SPAC Mergers Take Biopharmas Public, But Valuations Often Sag Post-Closing

Deals Give Stock Market Access Without IPO

Merging with a special purpose acquisition corporation is a viable funding tool, but it may not be the best choice for drug developers far from key milestones.

Money bag with the word SPAC - Special purpose acquisition company
SPAC mergers can be lucrative but it can be difficult to maintain and increase valuations afterwards • Source: Alamy/Andrii Yalanskyi

Mergers with special purpose acquisition corporations (SPACs) have become lucrative financial transactions for biopharmaceutical firms because they can raise significant capital and become publicly traded companies in a single transaction, bypassing the traditional initial public offering path. But without near-term milestone achievements or a high-profile management team, many drug developers that have gone public since the start of 2020 have not traded well in the US stock market to date.

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