PharmaDeals Review Business Commentaries
Dr Fintan Walton, PharmaVentures’ CEO, provides monthly comment on topical biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry issues. Includes access to Fintan’s commentaries broadcast on PharmaTelevision.
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Last Minute Shopping: A Round-up of M&A Activity in 2005
From issue 67 of the PharmaDeals Review (2006-01-01)
During 2005, 350 mergers and acquisitions were recorded within PharmaDeals® Agreements, demonstrating that many companies have little inclination to alter their policy of consolidating their &D capabilities, of filling their pipelines and of broadening their technologies through the tried-and-tested method of M&A. This feature discusses the largest M&A transactions of 2005, compares M&A activity across territories and continents and identifies trends by examining the key M&A deals and deal makers of the year. It searches for the reasons behind M&A and discusses its consequences for small and large companies.
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Therapy Focus: Biodefence
From issue 67 of the PharmaDeals Review (2006-01-01)
Since the US anthrax attacks of 2001, the number of pharmaceutical deals relating to biodefence has increased dramatically. Biodefence research is very much in its infancy and, as such, the growth of this fledgling industry is being financed and driven by the US Government rather than the large pharmas. This article looks at some of the interesting features of the biodefence field that make it unique from traditional disease research and examines some of the companies that have benefited from the fear generated by the threat of bioterrorism.
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Astellas Joins Theravance in Fight against MRSA
From issue 66 of the PharmaDeals Review (2005-12-01)
At the start of November 2005, Theravance entered into its third ever major licensing agreement, this time with Japanese drugs corporation Astellas. Although its previous alliances have been in the respiratory area, in this instance, Theravance is seeking to exploit the anti-infectives side of its business, as the deal covers the development and commercialisation of its investigational Phase III antibiotic telavancin (injectable lipoglycopeptide). Astellas also gains an option to commercialise and further develop TD-1792, the other compound in Theravance's antibiotics research programme, in this its first major agreement since it was formed.
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Kos Pharmaceuticals Agrees to Take on Jerini's Icatibant in North America
From issue 66 of the PharmaDeals Review (2005-12-01)
Just days after going public, Jerini has succeeded in its quest to find a North American partner for its niche Phase III drug, by signing an exclusive licensing deal with Kos Life Sciences, a subsidiary of the US speciality pharma company, Kos Pharmaceuticals. The therapy in question is Jerini's proprietary compound, icatibant, a potent and specific peptidomimetic bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor antagonist for hereditary angio-oedema (HAE). While icatibant might not necessarily be the first therapy to receive approval for HAE in the US, there is undoubtedly still room for the drug to flourish in this as yet uncharted market, especially with Kos onside.
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Can European VCs and Universities Make Money from New Biotech Spin-Offs?
From issue 66 of the PharmaDeals Review (2005-12-01)
Dr Jonathan Savidge, of UCL Biomedica, makes the point that the ability of early-stage biotechs, in particular spin-offs from universities, to obtain VC financing, depends on these investors being able to secure successful exits - either via IPOs or M&As. Analyses are presented of recent IPOs and M&As of differing success. Ultimate returns to universities from spin-offs also depend upon the value of the company rising at each VC round. In rounds where the share price falls, there may be catastrophic dilution of the university's shareholding, so that even if the company is ultimately successful, and the investors secure a profitable exit, the university may not share in that financial success.
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