In February, deals formed by biopharma firms reached $7.76 billion, down from January, which marked the sixth-highest month in BioWorld’s records going back to 2016. Meanwhile, biopharma M&As amounted to $18.22 billion for the month, positioning it among the top 10 highest-value months in the past four years.

Biopharma deals in January reached $26.97 billion, marking the sixth-highest month in BioWorld’s records going back to 2016. It is an increase of nearly 25% from the $21.64 billion in deals in January 2023 and also is up from December. Value the first month of the year is more than 2023’s average monthly value of $18.14 billion, and likewise more than the average monthly value of any previous year.

The biopharma industry started 2024 on the upswing, with all four categories of financings tracked by BioWorld up in value compared to last January, and also up from December. In comparison to January 2023, IPO value soared 262%, follow-ons surged by 247%, public/other offerings saw a 381% rise, and private financings experienced a 21% bump.

Biopharma stocks saw a resurgence in 2023, with the BioWorld Stock Index finishing the year with a gain of 33.59%, in contrast to the 32.75% decline in 2022. An analysis of 516 stocks from the index showed that 193 companies (37%) concluded the year on a positive note, while shares of 322 companies (62%) experienced a downturn. Anebulo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ANEB), a biopharma focused on substance use disorders, saw its stock end 2023 at the same price as its 2022 closing. Meanwhile, the BioWorld Biopharmaceutical Index ended November up 4.37%.

Biopharma deals totaled $18.97 billion in November, marking a notable decrease from October’s historic deal value of $44.91 billion. Even still, through the first 11 months of 2023 cumulative deal value reached $194.26 billion, an 18.65% gain over the $163.73 billion recorded in the same period in 2022.

In November, the biopharma industry raised $5.65 billion in total financings. While down from $11.6 billion tracked by BioWorld in October, overall financings are tracking ahead of last year. Biopharma funding has maintained an average of $6.1 billion per month in 2023, surpassing the $5.07 billion monthly average throughout 2022.

Biopharma grants have sustained the upward trajectory noted in August, ending October up nearly 75% compared to the corresponding period last year. In contrast, nonprofit deal value has continued its year-over-year decline, marked by a more than 90% decrease in value.

Clinical trial updates for the period of January to October 2023 saw an increase of 4.6% compared to the same time period last year. Comparatively, clinical data from January to September 2023 was up 1.79% compared to the same period last year.

October marked a historic milestone for the biopharma industry, with deal values hitting $44.91 billion. It was the highest amount ever recorded by BioWorld, topping a deal value of $42.45 billion in December 2022. While the cumulative value of biopharma deals through Q3 lagged behind the previous year, October’s outstanding value has catapulted this year ahead. In the first 10 months of 2023, deal value reached $175.2 billion, compared to $148.56 billion recorded in the same period in 2022.