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Feb 5, 2024

The top 10 biopharma M&A deals of 2023

J&J’s $6.5B autoimmune drug hits phase 3 goal, teeing up approval talks and keeping heat on argenx, UCB

Novo antes up $16.5B to poach CDMO giant Catalent amid Wegovy surge

NanoString files for bankruptcy, explores potential sale amid patent battle with 10x Genomics

Preclinical gene editing biotech Metagenomi outlines modest $87M IPO ambitions

Featured

The top 10 biopharma M&A deals of 2023

By Eric Sagonowsky,Kevin Dunleavy,Angus Liu,Fraiser Kansteiner,Zoey Becker

Last year, the value of the top 10 M&A deals in the biopharma industry came to $115.8 billion, outranking prior sums from 2022, 2021 and 2020, which came to $65 billion, $53 billion and $97 billion, respectively. This report breaks down the industry's 10 largest M&A agreements of the year.

J&J’s $6.5B autoimmune drug hits phase 3 goal, teeing up approval talks and keeping heat on argenx, UCB

By Nick Paul Taylor

Johnson & Johnson’s $6.5 billion autoimmune drug has hit the mark in a phase 3 trial. The success tees J&J up to talk to regulators about approving the anti-FcRn antibody in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), although questions about the competitiveness of the late-to-market asset remain unanswered.

Novo antes up $16.5B to poach CDMO giant Catalent amid Wegovy surge

By Fraiser Kansteiner

Late last month, Novo Holdings’ CEO Kasim Kutay hinted that the fund manager was eyeing buyouts as an outlet for its trove of Wegovy cash. Now, a major deal has materialized.

NanoString files for bankruptcy, explores potential sale amid patent battle with 10x Genomics

By Andrea Park

After losing a patent infringement lawsuit last year that ended with an order to pay out $31 million in damages, leaving it all but hanging by a thread, NanoString is plotting a new way forward.

Preclinical gene editing biotech Metagenomi outlines modest $87M IPO ambitions

By James Waldron

With the IPO window now firmly wedged open, Metagenomi is the latest biotech to set out expectations for going public—even if they are slightly more modest than peer companies have seen in recent weeks.

J&J's Biosense Webster puts forward pulsed field ablation data showing no afib after one year

By Conor Hale

Presented as a late-breaking trial at the International AF Symposium in Boston, the single-arm study showed 75.6% of patients demonstrated no signs of atrial fibrillation recurrence as well as no evidence of other atrial arrhythmias, such as tachycardia or flutter.

Novartis CEO's 2023 pay rises 21% as Roche's helmsman nets $11M in his first year

By Angus Liu

After leading Swiss drug giants Novartis and Roche through pivotal years, their CEOs have each netted multimillion-dollar compensation packages for 2023.

The VR doctor is in: Cedars-Sinai adds AI-powered therapy app to Apple Vision Pro headset

By Andrea Park

An app developed by Cedars-Sinai for use with Apple’s new spatial computing headset is putting a new spin on the concept of virtual care.

Pliant’s liver disease treatment slowed progression at highest dose, but efficacy didn't improve stepwise

By Max Bayer

The highest dose of Pliant's liver disease treatment passed a phase 2 data, showing that it was safe and tolerable. But exploratory efficacy failed to differentiate from lower doses.

Procyrion raises $57M to complete development of its percutaneous heart failure pump

By Conor Hale

The company’s series E round was led by Fannin Partners, alongside backing from previous investors such as Bluebird Ventures, and includes the conversion of $10 million in previous interim financing.

Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

'The Top Line': Navigating the future of medical AI

This week on “The Top Line,” Fierce’s Conor Hale interviews Peter Shen, the North American head of digital health at Siemens Healthineers, to explore what developers and regulators can do to ensure transparency in medical AI. He also dives into how the field could potentially benefit from a 21st-century update to the Hippocratic Oath.

'Podnosis': Catching up with the Fierce 15 of 2019

‘The Top Line’: Closing the $1 trillion women’s health gap

Resources

Whitepaper

The Oncology Market – 2023 Year in Review

This paper offers a detailed review of key events and developments in the oncology market during 2023. It’s a helpful “status report” that informs how the market is likely to evolve in 2024. It covers, vaccines, radiopharmaceuticals, ADCs, CAR-Ts, bi-specifics, & more.

Presented by Blue Matter, strategic consultants in the life sciences

Whitepaper

Developing and Manufacturing Drugs with HPAPIs

Discover how to effectively classify highly potent APIs and the steps required to develop containment protocols and manufacturing processes that are both safe and efficient.