rare disease Archives - Medical Design Sourcing

Pharma M&A activity primed for another high-flying year in 2024

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Despite challenging interest rates and regulatory environment, pharma M&A activity surged in 2023 with deal volume up more than 30% from the prior year based on a review of more than 200 acquisitions since 2018. The total disclosed deal value in 2023 also more than doubled the prior year’s tally to surpass $100 billion. While the pandemic boosted research into areas such as mRNA, it had something of a chilling effect on M&A. As pharma companies begin to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror, M&A activity has gained momentum.

Analysts upbeat on biopharma M&A activity in 2024

According to PwC, the M&A activity in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector could continue humming in 2024. Despite a challenging interest rate environment, PwC projects the sector to see deal values ranging from $225 billion to $275 billion. Deal volume in 2023 was in line with pre-pandemic levels. …

An inside look at Insmed

Many large drug developers employ individual groups or teams independently working on discrete steps in the drug development process.

Rare disease biopharma Insmed (NSDQ:INSM) differentiates itself through its focus on patients with rare diseases. To that end, the company works to ensure collaboration between various departments to consider questions related to the applicability of a given molecule and the potential impact it could have on patients.

The company has won FDA approval for Arikayce (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension), a novel treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease in conjunction with an antibacterial drug regimen.

Dr. Martina Flammer

“Many companies speak about patient focus and patient-centricity,” acknowledged Dr. Martina Flammer, the company’s chief medical officer. But often, that focus can be intermittent or can begin midway through development.

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Assessing pharma headwinds and tailwinds in mid-2021

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Now that we have passed the year’s midway mark, pharma continues to be in a unique position.

While COVID-19 gave the industry an opportunity for a reputational reset in 2020, the pandemic is now a net positive for the industry, according to the recent Moody’s report, “Solid demand, lift from COVID-19 products continue to drive positive outlook.”

While demand for COVID-19 vaccines has ebbed recently in the U.S., Moody’s projects strong vaccine sales overall for the remainder of 2021. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) upped their guidance for vaccine sales to $26 billion in their first-quarter earnings report. “Their approach to guidance for revenue is based on contracts that have been signed,” said Michael Levesque, lead author of the report. Thus, any future contracts that Pfizer signs after that guidance update will further expand their guidance …