Market Intelligence

The E in ESG: SUDs, reuse, disposables, refurbishing, reprocessed devices? Multiple panelists at the 2024 MedTech Forum addressed the role medtech manufacturers should have in the climate change challenge.

During Q2, biopharmas brought in an aggregate $22.8bn in financing and device company fundraising totaled $2.7bn; while in vitro diagnostic firms and research tools players raised $1.2m.

An interactive look at pharma, medtech and diagnostics deals made during June 2024. Data courtesy of Biomedtracker.

Four $1bn+ alliances were penned in June. In the top alliance by deal value, Ascidian Therapeutics signed an agreement with Roche for the discovery and development of RNA exon editing therapeutics targeting neurological diseases. Roche received exclusive rights to Ascidian's RNA exon editing technology for undisclosed targets. Ascidian will conduct discovery and certain preclinical activities in collaboration with Roche, which will be responsible for certain preclinical activities, and further clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Ascidian will receive an up-front payment of $42m as well as up to $1.8bn in research, clinical, and commercial milestone payments, as well as sales royalties.

Dominated by Xaira Therapeutics' $1bn venture financing, Q2 2024 was also notable for sizeable public offerings by Alumis and Recursion Therapeutics in the US and XtalPi Technology in Hong Kong, as well as a $142m seed round for EvolutionaryScale.   

Poland is slowly expanding beyond its position as a central European generics hub. More established companies are adding innovative medicine pipelines and a small number of biotechs are making international deals.

According to China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association, in the first quarter of 2024 a total of 44 cell therapies in the domestic cell therapy field made clinical application progress, including 28 immune cell therapies and 16 stem cell therapies.

Six $1bn+ alliances were penned in May. In the top alliance by deal value, AC Immune SA granted Takeda an option to license exclusive global rights to active immunotherapies targeting toxic forms of amyloid beta, including ACI-24.060 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. AC Immune will receive $100m up front and is eligible to receive an option exercise fee and additional potential development, commercial and sales-based milestones of up to approximately $2.1bn, plus sales royalties.

Biopharma markets may follow the downward trajectory of tech during tough times, but they also chase it back up the value curve. Recovery is just a matter of time, says Seventure’s Isabelle de Crémoux in this commentary on investment trends, the financial markets and the VC environment.

CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna recently co-launched an initiative focused on microbial gene editing, but French biotech Eligo has been diligently working on this for 10 years. 

An interactive look at pharma, medtech and diagnostics deals made during May 2024. Data courtesy of Biomedtracker.

Computing, including AI, applied to life sciences is undeniably a rapidly growing area, driven by significant investment, recent technological advancements and heightened public interest. A look at published patents from 2014 to 2023 reveals trends in patent filings across various life sciences sectors and highlights geographical hotspots.

With a first-in-class cannabis-derived treatment for epilepsy, a market-leading treatment for sleep disorders and now a foray into movement disorders, Jazz’s CNS pipeline is strong.

After decades of lackluster start-up innovation despite award-winning science, Japan’s government and big pharma players are taking steps to spur biotech growth. 

Most of the companies with blockbuster drugs approved over the past decade oversaw their clinical development internally. Lilly holds the lead with eight blockbusters developed in-house.

Executives from several AI-focused biotechs emphasize that generating a truly innovative medicine, as opposed to a me-too drug, depends not just on the quantity, but on the quality of data used by the algorithm.