Biotech entrepreneurs tend to be an optimistic group, and there were many pockets of hope for 2024. However, the consensus remains that depressed valuations and paucity of fresh funds will continue to pose a challenge for the sector, and companies will need to prioritize carefully and work even harder to demonstrate and create value.

Setting a strategic focus on solid cancers with its enhanced PRIME CAR-T technology, Koji Tamada, CEO of Noile-Immune, shared the Japanese bioventure's collaboration strategies and views on the next generation of cell therapies. 

While the SVB and wider banking crisis has shaken VCs and bioventures in the US and Europe, Japan has mixed view on its impact and the government is keeping an eye on the situation. But one biotech has nevertheless cautiously decided to withdraw from a market listing despite Tokyo Exchange Market approval.

With only weeks to go in 2022, the three major pharmas each had inked between 16 and 20 deals. Meanwhile, Pfizer has been less busy with 12 deals, but those include M&A totaling $18.2bn.