Biotech Deal Volume Increases 58% in Q3:16

Overall, mergers and acquisitions slowed in Q3:16, down 11% compared with Q2:16, and 10% lower than in Q3:15. The biotechnology sector saw just the opposite phenomenon. Biotech transactions grew by 58%, to 52 deals, compared with the previous quarter’s 33 deals, and by 24% compared with the same quarter in 2015, when 42 deals were announced.  Not all deals in this sector involve the purchase of an entire company, however. Just 42% of the third-quarter transactions fit that description. The remaining 58% deals involved the purchase of exclusive rights and licenses to products, product candidates or intellectual property from a biotech firm. Pharmaceutical companies have pulled back (or... Read More »

Allergan Is Bullish on Biotech

Ever since Allergan (NYSE: AGN) completed the $40.5 billion sale of its generics business to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) on August 2, the pharma giant is targeting biotech companies with a vengeance. In September alone (and we’re only talking about three weeks at this point), the company has announced four deals, totalling $1.28 billion. Year-to-date, Allergan has announced nine transactions for a total of $1.67 billion, more than Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) seven deals but far behind the $19.8 billion Pfizer committed to those transactions. (Pfizer’s biggest deal this year, the $13.5 billion acquisition of Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN), was announced in August.)... Read More »