The Asia-Pacific biotech industry continued its strong performance in the first half of 2013,remaining one of the fastest emerging industries in the region and globally.Leading companies reported higher revenues as the stock prices of the top ten companies rose 21.5% on average over the last six months, with only one company seeing its share price fall. Due to economic challenges in Europe and the US, investors and foreign biotech firms shifted their focus to the Asia-Pacific with the potential for higher returns. IPO activity still lagged behind that of the US, due to governments providing easy access to various funding options and companies favoring M&As over IPOs due to higher returns and the benefits of long-term partnerships. The Asia-Pacific biotechnology industry continued to grow amid a sea of change in the global economy.