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Thought Leadership

ESG In Focus

Creating Value Through ESG : November 16, 2023

While regulatory compliance and stakeholder expectations offer a valid rationale for pursuing ESG, companies risk short-changing the real value of ESG by focusing on external motivations. In this article we propose that the strongest arguments for practicing ESG encompass what a company stands to gain by proactively engaging in ESG, rather than what it may lose if it does not. By refocusing on ESG as a strategic tool with positive return on investment (ROI), companies prime external stakeholders to view the choice positively and position themselves to maximize the benefits of practicing ESG.

ESG IN FOCUS

ESG Readiness for the Healthcare Industry’s IPO Rebound : October 3, 2023

In this article, we explain why firms seeking a public event in 2024 should consider ESG essential and push forward with ESG programs this fall in order to maximize valuation post-public event, attract long-term investors and prepare for life as public companies.

ESG IN FOCUS

ESG Regulation in the US and EU: Direct and Indirect Impacts on Companies : September 13, 2023

It is important, but challenging, for companies to monitor ESG regulations worldwide to anticipate how changes may impact their operations and those of the companies in their value chain.

ESG In Focus

Back to School for Boards—Why Boards Need Education on ESG : August 1, 2023

Biotech and pharmaceutical company boards are under increasing pressure not just to demonstrate awareness of ESG but to take an active role in managing ESG risks and opportunities, and yet the research suggests most boards are not equipped for the job. Companies may hire directors with ESG-related skillsets in the longer term, but in the near term we suggest companies prioritize ESG education for boards to improve overall ESG governance and to satisfy investors, ESG raters and other stakeholders. In this article we tackle what emerging best practice looks like for board education and argue that companies should prioritize ESG board education for the coming year.

ESG In Focus

ESG Materiality for Biotech: Which Issues Matter? : July 11, 2023

Materiality is the key to unlocking value with ESG and avoiding the perception of greenwashing. Out of dozens of ESG issues relevant to an industry, only a handful will have the potential to significantly impact a given company’s performance over time—these issues are material.

ESG In Focus

What Healthcare Companies Need to Know about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion : May 31, 2023

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is an important framework for understanding corporate sustainability and the creation of social good. Understanding how DEI is woven into the fabric of healthcare’s most pressing material issues will help companies unlock value through ESG.

ESG In Focus

Preparing for ESG: Six Simple Steps Healthcare Companies Can Take Today : May 4, 2023

ESG can feel overwhelming for companies that have not yet taken the first step on their sustainability journeys. Leveraging years of experience working with healthcare companies of all shapes and sizes, I have identified six simple steps companies can take today that are guaranteed to deliver value and save money in the long run.

ESG In Focus

In Healthcare? What you Need to Know about ESG and Proxy Voting : April 4, 2023

From large institutional investors to smaller quantitative investors, proxy voting guidelines increasingly reference ESG issues such as board diversity and climate change, requiring companies to meet a minimum ESG performance threshold for investors to vote in accord with management. Companies failing to meet investors’ ESG requirements risk losing key votes and are prone to investor activism.

ESG In Focus

The Business Case for ESG in Biotech—and Why it Cannot Wait : March 2, 2023

Based on the increasingly political coverage of ESG (environmental, social and governance) in the media, controversial SEC climate-risk regulation, and national dispute over ESG investing, one might conclude that ESG is a distracting future compliance headache. Regardless, one would miss the point—which is that at its heart, ESG is a tool for value creation.

Beat on the Street

August 19, 2022

“Green Shoots” are Growing Quickly and With Them, Comes a More Active Financing Market!; A Look Ahead to JP Morgan 2023

Insights

November 12, 2021

Biopharma Companies are Undervaluing Early Stage In-licensed Candidates; EQT Acquires Life Sciences Partners; Mission BioCapital Raises $275M to Help Launch Innovative Startups; Weekly Market Update

Insights

October 29, 2021

The IPO & M&A markets – who’s hot and who’s not?; Biotech fund raises prove strong for October; Weekly Market Update

Insights

October 1, 2021

Lightstone Ventures, Jeito Capital and Illumina Ventures Funds; Weekly Market Update

Insights

September 10, 2021

Impel NeuroPharma's FDA Approval of TRUDHESA™; JPM 2022 is in person!; Rule 10b5-1 Reform; Weekly Market Update

