2022 was an unspectacular year on the biotech M&A front. The industry witnessed a decline in both deal volume and value, as potential purchasers exercised caution due to economic and geopolitical uncertainties. The aggregate total deal value of all M&A transactions signed in 2022 has significantly dropped by 55 per cent, plummeting from $225 billion to just $103 billion during the same period, according to IQVIA Pharma Deals.
But that’s set to change and the landscape is looking hopeful fuelled by several billion dollar acquisitions by big pharma firms. Five big pharma companies (AstraZeneca (UK), Pfizer (USA), Sanofi (France) Merck (USA) and GSK (UK)) have announced acquisitions worth approximately $60 billion in total, raising hopes that this could be a rebound year for biotech M&A.
AstraZeneca was the first to make a move, announcing on January 9, 2023, its plan to acquire CinCor Pharma, a US-based company, for $1.8 billion. The acquisition aims to enhance AstraZeneca’s pipeline for treating hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Then, on March 13, 2023, came Pfizer’s proposed acquisition of Seagen for an eye-popping $43 billion, enhancing the American multinational’s position as a leading company in oncology. On the same day, French drugmaker Sanofi acquired US-based Provention Bio for $2.9 billion to bolster its portfolio of diabetes medicines.
On April 16, 2023, US-based behemoth Merck purchased Prometheus Biosciences, an American clinical-stage biotechnology company specialising in immune-mediated diseases, for $10.8 billion. On April 18, 2023, British drug major GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced its acquisition of Canadian firm BELLUS Health for $2.0 billion, gaining access to a potential best-in-class treatment for chronic cough.
Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av BioSpectrum Asia.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av BioSpectrum Asia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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"Our priorities will include identifying and understanding the challenges while engaging regularly with industry leaders to address their concerns"
K Raja Bhanu has been elevated from Executive Director to Director General of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), effective July 1, 2024. Bhanu brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished career in drug control and regulation. He has a proven track record in advancing drug quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. His leadership at the Drug Control Administration (DCA) was marked by significant initiatives that enhanced drug regulation standards and reinforced India's pharmaceutical reputation globally. In his current role, Bhanu is set to drive the expansion of India's pharmaceutical exports, boost global competitiveness, and adeptly navigate the complexities of international regulations, leveraging his extensive expertise to foster industry growth and global prominence. In an interaction with BioSpectrum, he shared his plans on addressing many challenges before the Indian pharma industry to stay compliant with international regulations. Edited excerpts:
"Australia has long been a global leader in research, yet our biotech sector has not lived up to its full potential"
Australia's first true biotech incubator, Proto Axiom, has secured $20 million in the first close of its $30 million Series B round to strengthen the nation's biotech sector through greater IP retention. Anthony Liveris, CEO of Proto Axio discusses the incubator's selection criteria, identifying the most promising biotech trends for global health, and outlining the key strengths that make Australian biotech globally competitive. Edited excerpts:
Unleashing Innovative Wound Care Solutions
The incidence of wounds is rising, especially in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In Australia alone, 420,000 individuals are impacted by chronic wounds, leading to direct healthcare costs of AUD $3 billion, representing 2 per cent of the country's total healthcare expenditure. Similarly, data from Singapore between 2000 and 2017 revealed that the incidence of wounds among hospitalised adults was 300 per 100,000 for those over 18 and 800 per 100,000 for those over 50. Let's explore further.