Pharma and biotech M&A deals reached record $212 billion in 2014

Despite a slight wobble in the spring, the pharma and biotech sector came back stronger than ever in 2014, racking up a record-breaking $212 billion in M&A transactions.

The feel good factor also extended to Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). Largely fueled by investor appetite for immunotherapy, 2014 boasted 87 flotations, raising a combined $6.3 billion, one of the best hauls since the genomic bubble of 2000.

The venture capital funding environment also continued to improve, making 2014 one of the best years for the sector in living memory, according to the Pharma & Biotech 2014 in Review report published by EP Vantage, the editorial arm of market intelligence firm Evaluate.