Deals
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Nestlé boosts investment as Aimmune preps launch of peanut allergy drug
With $200 million more in the bank, the biotech also in-licensed an experimental next-generation food allergy therapy from Xencor.
By Jonathan Gardner • UPDATED: Feb. 5, 2020 at 2:02 p.m. -
Catalent, expecting a boom in cell therapy, bids for Masthercell
With biologics driving growth, the contract manufacturer is looking to diversify with a $315 million purchase that hands it a slate of production sites.
By Jacob Bell • Feb. 03, 2020 -
To close merger, AbbVie and Allergan sell digestive drug to AstraZeneca
Allergan acquired global rights to brazikumab for $250 million up front in 2016, but expected antitrust conflicts pushed it and AbbVie to pursue a divestment.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 27, 2020 -
Lilly seeking out more 'Dermira-like' deals: report
The pharma is targeting deals between $1 billion and $5 billion every quarter, its CFO told Reuters, although the focus will be on clinical-stage assets.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 17, 2020 -
BioNTech rescues cancer biotech Neon in bargain buyout
The all-stock deal, worth $67 million, valued Neon at a 86% discount to the cell therapy developer's IPO price of $16 per share.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Orchard isn't for the picking, Biohaven's Allergan headache, and who's on Vascepa?
Amarin CEO John Thero had one question for investors eager to hear about his company's plans for its heart pill, while Orchard made a case for independence.
By Jacob Bell • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Galapagos finds a new normal at biotech's biggest dealmaking event
Though the Belgian drug company is tied to a 10-year, $5 billion research pact with Gilead, its CEO says there's still some "wheeling and dealing" left to do.
By Jacob Bell • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Astellas swoops in for Adaptimmune deal a day after positive data
For $50 million, the Japanese pharma signed up for three programs in a deal that could net Adaptimmune hundreds of millions more if all goes to plan.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 14, 2020 -
Biogen finds $75M home for Pfizer Alzheimer's drug
Having stepped back from neuroscience research, Pfizer will sell off an early-stage therapy to Biogen, which has made the space its central focus.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 13, 2020 -
After a record-breaking year, pharma M&A forecast to stay strong in 2020
A quiet start to the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, often viewed as a gauge of dealmaking interest, could spark some doubts, however.
By Andrew Dunn • Jan. 13, 2020 -
Lilly to buy Dermira, challenging Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent
With the industry's first significant acquisition of 2020, Lilly is positioning itself to compete in the growing atopic dermatitis market.
By Andrew Dunn • Jan. 10, 2020 -
AbbVie to house Allergan Botox business in separate unit
Allergan's eyecare and specialty drugs, however, will be folded into the existing AbbVie organization once its $63 billion acquisition is complete.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 08, 2020 -
Merck adds to lung cancer wall with Otsuka deal
The $50 million deal with two Japanese biotechs is a small bet to match challengers in Amgen and Mirati, who are advancing agents targeting KRAS mutations.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 06, 2020 -
Illumina scraps $1.2B PacBio takeover amid regulatory pushback
The FTC's action to block the deal comes amid heightened scrutiny of life sciences deals, most notably Roche's now completed buyout of Spark.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 03, 2020 -
Roche hands $1B to Sarepta in major return to gene therapy deals
The Swiss pharma acquired a muscular dystrophy treatment for markets outside the U.S. in a pact that could reach a value of $10 billion.
By Jonathan Gardner • Dec. 23, 2019 -
Biogen, Novartis go different ways on Ionis therapies
An Ionis Alzheimer's drug is getting licensed by Biogen at the same time that Novartis decided not to opt-in on an Akcea therapy for high triglyceride levels.
By Jacob Bell • Dec. 19, 2019 -
Jazz lines up $1B for lung cancer drug, making oncology focus clear
While the Irish biopharma is best known for its sleep drugs, this deal adds to a pipeline that shows Jazz's ambitions are in cancer.
By Andrew Dunn • Dec. 19, 2019 -
Global Blood taps Syros for its next act in blood disorders
Fresh off a sickle cell approval, Global Blood is looking to Syros' technology to keep up with the rapid innovation happening there and in beta thalassemia.
By Jacob Bell • Dec. 18, 2019 -
Roche's $4.8B deal for Spark cleared by FTC after long delay
An unconditional OK for the deal, which was unexpectedly the target of regulatory scrutiny, should ease sector-wide concerns about acquisitions of gene therapy biotechs.
By Ned Pagliarulo • UPDATED: Dec. 17, 2019 at 7:23 p.m. -
Sanofi buys Synthorx for $2.5B in prelude to Hudson's strategy rollout
At a hefty 172% premium for a company with little clinical data, the ambitious buyout comes a day before new CEO Paul Hudson will unveil his plans for the French pharma.
By Andrew Dunn • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Merck's ArQule buy showcases pharma appetite for targeted cancer drugs
The biotech's experimental drug targeting the BTK protein is of particular interest to Merck & Co., which is acquiring ArQule at more than a 100% premium.
By Jacob Bell • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Dive Awards
Executive of the Year: Josh Bilenker, Loxo Oncology
Along with other recently acquired cancer companies like Ignyta and Array, Loxo proved out a drug development model that Bilenker likens to baseball's "moneyball" thesis.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Dive Awards
Deal of the Year: Bristol-Myers Squibb buys Celgene
Whether or not the $74 billion acquisition succeeds for Bristol-Myers, its impact on biotech will be wide-reaching by erasing Celgene, one of the industry's most active dealmakers.
By Andrew Dunn • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Dive Awards
Disruptor of the Year: The Federal Trade Commission
A more active FTC, suggested by the surprise delay for Roche's takeover of Spark, could slow dealmaking in an industry that relies on big pharma buyouts.
By Jonathan Gardner • Dec. 09, 2019 -
We're not for sale, Alexion executives declare
After meeting with hedge fund Elliott Advisors, the biotech said its product switching strategy and drug pipeline will drive more value than seeking buyers.
By Jonathan Gardner • Dec. 06, 2019
