TREND: M&A activity heats up in the pharma sector as big payers increase focus on orphan drugs

Rare disease market has renewed interest from the pharma companies as is visible in the heated merger and acquisition activity in the sector.

Ireland-headquartered drugmaker Shire’s (LSE: SHP) latest takeover bid for Baxalta (NYSE: BXLT), a company with a drug portfolio for rare or orphan diseases in hematology, oncology and immunology, is yet another confirmation big pharma is drawn to the segment.

The pharma sector over the past few months has been witness to hectic merger and acquisition activity. There have been more than a few large deals between May and July alone this year. In addition to the number of bids, the amount offered for the takeover has been staggering, indicating the rush to snap up the potential growth drivers.