KEY POINTS
- The sector comprises a range of companies, from start-ups to more developed companies selling products in Australia and overseas, and operating in applications of biotechnology including health, industrial processing, agriculture and the environment.
- As at December 2006, 449 biotech companies employed approximately 14,189 people; as at December 2007, there were 470 biotechnology companies.
- The biotech sector has matured significantly in recent years. At the end of the 1st quarter of 2008, the 73 ASX-listed biotech companies had a combined market capitalisation of A$22.7 billion (bn), compared to A$10bn at the end of Q4 2004.
- Five of the ASX-listed biotech companies increased their market cap during quarter 1 of 2008.
- CSL is Australia's largest biotechnology company, with a market cap of A$19.3bn at the end of Q1 2008.
- At the end of Q1 2008 the market cap of ASX-listed biotechnology companies excluding CSL was A$3.4bn, compared to A$4.2bn at the end of Q4 2004. Most of this decrease occurred during the recent stockmarket volatility in Q1 2008.
- At the end of Q1 2008, excluding CSL there were nine ASX-listed biotech companies each with a market cap in excess of A$100 million (a list of these companies is attached) – they have a combined market cap of A$1.8bn, compared to 10 companies in Q1 2004, with a combined market cap A$1.9bn.
- There are also a large number of research intensive SMEs, including many spin-outs from universities and other publicly funded research organisations.
- The maturation of the sector illustrates the ongoing benefits of a strong research base.
- The review of the National Innovation System will provide the opportunity put in place the right policies and programs so Australia can continue to capture the benefits from biotech innovations.
- The sector's major exports continue to be IP, through licensing deals with large, international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Available Key Indicators/Statistics
Using data available from the ASX, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (the Department) produces a quarterly Biotech Business Indicators (BBI) which summarises key statistics on the Australian biotech companies listed on the ASX.
|
As at end of: |
Q4 2004 |
Q4 2005 |
Q4 2006 |
Q4 2007 |
Q1 2008 |
|
Number of listed core biotechs1 |
65 |
74 |
72 |
75 |
73 |
|
Market Cap of listed biotechs (including CSL) (A$bn)2 |
10.0 |
11.9 |
16.7 |
24.9 |
22.7 |
|
Market Cap of listed biotechs (excluding CSL) (A$bn)2 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.8 |
4.9 |
3.4 |
|
Number of IPOs for the calendar year1 |
15 |
9 |
1 |
4 |
0
(in Q1 2008) |
|
Value of IPOs (A$m)1 |
154.5 |
65.0 |
3.0 |
81.6 |
0 |
|
|
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
|
Employment for publicly listed biotech companies (number)3,4 |
N/A |
9,180 |
8,350 |
8,820 |
|
Estimate of employment for public and private biotech companies (number) based on a private survey5,6,7 |
5,600 |
6,100 |
N/A |
14,189 |
|
Turnover for publicly listed biotech companies (US$m)3,4 |
N/A |
1,433 |
2,242 |
2,389 |