To say global markets have been choppy in 2025 is an understatement. Unsurprisingly, biopharma remains one of the most dynamic sectors, driven by late-stage clinical developments, regulatory decisions and intensifying competition for novel therapies. By the end of Q2 alone, 64 Phase 3 catalysts and 43 PDUFA catalysts are anticipated, followed by another 81 Phase 3 catalysts and 69 PDUFA catalysts by the end of Q3. These and other market-moving catalysts will surely cause investors to monitor the industry closely as breakthroughs in drug development, acquisitions and FDA approvals create both opportunities and volatility.

The impact of private companies on the public market

While public companies typically dominate headlines, the novel advancements and innovations by private biotechs often fuel these major market catalysts.

This was seen recently in January 2025, when GSK (LSE/NYSE: GSK) acquired IDRx, a Boston-based biotech specializing in precision therapies for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Initially, GSK stock fell 1% on January 13, but investor sentiment quickly turned positive as the stock climbed 4% in January, 7% in February and 5% MTD.

Understanding clinical and financial catalysts in the private sector

As public companies increasingly acquire private biotechs to strengthen their portfolios and remain competitive, it is critical to view the entire landscape by tracking the lesser-known clinical and financial data powering these private trailblazers.

Keeping a close watch on private biotech funding enables investors to better anticipate emerging therapies, competitive pressures and market saturation within specific therapeutic areas. Funding for private cell therapy companies peaked in 2021, reflecting a broader trend in biotech. However, companies working on CAR-T and other innovative cell therapies remain a crucial focus for investors—especially in key disease areas such as Cancer ($17.1B raised since 2019 across 221 deals), Autoimmune Disease ($5.4B across 51 deals), Genetic Diseases ($2.9B across 34 deals), Neurological Disorders ($2B across 28 deals) and Infectious Diseases ($1.5B across 29 deals).

Notable 2025 funding rounds

• In the largest 2025 investment to date, Tune Therapeutics raised $175M in a Series B round in early January. Tune’s pipeline is anchored by Tune-401, a clinical-stage epigenetic therapy for chronic Hepatitis B (HBV).
• Umoja Biopharma secured over $100M in Series C financing to advance their in vivo CAR-T pipeline. This includes lead program, CD22 UB-VV400, which is currently being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials for treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, including cancers like large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and other types of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).
• In late February, Inceptor Bio obtained $21M in Series A2 funding in conjunction with the first patient being dosed in the clinical trial for IB-T101, an autologous CAR-T therapy powered by Inceptor’s novel platform. 

Tracking the clinical successes of novel, first-in-class therapies in private pipelines can aid investors in understanding opportunities for M&A. Investors who stay informed about these developments can better gauge whether a company is poised to outperform increased competition and adjust their strategies accordingly to capitalize on growth or mitigate risk.

Staying ahead in biopharma investing

As innovative therapies emerge in the market, staying informed on catalysts in both the public and private sectors is critical. Learn how by joining BYTE51 co-founders, Matthew Gibbs and Ben Bau, and BioPharmCatalyst Senior Director, John Gagliano, on April 2nd for a detailed discussion on leveraging new tools to make data-driven decisions in investing, effective prospecting and client acquisition in biopharma.

Register today for the live webinar, Leveraging New Data Sets: How to Improve Prospecting, Investing, and Data-Driven Decisions in Biotech, to learn about how the BYTE51 platform provides access to $650B in venture capital funding data, plus detailed insights on clinical stages, indications and scientific approaches. With a database featuring 14,000 private life science companies worldwide, BYTE51 enables users to pinpoint high-potential prospects in real time. Attendees will also gain insight into the power of BioPharmCatalyst, a platform that enables investors to access the latest developments, clinical trials and regulatory updates in the public sector.

By closely monitoring developments in both publicly traded and privately held companies, investors can better anticipate market shifts and make informed decisions. As the biopharma industry evolves, those who are well-equipped with comprehensive information and strategic foresight will be best positioned to stay ahead in this competitive, volatile arena.