Ann: ATL1102 DMD Clinical Trial Application Submitted in Europe, page-86

https://westwicke.com/2021/09/challenges-and-opportunities-biotech-funding/

As more companies emerge, startups need to come up with creative ways to stand out from the competition. Messaging and positioning are key elements to this strategy, but many younger companies have small, focused teams with limited business experience and fewer connections to sources of capital
. Amplifying this challenge, early-stage companies often have little data to support their concept, as projections can’t be
built from comparable companies or past intra-company experience.

OPPORTUNITIES IN BIOTECH FUNDRAISING Despite the many challenges that early-stage biotech companies may face when fundraising, there are plenty of opportunities for companies to stand out. For those management teams without a significant degree of public company experience and network of connections, there is a greater chance of success when enlisting help from an experienced external partner that specializes in biotech.Thought leadershipPeople buy from those they trust and respect — investors are no different. Companies that recruit industry experts to advisory boards or partner with key opinion leaders can build authority, improve product positioning, and establish strong connections within the industry.
Coupled with strong data, an especially compelling story with a clinical roadmap and a pathway illustrating the significant potential for commercial success will help achieve Foster relationshipsThe best way to build long-term support for a company is for management to earn the respect and support of investors. This requires effectively communicating a business plan to the investor community that management can execute against. Over the course of multiple interactions between management teams and potential investors, consistency in messaging and execution can be the driver behind a decision to invest. It is important that leadership demonstrates strong investor relations skills in these circumstances, but it can also be valuable to work closely with a seasoned external IR firm to further drive investor connectivity.
The right partner can help you cultivate strong relationships with a broad range of buy-side investors.OutreachEarly-stage biotech companies trying to raise additional capital need a multi-faceted approach that requires careful planning and coordination. This includes specific institutional investor targeting, attending medical and scientific meetings, publication strategies, and sell-side investor conferences. For smaller companies with limited business experience and few connections, this proves to be a major challenge
.NetworkMaintaining a current view of the life science investor topography is imperative. IR and capital markets advisory firms often have comprehensive networks of relationships in all regions of the U.S. Beyond banking partners and traditional life science funds, they cast a wider net to include smaller funds, family offices or generalist fund managers that have a mandate for private funding. Included in this expanded audience are the burgeoning mezzanine growth funds, raised by marquee life science VC firms, that are making initial investments in new companies at later stages of development. These networks also include alternative funding sources ex-U.S., such as international VC funds looking for U.S. life science exposure as well as European family offices, both of which have become more prominent in U.S. life science private investing rounds.

FINAL THOUGHTSRaising early-stage biotech funding is more difficult than ever, and with an influx of new companies as well as a growing number of public ones, it only stands to become more challenging. To raise visibility, leadership must focus on message refinement, institutional positioning, and investor connections. For younger firms with small teams and limited business expertise, this poses an additional challenge. Engaging an established IR and capital markets advisory firm with experience in biotech fundraising can help biotech companies reach their full potential.