The deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus that has cost nearly 6 million lives worldwide and disrupted global economies has brought the biopharma industry $82 billion in sales revenue since the start of the pandemic, with guidance for another $88 billion this year.

The biopharmaceutical sector is stumbling through the early months of 2022, as investors appear to be pulling back from the enthusiasm that marked much of the last two years. BioWorld’s Biopharmaceutical Index (BBI) is down 4.2% through last week and the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index shows a drop of more than 15%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has likewise fallen 5.58%. In contrast, BBI had a 10.5% gain in 2020 and a 5.93% gain in 2021. While each of those years represent the top two years for financings in the history of the industry, 2022 appears to be lagging in that regard as well, with January financings down by 55% over the prior year.

The number of biopharma deals with nonprofits or government entities has dropped over last year, partly due to fewer COVID-19-related alliances, but the activity in 2022 is still strong in comparison to pre-pandemic years.

An increasing number and rising value of high-money biopharma deals has placed early 2022 above all recent years, even though there are fewer partnerships overall.