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Stock Watch: The Deal Flow Before Christmas

A Last-Minute Blizzard Of Transactions Boosted Biotech

 
• By Andy Smith

A bumper December of licensing transactions and acquisitions involving biotech companies brought the feelgood factor back to the sector. But while big spending in the run-up to Christmas may not dent pharma’s credit cards, it might crimp its investors’ dividends.

Stock Watch Image, Andy Smith
ANDY SMITH OFFERS A LIFE SCIENCE INVESTOR'S PERSPECTIVE ON BIOPHARMA BUSINESS

The last month of 2023 was a corker for the NASDAQ Biotech Index (NBI) and its constituents. The NBI finished December up by nearly 8% and left the NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical Index (DRG) and broad S&P500 index for dust as they closed the month up by under 1% and less than 4%, respectively.

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Stock Watch: Sanofi, Merck Open Windows Into Geopolitical Risks

 
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First-quarter results season featured tariff talk but without any full-year quantitation. As tariffs and foreign exchange movements bump up against capped drug prices, profitability could suffer.

Stock Watch: Dollar Weakness, Tariffs, Biosimilars In J&J’s Q1 Mix

 
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Stock Watch: Disappointing ACC Share Price Reactions For AstraZeneca And Lilly

 
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Stock Watch: How Tariff Threat Might Boost Pharma Q1

 
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Novartis Gains Further Renal Territory With Regulus Acquisition

 
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In Brief: Merck To Invest $1bn In New US Biologics Production

 
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Can European Biotech Survive And Thrive In Era Of Instability?

 
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