Biotech start-up met with 22 agency officials to discuss development of its compound for treatment of epidermolysis bullosa, a rare, genetic connective tissue disorder.

Biotech start-up met with 22 agency officials to discuss development of its compound for treatment of epidermolysis bullosa, a rare, genetic connective tissue disorder.

Cash is still “cheap” but biopharma M&A continues to move slowly – mid-cap industry execs tell “The Pink Sheet” partly because there is so much competition to acquire the best assets. Meanwhile, most companies are economizing on R&D even as they strive to develop the products that will carry them into the next decade.

According to the Strategic Transactions database, 2013 saw 92 deals involving biopharma M&A completed or close to completion; the most active participants were specialty pharma companies, with only a handful of big pharmas committing to buying up assets.