Without a doubt, 2021 has been a strong year for med-tech M&As, which are valued at significantly more than each of the three prior years. The industry has completed 520 M&As worth $111.7 billion so far, which is 88% more than the next highest year, 2019’s $59.48 billion. The volume is 33% more than the 391 M&As completed in 2020. In addition to completed M&As, a total of 1,376 med-tech deals, including licensings, collaborations and joint ventures, have been completed. They are valued at $1.98 billion, with only 31 deals including financial terms. The number of med-tech deals this year are only slightly below the 1,400 completed by the end of the year in 2020.
Continuing its downward trend, BioWorld’s Cancer Index (BCI) has fallen by 19.16% this year, a stark contrast with the broader Nasdaq Biopharmaceutical Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, both of which are tracking up by 4.49% and 19.03%, respectively.
A surge in deal activity over the last few months has placed 2021 in the running for beating 2020, the best year on record, and becoming the top year for the biopharma industry to date.
BioWorld has recorded 1,680 deals valued at $167.39 billion in 2021 vs. 1,744 deals valued at $159.98 billion by this point last year. That puts 2021 ahead by about 5% on deal values.