Biogen’s $1 Billion Collaboration
The biggest biotechnology deal announced in July came from Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB), which specializes in treatments for neurological, autoimmune and hematologic disorders. The company inked an exclusive, 10-year collaboration agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IONS) to develop novel antisense drug candidates for a broad range of neurological diseases. The price is a combination of $375 million upfront and $625 million to acquire approximately 11.5 million shares of Ionis’ common stock. Biogen may eventually pay development milestones of up to $125 million, or $270 million for each program, depending on the indication, and royalties on net sales. Biogen will have the... Read More »
For a Short Month, February Was Long on Deal Volume
Ever wonder why February is the shortest month of the year? It didn’t even exist on the old Roman calendar, when there were only 10 months in a year. Later, the calendar was revised to include 12 lunar cycles totaling 355 days and January and February were added, with February as the last month of the year. In Julius Caesar’s day, the calendar was changed yet again to align with the solar cycle, which amounted to 365 days. And because a complete revolution of the Earth around the sun is actually 365-and-one-quarter days, an extra day is tacked onto the end of every fourth year, which we call a Leap Year. You remembered that from third grade, of course. All that brings us to why comparing... Read More »
Biotechnology Gets the Usual January Boost
The Biotechnology sector roared to life in 2017, posting a record 209 transactions. That’s 20% higher than the 174 deals announced in 2016. The previous record for the sector was set in 2009, with 193 transactions announced in the space. Spending for those 209 deals in 2017 didn’t set new records, but did post an impressive $54.5 billion in disclosed prices. That’s 283% higher than the $18.6 billion recorded in all of 2016, but not close to the secctor’s annual spending record of $93.9 billion, set in 2008. Every January, the Biotechnology Showcase is held in San Francisco, concurrent with the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference. And every January, this sector sees... Read More »Bioverativ Starts Making Deals
In February, Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) completed the previously announced spin-off of its global hemophilia business. The new company, known as Bioverativ (NASDAQ: BIVV), is an independent, publicly traded global biotechnology company focused on hemophilia and other rare blood disorders. Bioverativ went on to announce the largest biotech deal of May 2017. On May 22, it acquired privately held True North Therapeutics for an upfront payment of $400 million plus assumed cash. True North investors are eligible to receive additional payments of up to $425 million contingent on the achievement of future development, regulatory and sales milestones of its lead product. Based in... Read More »Schedule a demo
Gain access to the best healthcare and long-term care investment intelligence, data, and analysis.
