NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/22/12)- In recent years, smaller biotechnology companies have received less funding from venture capitalists than in years past. According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), roughly 61 percent of venture capitalists cite the FDA's challenging approval process as having the largest impact on their investment decisions. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Biotechnology industry and provides equity research on Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CTIC - News) and Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: KERX - News). Access to the full company reports can be found at: http://www.fivestarequities.com/CTIC http://www.fivestarequities.com/KERX

A recent legislation, dubbed the TREAT Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., accelerates the review and approval process for medicines that treat an unmet medical need or significantly advance the standard of care for people suffering from deadly diseases. The bill could bring a boost to smaller biotech firms that often struggle to bring drugs to market. But the legislation, which is now in committee, will likely meet resistance from the Food and Drug Administration.

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According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), 61 percent of venture capitalists cite FDA regulatory challenges as having the highest impact on their investment decisions. Venture capitalists invested a total of $3.92 billion last year in biotechs of all stages. This figure was well below the $6.17 billion peak in 2007, according to VentureSource. And shares in biotechs that went public last year averaged 29% less than their expected midpoint offering price, according to investment bank Needham & Co.

Last year, 98 biotechs received venture funding for the first time, down from 141 in 2007, a MoneyTree report from PricewaterhouseCoopers said. The start-ups raised a total of $842 million in initial financings in 2011, down 19% from the 2007 total.

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Cell Therapeutics and Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Hope for Help From the TREAT Act