Q1 2024 Posts Big M&A Total Led By Novo Holdings’ Catalent Takeout

Merger-and-acquisition activity during the first quarter of 2024 was not likely to match the bustling pace of Q4 2023, when the aggregate dollar amount committed to acquisitions topped $52bn and nearly tripled the spend recorded during the previous quarter, but the first quarter did see strong M&A activity, with more than $36bn in total spend. Seven biopharma acquisitions valued at more than $1bn up front were recorded during Q1, including one above the $10bn mark.

All told, the $36.46bn in M&A upfront spending during the quarter was the fifth-highest quarterly total that Evaluate recorded since the beginning of 2020. (Also see "Biopharma M&A Volume, Value Bounced Back Significantly In Q4" - Scrip, 9 January, 2024