For years, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM) kicked off with splashy headlines of major M&A activity among biopharma companies, but in 2026, the hype outweighed reality and in the end, no major merger announcements were made during the conference for companies developing therapeutics.
Boston Scientific Corp. looked ready to keep steamrolling down the acquisition path, carrying the momentum from last year, with the news that it is acquiring Penumbra Inc., a company that makes devices for interventional therapies to treat vascular conditions such as stroke and aneurysm, for a whopping $14.5 billion.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. has entered into an exclusive global license agreement with U-mab Biopharma (Lianyungang) Co. Ltd., securing rights to a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAP) for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Affluent Medical SAS is becoming Carvolix after it entered into binding agreements to acquire Caranx Medical SAS for €16.6 million (US$19.34 million) and Artedrone SAS for €11.4 million. The aim is to create an integrated med tech company which will focus on revolutionizing cardiac valve replacement and stroke treatment through AI-driven autonomous mini-robots and innovative implants.
Généthon, a nonprofit laboratory created by the AFM-Téléthon, has reported its exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Askbio Inc., a subsidiary of Bayer AG, for the use of a patented component of AB-1009, under development by Askbio, for the treatment of Pompe disease.
At the Biotech Showcase 2026 – part of the broader hoopla in San Francisco surrounding the J.P. Morgan 2026 Healthcare Conference – a panel of investors and another of pharma dealmakers discussed what to expect from drug company deals in 2026. The calendar flipping marks a good time to look ahead, but the delineation doesn’t really change anything for dealmakers who have experienced a slow shift in attitudes of investors over the last few months that will likely continue into the year ahead.
With rumors regarding a couple of potential mega-mergers making the rounds, the week of the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference kicked off with the official disclosure of some billion-dollar collaborations, leading with Abbvie Inc.’s exclusive licensing deal with Remegen Co. Ltd. for PD-1/VEGF-targeted bispecific antibody RC-148.
With rumors regarding a couple of potential mega-mergers making the rounds, the week of the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference kicked off with the official disclosure of some billion-dollar collaborations, leading with Abbvie Inc.’s exclusive licensing deal with Remegen Co. Ltd. for PD-1/VEGF-targeted bispecific antibody RC-148.
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. said it is scrapping plans to acquire Jenavalve Technology Inc. for $945 million after a federal court ruled against the company in a case brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to block the deal.
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. President and CEO Kazuhide Nakatomi is leading a management buyout to take the company private, citing mounting drug pricing pressures and tougher listing requirements on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
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