Among Big Pharma, the market for big genomics technology deals is well nigh saturated, or so one would be led to believe by the stunning drop-off in research-stage deals of any significant size. The name of the game today is products—which is why the last two major deals out of Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. both hinge, for their success, on delivery of compounds into the clinic, not simply targets or technology (though access to Millennium's discovery platform was clearly a motivating factor for both Aventis SA [See Deal] and Abbott Laboratories Inc. [See Deal] (See "Dealmaking for the Revolution," IN VIVO, March 2001 [A#2001800063.)
GPC/ Altana: A New Middle Market for Big Genomics Deals? Probably Not
Even as Big Pharma deals for big genomics technology tapers off, GPC Biotech and mid-sized Altana are forging ahead with their own program: a $100 million alliance to set up a genomics center for Altana. Separately, Altana could pay GPC milestones on scientific and clinical success. But this deal doesn't signal a trend towards mid-sized company dealmaking. First, both companies have collaborated before and second, they aren't interested in technology transfer.
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