Deals
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Zorica Nastasic via Getty Images
Merck to buy eye drug developer for $1.3B
An acquisition of EyeBio will hand Merck a treatment for diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration that’s ready for pivotal testing.
By Kristin Jensen • May 29, 2024 -
Maximusnd via Getty Images
Agios cashes in on cancer drug again with $905M Royalty Pharma deal
The deal involves royalties for a brain cancer drug Agios previously sold off and that Royalty Pharma thinks could generate more than $1 billion in U.S. sales.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 28, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Brian Tucker / BioPharma Dive
TrendlineBiotech dealmaking
Acquisitions of biotech companies have picked up in recent quarters, suggesting depressed valuations may be facilitating deal conversations. Read this trendline for a look at the factors impacting M&A.
By BioPharma Dive staff -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
J&J gains another bispecific antibody with $1.25B skin drug buy
The deal is J&J’s second this month involving bispecific antibodies, which the company has prioritized to build its immune and cancer drug pipeline.
By Ben Fidler • May 28, 2024 -
Christoph Burgstedt via Getty Images
Orna, a circular RNA specialist, acquires a buzzy startup
After laying off staff late last year, Orna is expanding through the purchase of ReNAgade Therapeutics, which was built around technology designed to more effectively deliver RNA-based medicines.
By Jacob Bell • May 23, 2024 -
Courtesy of Millipore Sigma via Business Wire
Merck KGaA to buy gene therapy tools maker for $600M
The German drugmaker is bolstering its MilliporeSigma business with a unit of Gamma Biosciences that specializes in so-called transfection reagents.
By Kristin Jensen • May 23, 2024 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
J&J to buy Proteologix and its dual-targeting antibody drugs for $850M
The deal is part of a plan by J&J to build a portfolio of “differentiated” bispecific antibodies, an increasingly popular area of drug development.
By Kristin Jensen • May 16, 2024 -
selvanegra via Getty Images
Takeda nabs option to license Alzheimer’s immunotherapies from AC Immune
The deal — worth $100 million up front and potentially billions more later on — gives Takeda an exclusive option to license an Alzheimer’s vaccine and other “active immunotherapies.”
By Jacob Bell • May 13, 2024 -
Courtesy of Sanofi
Sanofi gambles $80M on Fulcrum’s muscular dystrophy drug
The deal gives the pharma partial rights to a medicine GSK once developed for heart disease but could soon become the first therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 13, 2024 -
Permission granted by Maze Therapeutics
Maze lands new partner for Pompe drug, after Sanofi pact came apart
An alliance with Shionogi involves similar terms as a deal Sanofi canceled in response to an unusual challenge from the Federal Trade Commission.
By Ben Fidler • May 10, 2024 -
Courtesy of Sanofi
Royalty Pharma pays startup $525M for stake in Sanofi MS drug
The deal gives the company milestone payments and royalties to a medicine, frexalimab, that Sanofi licensed from biotech ImmuNext and expects to be a future blockbuster.
By Kristin Jensen • May 9, 2024 -
Courtesy of Novo Nordisk
Obesity drugsNovo taps another Flagship startup in search for next obesity drugs
The deal with Metaphore Biotechnologies is the third from a Flagship alliance meant to boost the Danish drugmaker’s pipeline of weight loss medicines.
By Gwendolyn Wu • May 9, 2024 -
Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen via Getty Images
Gossamer sells rights to drug it hopes can rival a new Merck therapy
One analyst thinks the collaboration “bodes well” for Gossamer, which has had trouble convincing investors its drug seralutinib can compete on the market.
By Jacob Bell • May 6, 2024 -
Novartis
Why selling to Novartis made sense for Mariana
Conversations at this year's J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference led to a $1 billion buyout that Mariana's CEO described as a "perfect marriage."
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 3, 2024 -
Novartis
Novartis to buy Mariana Oncology in radiopharmaceutical expansion
The $1 billion dollar acquisition will add to Novartis’ pipeline of the targeted radiation drugs, giving it a potential lung cancer treatment.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 2, 2024 -
Elizabeth Regan / Industry Dive
Deciphera to sell for $2.4B, adding to upswing in biopharma M&A
For Japan-based Ono Pharmaceutical, buying Deciphera offers a way to build out in cancer research as well as get a stronger foothold in the U.S. and European markets.
By Jacob Bell • April 29, 2024 -
Permission granted by Biogen
Biogen: Don’t expect any big acquisitions this year
While the company is eager to diversify, CEO Chris Viehbacher said any near-term dealmaking would likely focus on collaborations and early-stage assets.
By Jacob Bell • April 24, 2024 -
Courtesy of Ipsen
Ipsen, Skyhawk to develop RNA-targeting pills for rare brain diseases
The deal, which could be worth up to $1.8 billion, is the latest research collaboration involving small molecule drugs that modify RNA.
By Delilah Alvarado • April 22, 2024 -
selvanegra via Getty Images
Eisai hunts for next Alzheimer’s drug with new research pact
A collaboration with BioArctic will focus on a technology designed to more effectively deliver drugs in the brain, following similar efforts by Roche.
By Jonathan Gardner • April 22, 2024 -
Courtesy of Teva Pharmaceutical
Alvotech deal could heighten biosimilar pressure on Humira
The agreement may help Alvotech capitalize on a recent policy shift by CVS that has driven major market share declines for AbbVie’s blockbuster drug.
By Jonathan Gardner • April 19, 2024 -
Nemes Laszlo via Getty Images
Roche, Adaptimmune part ways on cell therapy research
The two companies have ended a collaboration that was struck in 2021 and focused on “off-the-shelf” cell therapies for cancer.
By Jacob Bell • April 12, 2024 -
luismmolina via Getty Images
Emerging biotechCentury buys a startup, raises funding in cell therapy expansion
The biotech is acquiring Clade Therapeutics and its stem cell technology at a discount price, while adding $60 million via a private placement led by Bain Capital.
By Delilah Alvarado • April 11, 2024 -
Permission granted by Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Vertex to buy kidney disease drugmaker Alpine for $4.9B
A proposed $4.9 billion buyout of Alpine Immune Sciences would be the largest ever acquisition for Vertex and align with its "toolkit of technologies" approach to dealmaking.
By Gwendolyn Wu • Updated April 11, 2024 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
J&J to acquire Shockwave Medical for $13.1B
The deal comes just over a week after The Wall Street Journal reported the companies were discussing a merger.
By Ricky Zipp • Updated April 5, 2024 -
Love Employee via Getty Images
Genmab buys ProfoundBio for $1.8B, adding to ADC dealmaking flurry
The buyout continues a surge in M&A for developers of antibody-drug conjugates and gives Genmab a potential competitor to a medicine AbbVie recently purchased in a multibillion-dollar acquisition.
By Kristin Jensen • April 3, 2024 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
Acorda files for bankruptcy, reveals asset sale plan
Stalking horse bidder Merz Therapeutics could get rights to Acorda’s three marketed drugs if its $185 million proposal holds.
By Jacob Bell • April 2, 2024
