Despite a few bright spots, the fundraising environment remains difficult for many venture investors. Biotechs that went public during the 2005-2007 window have largely underperformed, despite hitting the stock exchanges with what plenty of CEOs and VCs felt were artificially low prices negotiated by an oligarchy of biotech IPO buyers. Moreover, pharmaceutical companies have been buying fewer, not more, biotechs - even as more companies are seemingly created with acquisition, not IPO, in mind. Meanwhile, the M&A deals that do occur are increasingly risk-sharing affairs that resemble alliances, replete with earn-out payments triggered by development, regulatory, or commercial milestones. In short: good venture exits have been extremely hard to come by. And data from Elsevier's Strategic Transactions analyzed by START-UP suggest that although these risk-sharing deal structures may be a by-product of a miserable economy, they are likely to stick around regardless of any economic turnaround.
Ellen Foster Licking and Christopher Morrison
The public market debut of Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc. was a closely watched affair.
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Wales-based group launches with $140m series A.
Highlights from Day Two of the BIO International Convention include BIO officials raising concerns about Trump Administration policies, the future of ACIP, an interview with BI's head of global business development, and FDA Commissioner Martin Makary's view of the FDA-industry relationship.
Instead of opting in on Phase II-ready PCSK9-targeted VERVE-102, Lilly will buy its partner for up to $1.3bn. Analysts call the deal a bargain for Lilly, but fair to Verve.
Highlights from day one of the BIO convention include advice for firms hoping to go public, a call for companies to push the US Congress on rare disease priority review vouchers, and updates on next-generation gene therapies.
Highlights from day one of the BIO convention include advice for firms hoping to go public, a call for companies to push the US Congress on rare disease priority review vouchers, and updates on next-generation gene therapies.
With two deaths in non-ambulatory DMD patients, Sarepta is attempting damage control and will ask the US FDA to advise, setting up a possible confrontation with CBER director Prasad.
Supernus agreed to pay $561m upfront plus a contingent value right that could add $234m to buy Sage, topping a previously rejected offer from Biogen.
