It was a busy year for biopharma deals, but as 2021 nears its end, activity is lagging 2020. BioWorld recorded 1,844 deals valued at $182 billion in 2021 vs. 2,067 deals valued at $198.2 billion for 2020. That puts 2021 behind last year on the volume of deals by more than 10% and on value by about 8%, but there are still three weeks to go.
While financings have reached record levels, the stocks of BioWorld’s Neurological Diseases Index are now underground by 12.5%, a trajectory shadowed by the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, down by 3.45%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average representing the broader markets, however, is up by nearly 13%.
In 2021, no drug approval garnered as much attention and debate as Biogen Inc.’s Aduhelm (aducanumab). The FDA’s surprise, accelerated approval of Aduhelm for Alzheimer’s disease flew in the face of the recommendation by an advisory committee, causing a stir that included the resignation of three adcom members, along with publicly made claims that the company’s relationship with regulators had become too cozy.
Med-tech financings in 2021 have reached 673 transactions valued at $48.04 billion. This compares with 718 transactions valued at $59.7 billion in 2020, indicating a drop this year of about 6% in terms of volume and nearly 20% in terms of value. Nevertheless, 2021 is the second-best year of the last five.
Financings ramped up dramatically in 2015 with $68 billion collected, but the amount does not touch biopharma investment in the last two years. The industry has raised $113 billion in 2021, down from the $134.5 billion full year 2020 total, but more than every five-year combination total from the years 2000 to 2014. It is an increase of 65% over 2015, 200% over 2016, 118% over 2017, 68% over 2018 and 95% over 2019. Both IPOs ($23.7 billion) and venture capital rounds ($37.8 billion) have hit all-time records this year. But will the onslaught of money continue for the industry?