Investors flock to life sciences as UK sector breaks funding record

Covid crisis spurs growing interest in drugmakers, diagnostics and medical equipment firms

UK drugmakers, diagnostics, medical equipment and other life sciences companies have raised 10.6bn from private funding rounds and stock market flotations in the first three months of the year, more than half of last year's record total, according to a report.

Last year, investment into life sciences companies, including mergers and acquisitions, public listings, venture capital, and private equity, amounted to a nearly 20bn.