UK Biotechs Still Set On Cashing Out

Homegrown Global Player Yet To Take Root

Excluding the multinational majors AstraZeneca and GSK, the UK has yet to produce a truly successful scaled pharma company, despite having boasted several innovative start-ups. Whether that represents a negative, however, is a matter for debate. 

union Jack
• Source: Shutterstock

The trend of promising UK drugmakers being acquired for millions of dollars by US majors continued apace last year – a sign, some would argue, that the country's biotech sector will never develop into the fully integrated industry that perhaps its drug discovery expertise merits.

In 2022, some of the biggest players in US pharma crossed the Atlantic to get hold of prime UK assets. Pfizer Inc. snapped up ReViral Ltd. and its...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Deals

Astellas Gets CLDN.18.2-Targeted ADC From China’s Evopoint

 
• By 

Astellas will pay $130m up front for near-global rights to a Phase I/II antibody-drug conjugate that will add to its portfolio of CLDN.18.2-targeted drugs, including Vyloy.

Lilly To Diversify Pain Pipeline With SiteOne Acquisition

 
• By 

Deal snapshot: With several internal non-opioid pain candidates in Phase II or earlier, Lilly looks to add R&D potential in pain with $1bn buyout of SiteOne.

Angelini Advances Brain Health Ambitions With GRIN Pact

 
• By 

The Italian drugmaker gets rights to Phase III-ready asset radiprodil.

Deal Watch: QurAlis Targets Fragile-X Syndrome In Deals With Quiver, UMass

 
• By 

Plus the end of Sanofi’s six-target alliance with IGM, OmniAb’s deals with Veraxa and Angelini, alliances involving Skye/Arecor, Genprex/UTHealth Houston and more.

More from Business

Loss Of Exclusivity Product Launches To Fuel Aurobindo’s FY26 Europe Growth

 
• By 

Aurobindo is banking on launches of loss of exclusivity products and biosimilars to fuel sales in Europe as it awaits a US announcement on tariffs and predicts high single-digit growth overall during FY26 for now

Korea Q1 Roundup: Mixed Earnings, Gearing For Possible US Tariffs

 
• By 

South Korean biopharma companies report a mostly solid first quarter, marked by US growth for original drugs, with several also making preparations for possible US pharma tariffs.

In Brief: Nicox Extends Cash Runway As Kowa Advances NCX 470 In Japan

 

Eye drug is already in Phase III trials elsewhere, with results due in Q3. Nicox could earn up to a further €24.5m in milestones and royalties from Kowa alliance.