Pharma & Biotech Mergers & Acquisitions News
Pharmaceutical
Big pharmas are not deterred by China’s increasingly complex business environment. Instead, they are changing strategies to minimize risks while continuing to benefit from China, said speakers at ChinaTrials held last week in Shanghai. 18 November 2024
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Biotechnology
US biopharma firm Insmed held a meeting with analysts last Monday, when it unveiled a new research platform in the area of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other diseases. Two M&A deals featured last week, first with US biotech major Gilead Sciences revealing the acquisition of XinThera, which will expand its early-stage oncology and inflammatory diseases portfolio. Also, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) announced it is acquiring US biotech CTI BioPharma, along with its hematology drug Vonjo, in order to expand its position in this rare disease sector. Meantime, US drugmaker Reata Pharmaceuticals reported a setback for its Friedreich’s ataxia drug Skyclarys with a New Drug Application (NDA) submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase the drug substance specification for a process impurity observed above the current specification during process validation. 14 May 2023
Biotechnology
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, also known as Sobi, has reached an agreement to acquire CTI BioPharma, a US biopharma company focused on blood related cancers and rare diseases, by means of a tender offer. 10 May 2023
Biotechnology
Announcing its first M&A deal in more than a year, California, USA-based Gilead Sciences said yesterday that it has acquired privately-held US biotech XinThera. 10 May 2023
Biotechnology
In line with a trend for big life science firms to divest non-core operations, medtech giant Baxter International (NYSE: BAX) is to sell off its biopharma manufacturing unit. 10 May 2023
Biotechnology
The announcement earlier this week of Japanese pharm major Astellas Pharma $5.9 billion acquisition of US biotech Iveric Bio has prompted a speedy evaluation comment from GlobalData pharma analyst Prashant Khadayate. 3 May 2023
Biotechnology
Total investment in biopharma M&A in the first quarter of 2023 was over four times the equivalent value for first quarter 2022, including the first megadeal since December 2020 with Pfizer paying $43 billion to acquire Seagen. 3 May 2023
Biotechnology
Shares of New Jersey, USA-based biotech firm Iveric Bio closed up nearly 16% at $38.05 yesterday, on the news of an agreed takeover bid from Japanese pharma major Astellas Pharma, with the latter rising 2.2% to 2,093 yen. 2 May 2023
Biotechnology
Californian biopharmaceutical firm Amgen as reported a 2% drop in revenues in the first quarter, to $6.1 billion, a reflection of falling sales from COVID-19 therapeutics. 28 April 2023
Biotechnology
Specialty pharma firm Assertio Holdings has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire fellow USA-based Spectrum Pharmaceuticals in an all-stock and contingent value rights (CVR) transaction. 25 April 2023
Biotechnology
M&A news last week featured US pharma giant Merck & Co announcing it plans to acquire Prometheus Biosciences, in a cash deal worth $10.8 billion, aiming to strengthen its immunology pipeline. Also of note, the UK’s GSK, looking to replenish its portfolio, is buying Canadian firm Bellus Health, along with its chronic cough product camlipixant, for $2 billion. In other news, some important research was presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AAC) by Moderna on mRNA-4157, its neoantigen immunotherapy. Also, US health care giant Johnson & Johnson, always the first big pharma to release quarterly financials, reported first quarter figures much in line with expectations, but its shares fell due to certain other disclosures. 23 April 2023
Biotechnology
US pharma giant Merck & Co on Sunday revealed it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire clinical-stage biotech Prometheus Biosciences. 17 April 2023
Biotechnology
After previously disclosing filing voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code on December 11, 2022, Clovis Oncology has now entered into a deal to sell certain of its assets and rights associated with its cancer drug Rubraca (rucaparib) and the business and operations related to the development and exploitation of the asset pursuant to the bidding procedures. 11 April 2023
Biotechnology
German life science group Sartorius saw its shares fall 4.9% to 310.00 euros today, after it announced an M&A deal. 31 March 2023
Biotechnology
As part of its reorganization around key therapy areas of oncology and immunology, Belgian biotech Galapagos is hiving off certain research functions. 31 March 2023
Biotechnology
China’s Junshi Biosciences has entered an agreement with Rxilient Biotech (a portfolio company of Legend Capital), to form a joint venture to develop and commercialize its cancer drug toripalimab in Southeast Asia. 31 March 2023
Biotechnology
A new oncology-focused spinout will be launched by Citius Pharmaceuticals, with the goal of developing the immuno-oncology asset I/ONTAK. 31 March 2023
Biotechnology
Massachusetts, USA-based clinical-stage CNS biotech EIP Pharma has entered a definitive all-stock merger agreement with Diffusion Pharmaceuticals forming a publicly traded company, sending the latter’s share up 5% pre-market. 30 March 2023
Biotechnology
Cancer immunotherapies and predictive biomarkers company Jounce Therapeutics has agreed to be acquired by Concentra Biosciences for $1.85 in cash per share plus a non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR). 27 March 2023
Biotechnology
Germany’s Merck KGaA has regained exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize its checkpoint blocker Bavencio (avelumab). 27 March 2023
Biotechnology
