TheraVectys SA is exploring a potential initial public offering in Hong Kong, reported Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, a move that would be unusual for a non-Chinese biotech company.
The France and US-based immunotherapy firm is working with advisers on a possible share sale that could raise a few hundred million dollars.
A listing could take place as soon as this year if the plans progress.
The deliberations reflect changing dynamics in global biotech funding, as Hong Kong regains relevance amid stronger market conditions and rising interest in health care stocks.
A shift away from traditional biotech hubs
Non-Chinese biotech firms have historically gravitated toward Europe or the US when going public, drawn by deeper capital markets and a more established investor base.
Against this backdrop, Hong Kong represents a less conventional option for TheraVectys.
Choosing the Asian financial hub would signal a reassessment of where growth capital can be accessed efficiently, particularly at a time when global investors are rebalancing exposure across regions.
Any Hong Kong listing would underline how international biotech companies are becoming more flexible in their approach to public markets, especially as competitive pressures and funding needs evolve.
Hong Kong’s renewed appeal to biotech firms
Hong Kong has been working to reassert itself as a destination for biotech listings following several years of muted activity. A rebound in sector valuations and successful recent offerings have improved sentiment.
According to Bloomberg, around $13 billion was raised through health care share sales in Hong Kong last year, largely from biotech initial offerings and follow-on deals.
Market performance has reinforced this trend.
The Hang Seng Biotech Index has surged 82% over the past 12 months, reflecting stronger investor appetite for drug developers and life sciences companies.
This recovery has encouraged both issuers and advisers to revisit listing plans that may have previously seemed less viable.
China’s growing influence on biotech investment
China has also made rapid advancement in the biotechnology sector.
Increased spending on research, faster clinical development, and a growing pool of scientific talent have narrowed the gap with Western peers.
As Chinese drugmakers gain prominence, investors looking for exposure to biotech innovation are increasingly active in Hong Kong.
For overseas firms like TheraVectys, this environment offers access to a broader and more diverse investor base than in the past.
Company background and financial backing
TheraVectys was spun out of Institut Pasteur and focuses on developing lentiviral vectors designed to prevent and treat cancer and other diseases.
The technology places the company within a competitive segment of immunotherapy, where funding requirements can be substantial as research advances.
The company’s backers include Tethys Invest SAS, the investment arm of L’Oreal SA heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and her family.
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