POSTED BY TOM MCDONALD
The 2016 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference has concluded, and while the market backdrop for this year’s event was noticeably less positive than it has been in recent years, the conference was nevertheless rich with important lessons. We polled our team on what struck them most about the event, and what guidance they’d offer to companies attending future conferences. We found their responses illuminating, and we think you will, too. Enjoy.
John Woolford
Managing Director
Despite the significant number of companies that went public in the life sciences sector over the last couple of years, I was surprised by the number of really interesting biotech companies that are still private. While the IPO market doesn’t look great right now, when it opens, there will be some great companies ready to go public. That could help lead to another extended period of time for companies to go public.
Asher Dewhurst
Principal
We saw a noticeable shift in tech companies’ attitude about being classified as a healthcare company. Healthcare is a relatively more defensible industry than consumer or tech sectors in rough markets like this one. Management teams have found that investors in pure technology or consumer-sector companies are quick to sell their stock, given that they often don’t have a firm grasp on the industry trends or drivers.
Mark Klausner
Managing Partner
