When he first stepped into the field of glycoproteomics, particularly the potential of truncated O-glycans as cancer targets, Constantine Theodoropulos, CEO of Go Therapeutics Inc., said the reaction from peers was less than encouraging. 

Numerous life sciences firms are targeting digital health and diagnostic companies for take-outs and licensing deals, placing the med-tech industry in a strong position in 2022.

In one of the year’s biggest deals, Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) is buying Turning Point Therapeutics Inc. for about $4.1 billion to get at a potential cancer blockbuster, repotrectinib. The oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Turning Point’s lead asset, targets ROS1 and TRK in treating ROS1-positive metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Once the deal closes, BMS’ acquisition of Turning Point would be the second largest of the year. The biggest remains Pfizer Inc.’s purchase of San Diego’s Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $6.7 billion in March.

A new $1.33 billion oncology deal between Roche Holding AG and Repare Therapeutics Inc. is poised to give the Swiss multinational access to what it hopes will be a best-in-class program targeting DNA damage repair for the treatment of solid tumors. The global licensing agreement, for Repare's midstage camonsertib, gives Roche entrée to a developing race to lead the class alongside other big players, such as Merck KGaA, Bayer AG and Astrazeneca plc.

Healiva SA, a Swiss wound care specialist, emerged from stealth mode having acquired two cell therapy assets from Smith & Nephew plc. Financial terms were not disclosed, but they included an up-front payment as well as “deferred benefits,” Healiva CEO and founder Priyanka Dutta-Passecker told BioWorld. The deal means that the Lugano-based company – which was formed in 2020 – could be booking revenues as early as 2023.

When he first stepped into the field of glycoproteomics, particularly the potential of truncated O-glycans as cancer targets, Constantine Theodoropulos, CEO of Go Therapeutics Inc., said the reaction from peers was less than encouraging. “They said, ‘You’re nuts, it’s too complicated.’” Now, however, the company he co-founded has landed a deal with Astellas Pharma Inc.’s immuno-oncology-focused subsidiary, Xyphos Biosciences Inc., that brings $20.5 million up front, with the potential for up to $763 million in milestone and contingency payments down the road.

Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) pledged $2.1 billion up front and as much as $1.2 billion in development milestone payments to take over privately held Affinivax Inc. and bring aboard the phase II-stage, next-generation, 24-valent pneumococcal vaccine candidate, AFX-3772. London-based GSK is buying all outstanding shares of Affinivax, of Cambridge, Mass., for $2.1 billion upon closing the deal in the third quarter of this year, and two potential milestone payments of $600 million to be paid if certain pediatric development goals are reached.