BioCentury
ARTICLE | Finance

A Bloody Mary hits the spot

April 10, 2000 7:00 AM UTC

President Clinton's belated mea culpa for the genomics blow-off, followed by Celera's news that it had completed the genome of a single person, provided the hangover remedy that brought investors bellying back up to the bar, as the industry priced $1.13 billion worth of IPOs and follow-ons last week. All told, 11 underwritten deals priced: seven follow-ons brought in $501.2 million, and four IPOs carved out $626.8 million.

Meanwhile, the BioCentury 100 index posted a 7 percent gain, reversing the past four weeks of pummeling of life science stocks since the White House-induced panic about the patentability of genomics discoveries on March 14. Investors rallied behind Clinton's statement last week that companies should be able to patent genomic discoveries with specific commercial applications (see BioCentury Extra, Wednesday April 5)and continued to buy on CRA's news (see Time Out, A5)...