The lower Aussie dollar, a well regarded local clinical trials industry, and a frothy US biotechnology industry, are combining to make early stage Australian life science companies attract­ive. Although the right qualities are falling into place, not all industry watchers expect a spate of takeovers.

A partner at early stage investment fund GBS Ventures , Brigitte Smith , said in comparison to the US, where the biotechnology sector was “on fire", Australian life science companies do appear cheaper. “It has been a really big, long sustained bull run on biotech IPOs, for the best part of a year," she said. “Because of that, the biotech sector in the US is looking pricey."