Judging by the top ten biotech alliances of 2004, biotech's late-stage pipelines have largely been picked clean by Big Pharma licensees. The trend toward earlier stage deals among the top ten alliances in 2003 we noted in this space last year has become even more prominent. (See "Top Ten Biotech Licensings of 2003," January 2004 Also see "Top Biotech Licensings of 2003" - In Vivo, 1 January, 2004. and "Why Early-Stage Dealmaking is Hot," December 2004, both in IN VIVO Also see "Why Early-Stage Dealmaking is Hot" - In Vivo, 1 December, 2004..
Six of 2004's top ten deals were signed prior to Phase II, compared to eight of the top ten signed...