A spring of hope has emerged for BioWorld’s Drug Developers Index (BDDI) with stocks moving in a positive direction in recent weeks, much in line with the broader markets. The BDDI is currently down for the year by 15.5%, but that is an improvement over the 21% decline at the end of February. Likewise, the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average are showing similar upward trajectories, but are still down by 11.1% and 4.2%, respectively. It is the first time this year stocks have begun to rise.

Sorrento Therapeutics Inc.’s majority-owned subsidiary, Scilex Holding Co., and antibody drug developer Apexigen Inc. both announced plans late this week to go public via mergers with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), suggesting that, despite current market conditions, SPACs are still considered a viable option for firms seeking cash and access to public markets.

From every perspective, the number of biopharma deals with nonprofit or government entities, as well as industry grants, are significantly below last year, and efforts focused on the COVID-19 pandemic have dropped as well.

Despite three mammoth deals signed for antibody-drug conjugates, the BioWorld Cancer Index (BCI), which ended last year down 36%, has fallen another 35% in the early months of 2022. It is a much sharper decline than that seen with the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which are down 18% and 7.5%, respectively.