Top Device Companies

Abbott Unit In Pact With GSK To Develop Lung Cancer Diagnostic

Abbott Laboratories subsidiary, Abbott Molecular, has signed an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline, a U.K. drug maker, to develop a diagnostic test to detect lung cancer. The collaborative test is to center on the MAGE-A3 antigen that could enable a diagnostic for non-small lung cancer tumors. In addition to the tie-up with GSK, Abbott Molecular is negotiating a similar arrangement with another drug maker, according to the subsidiary’s president, Stafford O’Kelly. He said the GSK arrangement involves a step into personalized medicine, relying on Abbott’s polymerase chain-reaction technology. (Click here for more)

“Abbott, GSK To Collaborate On Molecular Diagnostic” – Reuters (U.K.) (7/13/09)

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In HCV, Protease Race Heats Up with Combo Therapy Looming

Article preview from IN VIVO - May 2009

Two Phase III hepatitis C protease inhibitors from Vertex and Schering are set to reshape treatment for a difficult disease and potentially capture a significant chunk of a large and growing market. But other new therapies and combination regimens aren't far behind.

Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Deal Statistics Quarterly, Q1 2009

Article preview from IN VIVO - May 2009

Highlights from the Q1 2009 review of pharmaceutical and biotechnology dealmaking: With 57 transactions raising $1.09 billion, financing activity for Q1 2009 showed a 137% increase over Q4 2008's total. The largest deal was an initial public offering--Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. sold off 15% of Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. for $684 million-the first since Bioheart Inc.'s February 2008 IPO. In M&A, Big Pharma mega-mergers was the big story as two major players--Wyeth and Schering-Plough--were scooped up by Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. Inc., respectively, in deals together valued at $109 billion, making up 96% of the Q1 M&A dollar volume. Biopharma alliances-with a 25% decrease in number of deals--only reached about half the dollar volume of Q4 2008, but Bristol-Myers Squibb continued its strong performance along with several other Big Pharma players that joined the playing field; GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Novartis AG, each with five alliances, tied as the quarter's most active deal makers. Much of the fourth quarter's alliance activity followed an option-based deal structure with the biotech handling R&D through pre-proof-of-concept after which the Big Pharma partner then takes over later-stage development and commercialization.

Corporate Venture Takes Center Stage

Article preview from Start-Up - May 2009

Corporate venture groups are poised to become one of the main sources of funding for early-stage biotechs thanks to the current economic climate. Even if corporate venture groups invest at the same levels as previous years, some industry veterans believe they could play a role in up to half of the early-stage financings this year, largely because the traditional sources of financing--the public market and venture capital groups flush with cash--have disappeared. And the new vigor of corporate venture offers big benefits to both small biotechs and Big Pharma.

The GSK/Pfizer HIV Venture: Another Sign of Change?

Article preview from IN VIVO - April 2009

Pfizer and GSK inked an innovative deal to create a jointly owned company focused on HIV therapeutics. The marriage combines GSK's marketing muscle and a stable of established products with Pfizer's newer offerings. While it's unlikely the new venture will unseat rival Gilead as the top player in the HIV market, the deal could be a cash cow for both drug makers, especially if a spin-out ensues.

Building Bone: Next-Generation Osteoporosis Therapies

Article preview from Start-Up - April 2009

As Amgen gears up to launch osteoporosis candidate denosumab, a host of smaller players are working on what they see as the next-generation therapies: those that help build up new bone. Tough economic times across the board, plus the high development risks and costs associated with osteoporosis--a chronic, primary care condition--are making financing almost impossible for some.

GSK/Pentraxin: Targeting SAP in Amyloidosis, and Maybe Alzheimer's Too

Article preview from Start-Up - April 2009

University College London spin-out Pentraxin's February 2009 tie-up with GlaxoSmithKline in amyloidosis showed GSK's willingness to invest in risky, early-stage research. Weeks later, Pentraxin announced promising clinical data with a related program in Alzheimer's, raising the possibility that this alliance may yet expand beyond a specialist niche.

Recent Tech Transfer Deals (03/2009)

Article preview from Start-Up - March 2009

Our monthly update on technology transfer deals--licensing agreements between companies and universities or other research institutions--in the fields of life sciences, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents.

Deals Shaping the Medical Industry (03/2009)

Article preview from IN VIVO - March 2009

The dealmaking column is a survey of recent transactions, including strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, and financings, in the life sciences industries. Deals are listed by the following industry sectors: in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents. All transactions are excerpted from Windhover's Strategic Transactions Database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.

Deals in Depth: January 2009

Article preview from IN VIVO - March 2009

January 2009 dealmaking highlights: Big Pharma consolidation is back in the news as one of the largest mega-mergers in history took place in January with Pfizer's acquisition of Wyeth for $67bn. Abbott topped the list on the device side, leaping into the vision care field with its $2.8bn purchase of Advanced Medical Optics. Meanwhile financing--mainly from private placements--for both the drug and device industries was up from the previous month, and notably pharma showed a 4x increase in private investor funding.