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OGS: Going, Going, Gone

 
• By Hazel Dawson

OGS-once one of European biotech's leading players-recently sold to compatriot Celltech for less than cash value. The deal shows that in the current climate, even bidding wars don't always push up acquisition prices, and cash remains king.

In 2000, riding the wave of euphoria surrounding the human genome project, the UK's Oxford GlycoSciences PLC raised £150 million ($230 million) in one of the largest secondary offerings the European biotech market had ever seen [See Deal]. Three years on—in very different market circumstances--it was OGS' remaining cash that became central to the European biotech sector's first bidding war. Yet notwithstanding the group's £136 million war chest as of the end of 2002, OGS ultimately sold to UCB Celltech in late April 2003 for only £101.4 million [See Deal].

In current markets, it's not unusual to see biotech companies trading—and being sold—below cash. Yet given the interest in OGS—at...

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UK Bets On Regulatory Innovation As Competitive Advantage In Synthetic Biology

 
• By David Wild

The UK government has prioritized synthetic biology and created a "concierge service" for biotechs just as the US cuts science funding.

Chinese Firms Build Obesity Clinical Pipeline But Face Wider Hurdles

 
• By Xu Hu

Despite the ability to initiate clinical trials quickly and having strong manufacturing capacity, Chinese companies are facing multiple challenges in the obesity space.

Unpacking The Impact Of Trump’s Tariffs On Drug Pricing And Production

 
• By Ed Silverman

Big pharma plans to invest billions of dollars in US manufacturing to avoid tariffs proposed by the Trump Administration. However, the implementation of these plans may be delayed due to regulatory complexities and rising costs from tariffs, potentially impacting drug prices for consumers.

Barcelona’s S2 Xpeed Accelerates Hardware-Based Medtech Start-Ups From Prototype To Market

 
• By Marion Webb

S2 Xpeed is driving the rapid growth of medtech and hardware start-ups in Europe. Operating under a "sweat equity" model, the program helps early-stage companies move from prototype to manufacturing readiness in exchange for equity.

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Rising Leaders 2025: Doxie Jordan, From UNC Graduate To Global Market Strategist

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

Bristol Myers Squibb executive Doxie Jordan discusses his path to global commercial leadership and the principles guiding pharmaceutical market strategy

Podcast: Brain+ CEO Discusses “Groundbreaking” Potential Of CST Assistant For Dementia Patients

 
• By Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Devika Wood, CEO of Brain+, explains the importance of developing health tech solutions for dementia and the growing need to both raise awareness and improve overall access to nondrug interventions like CST.

Behind The Buyout: Dispatches From The Dealmaking Table

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

In a challenging funding environment for biopharma, strategic dealmaking has become a critical growth engine. In Vivo explores what it truly takes to navigate high-stakes acquisitions and partnerships, drawing on insights from seasoned industry leaders.