'Interesting Times'

There's an oft-quoted ancient Chinese curse that threatens: "May you live in interesting times." The implication is that "uninteresting" times of peace and tranquility are more life enhancing. Some historians claim the saying is more modern in origin and, perhaps, may not even be Chinese. Old and authentic or not, the warning is an interesting one.
Given the current state of the economy (dare we use the dreaded "R"word), some medical device makers--particularly startups and venture capital-backed firms--certainly may feel as if they have begun living in "interesting times."
In 2007, venture capitalists pumped a record $9.1 billion into privately held US biotechnology and medical device companies in hopes of making discoveries they could sell to larger companies or perhaps on Wall Street with an initial public offering (IPO). Biotechnology and medical device companies raised 20% more cash in the United States last year than in 2006, according to a report by accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA).
According to yet another more recent study from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the NVCA, however, the life-sciences sector (biotechnology and medical devices combined) saw a 14% drop in venture capital investing in the second quarter of 2008, with $1.9 billion going into 209 deals (a 9% drop in the number of deals from the first quarter of 2008). This decrease is attributed to declining investment levels in both biotechnology and medical devices.

Christopher Delporte "Interesting times". Medical Product Outsourcing. FindArticles.com. 02 Nov, 2009. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6159/is_7_6/ai_n28581850/