During Q1, biopharma merger and acquisition value reached $34.8bn and drew in $35bn in potential deal value (PDV) from alliances. Device company M&A values reached $10.2bn, while in vitro diagnostic firms and research tools players completed M&A activity that totaled $5bn.

To open the year, biopharmas brought in an aggregate $33.2bn in financing and device company fundraising totaled $2.8bn; while in vitro diagnostic firms and research tools players raised $7bn ($6.1bn).

BridgeBio Pharma’s affiliate QED Therapeutics granted and Helsinn Group exclusive global rights (excluding Greater China) to the FGFR1-3 inhibitor infigratinib in oncology and all other indications except skeletal dysplasias (including achondroplasia). BridgeBio could see up to $2.45bn in payments from the deal, including over $100m in up-front, regulatory, and launch payments, and the remainder in sales milestones. In the month’s top M&A, Amgen entered into an agreement to acquire fellow public biotech Five Prime Therapeutics for about $1.9bn, gaining Phase III-ready bemarituzumab for frontline advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer.  

More option deals, greater use of alternative remedy clauses and aggressive diligence of assets. Geoffrey Spolyar, special counsel at Cooley, spotlights some of the changes he is seeing in pharma and biotech partnership agreements and explains why these trends matter in 2021.

Derived from Biomedtracker, the Deal-Making column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced in March 2021. Data provided by Biomedtracker.

Molecular Templates penned a research collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb to discover and develop multiple therapies designed for specific oncology targets using Molecular’s next-generation engineered toxin body platform. BMS paid $70m up front and could shell out development and regulatory milestones up to $874.5m and $450m upon the achievement of certain sales milestones. ICON entered into a definitive agreement to acquire fellow public CRO PRA Health Sciences in a 48% cash and 52% stock transaction valued at approximately $12bn. Financing reached $11.4bn in biopharma, $1.2bn in device, and $1.5bn in diagnostics.