Biopharma M&A news last week included the largest deal in around four years, with US pharma giant Pfizer last Monday confirming it is to acquire biotech firm Seagen, but with the price of $43 billion much higher than the $30 billion rumored prior to the formal announcement. Also, French pharma major Sanofi announced a $2.9 billion takeover bid for USA-based Provention Bio, along with its diabetes drug Tzield. Last week also saw the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announce more details of its plan for savings on Medicare Part B drugs. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration made a surprise U-turn, calling for an advisory committee meeting ahead of its anticipated regulatory decision for Sarepta Therapeutics' Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) candidate SRP-9001. 19 March 2023
Biotechnology
Aizen Therapeutics, an AI-driven biotech headquartered in San Diego, has officially launched from stealth mode, introducing its drug discovery platform, DaX. 21 November 2024
Biotechnology
Massachusetts, USA-based firm VBI Vaccines has initiated a nationwide voluntary recall of PreHevbrio (hepatitis B vaccine), as it proceeds with bankruptcy and the shutdown of its operations. 19 November 2024
Biotechnology
Last week saw US pharma major AbbVie release disappointing Phase II trial results on its emraclidine in schizophrenia, which benefited Bristol Myers Squibb. Also on the research front, Germany’s Merck KGaA and Abbisko’s pimicotinib showed positive results in tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). M&A news saw German BioNTech punting $800 million upfront to acquire China based oncology focused Biotheus. Also of note, US drugmaker Halozyme Therapeutics made an unsolicited takeover bid for Evotec, valuing the German firm, at around 2 billion euros. 17 November 2024
Biotechnology
Shares of German drug discovery company Evotec leapt 20% to 10.33 euros this morning on the revelation that the USA’s Halozyme Therapeutics has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire Evotec for 11.00 euros per share in cash, implying a fully-diluted equity value of around 2.0 billion euros ($2.12 billion). 15 November 2024
Biotechnology
BeiGene has announced plans to rebrand as BeOne Medicines, a move the cancer specialist says reflects its commitment to fighting cancer through collaboration. 15 November 2024
Biotechnology
Although it is seeing a downturn in sales and profits, German biotech BioNTech is continuing to acquire assets with the cash pile it made through the covid pandemic, notably iis Comirnaty vaccine that was developed with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). 13 November 2024
Biotechnology
Trace Neuroscience, a newly launched biopharma based in San Francisco, aims to advance treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, starting with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 12 November 2024
Biotechnology
AlloVir has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with biopharma company Kalaris Therapeutics. 8 November 2024
Biotechnology
California, USA-based biotech Nektar Therapeutics’ shares closed up more than 8% at $1.33 yesterday after it announced the sale of its only manufacturing facility. 5 November 2024
Biotechnology
Maryland, USA–based glycobiology specialist GlycoMimetics has entered into an acquisition agreement with Crescent Biopharma, a privately held biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of oncology therapeutics designed to treat solid tumors. 30 October 2024
Biotechnology
German drugmaker Dr Falk Pharma GmbH today announced completion of the acquisition of Kynos Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel KMO inhibitors for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. 29 October 2024
Biotechnology
US Pharma major AbbVie has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Aliada Therapeutics, a biotech advancing therapies using a novel blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing technology to address challenging central nervous system (CNS) diseases. 29 October 2024
Biotechnology
Ottimo Pharma, a biotech founded by Medicxi in 2020, has emerged from stealth mode with an executive team packed with prominent industry leaders. 28 October 2024
Biotechnology
Last week Vertex Pharmaceuticals released positive Phase III results for its suzetrigine for moderate-to-severed pain. Belgium’s UCB revealed that Swiss pharma giant Roche was terminating its collaboration on the Alzheimer’s candidate bepranemab. The UK’s health technology assessor the Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) declined to recommend a second Alzheimer’s treatment, this time Eli Lilly’s Kisunla. Also of note, Lyell Immunopharma announced its planned acquisition of ImmPACT Bio and reprioritization of its own clinical pipeline. 27 October 2024
Biotechnology
California, USA-based Lyell Immunopharma (Nasdaq: LYEL) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held US CAR-T company ImmPACT Bio. 26 October 2024
Biotechnology
Mumbai-based Mankind Pharma has completed its acquisition of Bharat Serums and Vaccines (BSV), adding to its portfolio in the women’s health and fertility market. 24 October 2024
Biotechnology
Ocuphire Pharma has announced its acquisition of Opus Genetics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on treating inherited retinal diseases. 24 October 2024
Biotechnology
Connecticut, USA-based Modifi Biosciences today announced that the company has been acquired by pharma giant Merck & Co 23 October 2024
Biotechnology
Taiwan-based REGiMMUNE, a biopharma creating immunotherapies through the power of regulatory T cells (Tregs), and France-based Kiji Therapeutics, a specialist in induced pluripotent stem cells-mesenchymal stem cells (IPSC-MSC) engineered cell therapies for inflammatory diseases, are to merge. 18 October 2024
Biotechnology
Danish CNS specialist Lundbeck today revealed that it has reached to acquire Longboard Pharmaceuticals. 15 October 2024
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