Continuing its downward trend, BioWorld’s Cancer Index (BCI) has fallen by 19.16% this year, a stark contrast with the broader Nasdaq Biopharmaceutical Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, both of which are tracking up by 4.49% and 19.03%, respectively. Two-thirds of the 21 stocks that make up BCI are showing losses so far this year, and everything from disappointing sales, strong competition, clinical holds and safety issues are to blame.

A busy regulatory environment globally throughout most of 2021 has translated into more than 15% of all actions taken relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet only one product has been approved in the U.S. for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Without a doubt, 2021 has been a strong year for med-tech M&As, which are valued at significantly more than each of the three prior years. The industry has completed 520 M&As worth $111.7 billion so far, which is 88% more than the next highest year, 2019’s $59.48 billion. The volume is 33% more than the 391 M&As completed in 2020. In addition to completed M&As, a total of 1,376 med-tech deals, including licensings, collaborations and joint ventures, have been completed. They are valued at $1.98 billion, with only 31 deals including financial terms. The number of med-tech deals this year are only slightly below the 1,400 completed by the end of the year in 2020.

Continuing its downward trend, BioWorld’s Cancer Index (BCI) has fallen by 19.16% this year, a stark contrast with the broader Nasdaq Biopharmaceutical Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, both of which are tracking up by 4.49% and 19.03%, respectively.

A surge in deal activity over the last few months has placed 2021 in the running for beating 2020, the best year on record, and becoming the top year for the biopharma industry to date. BioWorld has recorded 1,680 deals valued at $167.39 billion in 2021 vs. 1,744 deals valued at $159.98 billion by this point last year. That puts 2021 ahead by about 5% on deal values.

Although the BioWorld Biopharmaceutical Index has recovered slightly within the last month, it is showing only a small gain since the start of the year. Up by 2.82%, it is somewhat in line with the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index gain of 4.83%, but significantly beneath the broader markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, for example, was up by 17.03% at the end of October.

A comparison of the first 10 months of every year going back to 2000 indicates that the volume and value of IPOs and of venture capital financings are at their highest levels in 2021. Private placements and other similar financings are coming in second to last year, while follow-on offerings – the weakest type of financing this year – fall at about fourth place.

As booster shots become increasingly available and COVID-19 vaccines for young children are introduced into pediatric offices, several potential therapeutics to battle the SARS-CoV-2 virus are lining up for regulatory authorizations.

On target with last year, a total of 87% of funds recorded in 2021 through biopharma collaborations with nonprofit entities by the end of October are focused on COVID-19 pandemic efforts. The pandemic accounts for 54% of the money collected through grants, which is still a sturdy amount but down from 76% in 2020.

Marking September as the second busiest month, 2021 is more than 6% ahead of last year in terms of reported clinical data, although the gap between the two years has narrowed significantly from 26% in April.