The on-again, off-again U.S. tariffs are off again, at least for now, for more than 75 countries that have reached out to the Trump administration to negotiate instead of retaliating. The 90-day pause will provide some breathing room for the med-tech industry. Pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients were among the few products exempted from the reciprocal tariffs, but that exemption for pharmaceuticals was expected to be short-lived. Meanwhile, pharma CEOs warned European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen April 8 that, unless the EU quickly changes its policy, pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing is increasingly likely to be directed to the U.S.
Despite a strong 2022 for both med-tech deals and M&As, the industry lost ground with both types of transactions in the first quarter of 2023, with deal values falling 32% and M&A values dropping 83%, in comparison with the first quarter of last year.
The amount of money raised by med-tech companies in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023 is the lowest amount raised for the industry during any quarter going back to 2018.
The U.K. government recently released its first ever medical technology strategy which aims to accelerate access to innovative medical technologies in the NHS. Although it was welcomed by the industry, and questions remain as to whether it goes far enough to address some of the challenges to the adoption of medical devices, eyes are on its implementation and whether it will achieve its aims.
Brazilian health care regulator Anvisa unveiled new medical device rules that promise to simplify over two decades of accumulated directives, putting into force changes announced by the health care surveillance agency in 2022.
The volume of med-tech deals and M&As dropped in the fourth quarter of 2022, although it was a solid year for both types of transactions due to a growing interest in the digital health space.
While the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022 raised the most money of any quarter this year, the overall amount collected through med-tech financings – $38.3 billion – is still 22.3% less than 2021’s $49.3 billion raised.
A large notes offering this month and a pick-up in public raises have boosted med-tech financings, which are now tracking similarly with 2019. So far this year, the med-tech industry has raised $35.7 billion through 457 transactions. The amount raised is down by 23% in comparison with the same time frame in 2021, although a few months ago that gap was 48%. The current volume is down by 25.4%.
The value of med-tech mergers and acquisitions, as well as deals, fell in the third quarter, although 2022 remains a standout year. M&As are at a five-year high, while deals are second only to 2019, in terms of overall value during the first three quarters. The volume of M&As are behind 2021, but deal volume this year remains on top.
While third quarter med-tech financing proceeds rose by nearly 20% over the second quarter, making it the best quarter this year, amounts raised for the first nine months of 2022 are still down by 40% in comparison with 2021.
