Med-tech deals activity dropped significantly in 2024, falling 84% from $9.83 billion in the first nine months of 2023 to $1.6 billion in the same period this year. While down from $6.59 billion in Q1 to Q3 2022, value is higher than $979.84 million in the comparable period in 2021.
The fact that both the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice have oversight of mergers and acquisitions is something of a regulatory oddity. But David Balto, an attorney specializing on antitrust matters, told BioWorld that this may change in 2025 thanks to support for such a move from both Congress and the White House.
“In an impressive eight-month timeline,” South Korea’s Lunit Inc. completed the $193 million (AU$292 million) acquisition of Volpara Health Technologies Ltd. to globally advance artificial intelligence (AI)-based cancer care.
Med-tech deal value increased in April, reaching $172.37 million, a 538% bump from March’s $27 million. However, the monthly average for deal value in 2024 stands at $140.68 million, reflecting an 84% decline from the 2023 monthly average of $886.13 million.
Roche Holding AG entered into a definitive agreement to buy Lumiradx Ltd.’s point-of-care technology platform for $350 million. The deal is part of Roche’s effort to transform its point-of-care portfolio and enable more patient-centric health care. For Lumiradx, the sale is the end of a journey to restructure and refocus the company and will result in it being delisted from Nasdaq.
After years of battling to retain its hold on Grail Inc., Illumina Inc. finally announced that it will be unwinding the ill-fated acquisition of the multi-cancer early detection test maker. In addition to stiff opposition from activist investor Carl Icahn that cost Illumina’s previous CEO and board chair their positions, European and U.S. regulators have consistently opposed the deal.
Med-tech financings surpassed $1 billion again in November, with transactions totalling $1.02 billion for the month. Though a decline from the $1.23 billion raised in October, the value is up from September’s $645.75 million.
Smith+Nephew plc struck a deal to acquire Cartiheal Ltd. for $180 million at closing and $150 million in contingent payments, seven months after Bioventus Inc. backed out of its agreement to buy the developer of the Agili-C cartilage regeneration platform for $450 million.
Acutus Medical Inc. revealed plans after the Nasdaq closing bell on Nov. 8 to abandon the electrophysiology business as part of a massive restructuring that will leave the company entirely committed to manufacturing and distribution of Medtronic plc’s left-heart access products. The shift will put 65% of Acutus employees out of work and leaves the future of its cardiac ablation and mapping products up in the air.
Management teams beset by angry activist investors may take some solace in Ernst & Young (EY)’s latest Pulse of the Industry report, which confirms what med-tech executives have said for the better part of two years. A post-COVID-19 slump combined with inflation and other unfavorable capital conditions have slammed the global med-tech industry back to earth with little likelihood of a return to the halcyon days of 2021 any time soon.
