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Big Pharma’s Busiest Deal-Makers In 2021 Were Less Prolific Than In 2020

 
• By Joseph Haas

Totals for aggregate deals and in the M&A, alliance and divestment categories were similar among the 10 busiest deal makers from 2020 to 2021, but COVID-19 may have driven a more hectic deal-making pace overall in 2020.

Back view image of young businessman standing against business sketch
2021 was a busy deal-making year in big pharma, with M&A up slightly and alliances down a bit • Source: Shutterstock

Roche Holding AG, Genentech, Inc.  and their affiliated companies were the busiest deal makers in the biopharmaceutical sector for the second consecutive year in 2021, with 23 deals across all categories, including mergers and acquisitions, licensing and partnerships, and divestments and out-licensing. That pace decreased substantially, however, from a total of 34 deals under the Roche umbrella in 2020, when the emerging COVID-19 pandemic spurred partnering activity but tamped down the M&A market a bit.

By total potential value – comprising upfront payment as well as earnouts such as milestone payments, research funding and option/licensing...

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