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Finance Watch: A SPACtacular Week For Biopharma Deals And Dollars

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Public Company Edition: Four health care special purpose acquisition vehicles went public and two others announced mergers, but only one biopharma firm priced an IPO during the week of 19-23 October. Replimune’s $250m offering led recent FOPOs.

Finance Watch

Special purpose acquisition corporations (SPACs) focused on health care investments, including biopharmaceutical opportunities, continue to go public in the US and now they are putting the money they have raised to work. Four health care SPACs launched initial public offerings during the week of 19-23 October and two others announced mergers with biopharma companies.

SPACs are sponsored by investment firms for the sole purpose of acquiring or merging with one or more companies in a specific industry; a reverse merger with a SPAC gives a private company a means of going public without launching an IPO

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