Deals
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Mario Tama via Getty Images
Pfizer, BioNTech ink vaccine supply deal for Africa in step toward addressing criticism
The companies aim to deliver 100 million doses per year to 55 African countries in an effort to shrink the wide gap between high- and lower-income countries in coronavirus vaccinations.
By Jonathan Gardner • July 21, 2021 -
Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
AstraZeneca deal for Alexion to close soon as UK regulator clears acquisition
The go-ahead from British regulators was the last hurdle standing in the way of the two companies wrapping up their $39 billion deal announced last year.
By Kristin Jensen • July 14, 2021 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineThe BioPharma Dive Outlook on 2021
M&A appears to be ticking higher after a slow 2020, while a series of setbacks has renewed questions around gene therapy. Several key clinical trial readouts also loom. Here's what to watch in biotech and pharma this year.
By BioPharma Dive staff -
Lilly wagers up to $1B on a biotech's plan for a new type of insulin
Rival Novo Nordisk has jumped ahead in developing an injectable drug that responds to changes in blood sugar. An acquisition of Protomer Therapeutics could help Lilly close the gap.
By Jonathan Gardner • July 14, 2021 -
Permission granted by Biogen
Biogen chases rivals with another bet on emerging class of multiple sclerosis drugs
A deal with Innocare gives Biogen a second therapy for MS that targets a protein called BTK, an approach several other competing drugmakers are pursuing, too.
By Ben Fidler • UPDATED: July 14, 2021 at 9:34 a.m. -
Novo Nordisk
Novo, in rare deal, buys rights to Prothena amyloidosis treatment
The Danish pharma will pay $100 million in the near term and as much as $1.2 billion overall for an antibody Prothena is developing for ATTR amyloidosis.
By Ned Pagliarulo • July 12, 2021 -
Warren Little via Getty Images
GSK returns to brain drugs with major biotech deal
The pharmaceutical giant best known for its work in cancer, HIV and respiratory illnesses is now paying at least $700 million to get its hands on two experimental drugs from Alector.
By Jacob Bell • July 02, 2021 -
Nestlé joins Seres in deal to market microbiome drug
The health science unit at Nestlé may pay more than $500 million to secure rights in the U.S. and Canada for SER-109, a spore-filled capsule meant for patients with recurrent C. diff infections.
By Kristin Jensen • July 01, 2021 -
Nasdaq
Deals surge, returns slip: takeaways from a record half for biotech IPOs
Biotech initial public offerings could break records set just last year. But their average size and performance are declining, which some say might reflect an overdue correction.
By Ben Fidler • June 30, 2021 -
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With Alzheimer's drugs in focus, Bristol Myers rejoins the hunt
The pharmaceutical giant is spending $80 million for an exclusive license to an experimental drug developed by Prothena.
By Jacob Bell • June 24, 2021 -
Courtesy of GSK Flickr page
GSK outlines ambitious 10-year plan, but hits investors' near-term outlook
Under pressure from activist investors, the British drugmaker set lofty sales targets for a "new GSK" after a planned exit from consumer health. But shareholders will first face a dividend cut.
By Jonathan Gardner • June 23, 2021 -
Permission granted by Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers partners with Eisai in $650M deal for targeted cancer antibody
The U.S. drugmaker is the latest to invest large sums of money in antibody-drug conjugates, following recent deals by Gilead, Merck and AstraZeneca.
By Jonathan Gardner • June 18, 2021 -
Getty / Edited by BioPharma Dive
CRISPR, with new partner, to develop gene editing therapies for ALS, nerve disorder
A deal with biotech startup Capsida, which recently raised $140 million, gives CRISPR access to a Caltech technology that aims to improve the delivery of genetic medicines.
By Jonathan Gardner • June 15, 2021 -
Warren Little via Getty Images
GSK pays iTeos $625M to join race for new type of cancer immunotherapy
The British drugmaker has become the latest large pharmaceutical company to make a sizable investment in a drug targeting TIGIT, following deals from Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead and others.
By Ben Fidler • June 14, 2021 -
Brian Tucker / BioPharma Dive
'The lights are no longer green': Antitrust regulators reassess pharma deals
The FTC and its counterparts abroad are rethinking their approach to drugmaker acquisitions. Past scrutiny offers clues to where they may look next.
By Jonathan Gardner • June 10, 2021 -
Bayer AG
Bayer buys a biotech and its offshoot in bet on radiopharmaceuticals
The German pharma will add an experimental prostate cancer medicine to its pipeline through the deal, which reflects growing industry interest in the field.
By Ned Pagliarulo • June 03, 2021 -
Elizabeth Regan / Industry Dive
MorphoSys to buy Constellation in $1.7B deal, aided by unusual funding
Royalty Pharma will effectively fund MorphoSys' acquisition of the cancer biotech through a separate agreement to buy MorphoSys' shares of royalties on several marketed and experimental medicines.
By Ned Pagliarulo • June 02, 2021 -
Permission granted by Biogen
Biogen licenses a stroke drug from Japanese drugmaker TMS
The drug, which Biogen had an option to license, is one of two in the biotech's pipeline for a condition that has had few new treatments developed.
By Kristin Jensen • May 12, 2021 -
Courtesy of Gingo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks to go public through $2.5B SPAC deal
Bellco Capital, led by Kite Pharma and Allogene Therapeutics founder Arie Belldegrun, will co-sponsor the transaction alongside Eagle Equity Partners.
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 11, 2021 -
Getty / Edited by BioPharma Dive
CSL closes deal for UniQure gene therapy in hopeful sign for M&A
Completion of the buyout eases concerns the arrangement might be held up by the FTC, which has signaled it will step up scrutiny of life sciences deals.
By Kristin Jensen • May 06, 2021 -
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Roivant valued at $7B in blank-check merger, bucking SPAC slowdown
Vivek Ramaswamy's unusual biotech holding company will go public through a deal with Montes Archimedes Acquisition Corp. that nets Roivant $611 million.
By Ben Fidler • May 03, 2021 -
Ryan McKnight, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Vertex bets another $900M on CRISPR treatment for blood diseases
Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics are tweaking their partnership so that the larger biotech will cover 60% of the costs — and receive 60% of the future profits — related to a gene editing therapy for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.
By Jacob Bell • April 20, 2021 -
Permission granted by Relay Therapeutics
Relay buys AI startup to aid unorthodox drug discovery quest
The $85 million acquisition is an unusual and early step for a company like Relay, which went public last July and only just began clinical testing of its lead drugs last year.
By Ned Pagliarulo • April 16, 2021 -
Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
US clears AstraZeneca buyout of Alexion amid closer scrutiny of biopharma M&A
FTC authorization of the $39 billion deal — the sector's largest in 2020 — may ease concerns over the agency's plans to more intently inspect pharma deals.
By Jonathan Gardner • April 16, 2021 -
Elizabeth Regan / Industry Dive
Thermo Fisher to buy research contractor PPD in $17B deal
The deal values PPD at $47.50 a share, or about 24% over the company's closing price on April 13 — the day before The Wall Street Journal reported word of the planned acquisition.
By Kristin Jensen • April 15, 2021 -
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Cancer biotech Tango to go public through $350M SPAC deal
Gilead, which expanded its research collaboration with Tango last year, will take part in a related private investment along with more than a dozen high-profile backers.
By Kristin Jensen • April 14, 2021
