The volume of securities fraud suits against life sciences companies set a nationwide record in 2017, and New Jersey is emerging as a leading venue for such cases, according to a report issued by Dechert.

Nationwide, plaintiffs filed 88 class action securities lawsuits against life sciences companies in 2017, an increase of more than 30 percent from the 67 suits filed in the previous year, and an increase of more than 225 percent from five years prior.