It is anticipated that the firm will provide private equity to industries such as healthcare and biotechnology. Google spokesperson Andrew Pederson provides quotes.

The article presents a profile of a young entrepreneur, Daphne Zohar, founder and managing partner of PureTech Ventures, a Boston-based life sciences venture firm. Zohar states that integrating people, technology and money is a challenging task for business people. The article also discusses the challenge faced by venture capitalists in raising money in the early stages of forming a company. Views of several industrialists' including Norm Selby and Noubar Afeyan is also presented.