Biopharma dealmaking activity remained strong in October, with total deal value reaching $31.86 billion, a 17% increase from $27.15 billion in September and ranking as the second-highest month in 2025 after June’s $35.43 billion.

Biopharma dealmaking activity remained strong in October, with total deal value reaching $31.86 billion, a 17% increase from $27.15 billion in September and ranking as the second-highest month in 2025 after June’s $35.43 billion.

Biopharma companies focused on infectious disease extended their stock recoveries through the third quarter (Q3), with the BioWorld Infectious Disease Index closing October up 28.98%. The gain marks a strong turnaround from earlier in the year, when the index had fallen 17.83% by the end of April before rebounding to a 4.34% gain by July’s close.

Med-tech financings with reported values reached $23.33 billion through the first three quarters of 2025, putting the sector on pace to surpass last year’s full-year total of $25.37 billion. Activity peaked in the first quarter with $9.33 billion raised, followed by $8.23 billion in Q2 and $5.77 billion in Q3.

Drug developer stocks strengthened further through September and October, with the BioWorld Drug Developers Index (BDDI) rising from a 7.69% gain at the end of August, to 24.91% through the third quarter and 28.96% at October’s close. The BDDI outperformed both the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which finished October up 24.49% and 11.8%, respectively.

Med-tech financings with disclosed valuations from January through October 2025 totaled $26.58 billion, nearly matching 2022’s $26.83 billion and marking a continued recovery from the sector’s 2023 low of $15.59 billion. The data suggest renewed investor confidence in med-tech, with capital flows shifting back toward public markets after two years of restrained activity.

Biopharma financings from January through October 2025 totaled $61.45 billion, roughly in line with the $61.04 billion raised during the same period in 2023 but down sharply from last year’s $93.83 billion.

Biopharma financings from January through October 2025 totaled $61.45 billion, roughly in line with the $61.04 billion raised during the same period in 2023 but down sharply from last year’s $93.83 billion.

Biopharma partnerships involving nonprofits have declined sharply since peaking during the pandemic. Deal value surged from $5.18 billion in 2019 to $21.44 billion in 2021, driven by COVID-19 collaborations and vaccine-related funding, before falling to $7.99 billion in 2022 and $754.6 million in 2024. So far in 2025, nonprofit deal value totals $126 million through the third quarter.

In 2025, the biopharma industry has undergone a wave of workforce reductions that surpasses previous years’ trends. Multiple major pharma companies have announced sizeable job cuts, driven by a convergence of shifting regulatory terrain, vaccine slowdowns and cost-structure rationalization.