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. 8, 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. 6, 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. 3, 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

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. 9, 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. 9, 2019

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. 9, 2019

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. 9, 2019

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. 9, 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. 6, 2019

Astellas joins gene therapy race with $3B Audentes buy

Manufacturing was a key draw for Astellas, which gains access to a plant owned by Audentes that can support clinical and commercial production. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 3, 2019

Neurocrine, Xenon ink R&D deal targeting rare form of epilepsy

Working to expand its pipeline beyond the tardive dyskinesia drug Ingrezza, Neurocrine will gain access to one clinical and several preclinical treatments.

By Andrew Dunn • Dec. 2, 2019

Medicines Co. deal caps pharma's reentry into field it once abandoned

Large pharma companies like Novartis, Roche and J&J are buying back into RNAi, a technology that several retreated from in the early 2010s.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 26, 2019

What Novartis needs to do to make Medicines Co. deal a success

Research, sales and payer teams must execute for inclisiran to succeed in a market where would-be rivals Repatha and Praluent have faltered.

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 25, 2019

Novartis buys Medicines Co. in $9.7B bet on cholesterol drug

Acquiring The Medicines Company gives Novartis access to inclisiran, a lipid-lowering drug likely to win approval but facing uncertain commercial prospects.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 24, 2019