INSIGHTS

August 27, 2021

Shoutouts to Stern clients: Cara Therapeutics & Cedilla Therapeutics; NASDAQ’s Board Diversity Rule: Now Effective!; New Funds Launch; Weekly Market Update

INSIGHTS

August 6, 2021

Insider Giving; Chinese Biotechs And The Markets; 13F Filing Update; Weekly Market Update

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July 23, 2021

SPACs vs. traditional IPO's; Nasdaq Private Markets; Financings and Weekly Market Updates

Insights

July 9, 2021

LTSE Debut; Hedge Fund Launch Surge; Core Principles for Biotech Board Meetings; Market Update

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June 21, 2021

FDA approvals for SternIR clients; new FDA draft guidance; SEC rulemaking; weekly market update

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June 4, 2021

Muted Biotech Sentiment Heading into June?; Nasdaq: Now Accepting Primary Direct Floor Listings; “SPAC King” Funds 4 Biotech; Market and Client Weekly Updates

Insights

May 21, 2021

Trends in early stage financing rounds; Millennials and the proxy vote; Abingworth’s Most Recent Raise; Market update

Insights

May 7, 2021

Defining “The Good Crossover” Financing; GameStop Blowback; A New Index in Town?; Market Updates

Insights

April 23, 2021

1Q financing roundup; Rapid expansion of the biotech sector; Market update

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April 9, 2021

Increasing SEC Enforcement Focus on SPACs; Gender Diversity in Company Creation; Weekly Market Update

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March 26, 2021

Predicting the Future: Cowen Analyzes Biotech Performance in Higher Interest Rate Environments; FTC Crackdown on Pharma Mergers; Biotech Capital Flow and Market Updates

Insights

March 19, 2021

Congratulations to SternIR clients on recent NDA acceptances; recent SEC crackdowns; Cowen: The latest player in ESG; Investor Relations is a competitive advantage.

Insights

March 5, 2021

Top Biotech CEOs of 2021; This week in ESG; Biopharma Venture Investing Boom

Insights

February 19, 2021

The drumbeat for ESG initiatives is only growing louder.

Insights

February 5, 2021

Our take on the short squeeze, VC funding, and biotech financing

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January 29, 2021

Preparing for Proxy Season; Planning for Virtual Annual Meetings; Market Update

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January 22, 2021

BioCentury’s Look Ahead to 2021; Another Alternative to IPOs?; Vanguard and ESG

Insights: Year in Review

December 22, 2020

SternIR's look back on 2020.

Conference

J.P. Morgan 2021 Health : January 11-14, 2021

Schedule a virtual 1x1 meeting with 75+ of our top-tier companies during the week of the Virtual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, to be held on January 11 – 14, 2021.

Insights

December 4, 2020

Despite the holiday “break,” it’s been a very busy few weeks for Stern IR clients and we wanted to congratulate several on recent clinical, regulatory and corporate successes:

Insights

November 23, 2020

We hope you are all looking forward to some well-earned R&R over the Thanksgiving holiday – it’s been a wild few weeks for biotech!

Insights

November 20, 2020

We hope you are all looking forward to some well-earned R&R over the Thanksgiving holiday – it’s been a wild few weeks for biotech!

NEWS

Precision Medicine Group Secures Major Investment from Blackstone : November 20, 2020

Stern Investor Relations parent company, Precision Medicine Group, announced that it has completed a major investment and recapitalization led by funds managed by Blackstone, with significant participation from Precision’s co-founders, as well as current shareholders Berkshire Partners, TPG Growth, Oak HC/FT and Vida Ventures.

Insights

November 13, 2020

Let us begin by congratulating Stern IR client Gilead, who ranked highly in this year’s II awards across several metrics, including best investor relations program, best CEO and CFO, and best communication of strategy and risk management amid COVID-19. Go GILD!

Insights

October 30, 2020

We want to start by congratulating several Stern IR clients on major accomplishments, all from this week alone! We also have a 13F update, even more SPACs, and a market update.

Insights

October 19, 2020

#JPMorgan2021 – It’s Here!

INSIGHTS

October 2, 2020

Congratulating Stern IR clients, Atea Pharmaceuticals and Goldfinch Bio, who were named among Fierce Biotech’s 2020 Fierce 15, and Tmunity Therapeutics, who was named to the Endpoints 11!

Insights

September 28, 2020

Back to school and back to business, NASDAQ responds to the SEC’s proposed amendments to the 13F reporting threshold, and a market update.