Nearly four years after signing its first major partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Bridgene Biosciences Inc. returned for a second deal with Takeda – this time focused on using its chemoproteomics platform to discover novel small molecules against immunology and neurology targets.
The trend of corporate pruning in med tech continues with Solventum Corp.’s decision to sell its purification and filtration business to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. for $4.1 billion. The announcement follows two other big company splits already in 2025: Baxter International Inc.’s separation of its kidney unit as Vantive, bought by Carlyle Group Inc. for $3.8 billion, and Stryker Corp.’s planned sale of its spinal implants business to Viscogliosi Brothers LLC.
Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. struck two licensing deals recently, including one with Hyfe Inc. Feb. 25 to develop the world’s potential first prescription digital therapeutic for chronic cough in Japan.
Despite the number of med-tech deals increasing to 1,902 in 2024, up 12% from 1,701 in 2023, the value of these deals has dramatically declined compared to previous years.
Cosette Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced plans to acquire Adelaide, Australia-based Mayne Pharma Pty Ltd. for AU$672 million (US$430 million) to grow its women’s health and dermatology franchise in the U.S. Under terms, Cosette, of Bridgewater, N.J., will acquire 100% of Mayne’s shares at AU$7.40 per share in cash. The price represents a 37% premium to Mayne’s closing share price on Feb. 20. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.
Once high-flying Bluebird Bio Inc. has found a way out of its financial squeeze, as funds managed by global investment firms Carlyle and SK Capital Partners LP, along with a team of biotech executives, will be taking over the company.
Radiance Biopharma Inc. bought its way into the ROR1 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) space through a potential $1 billion-plus licensing deal, including a $15 million up-front payment, with CSPC Megalith Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for rights to RB-164 (SYS-6005) in the U.S. and select countries.
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology developer Genesis Therapeutics Inc. has brought in another larger partner to go on a search for the right therapeutic small molecules. The company is getting an up-front $30 million payment from Incyte Corp. and could bring in as much as $295 million per target in development, regulatory and commercial milestones, bringing the deal to about $620 million total.
Biopharma deal activity in the first month of the year saw the largest January raise thus far, with $28.63 billion in collective funds. While down slightly month over month, the value was comparable to December 2024’s $29.02 billion and November 2024’s $29.34 billion.
Dealmaking in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region took off this week, with the latest showcasing Genome & Co.’s licensing deal with Ellipses Pharma Ltd. for GENA-104, a phase I-ready immuno-oncology asset, under undisclosed terms Feb. 11.
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