As disruptors continue to push into the healthcare arena and pressure accumulates to reduce drug prices, pharmaceutical companies are taking steps to remain competitive and enhance their drug pipelines.
2017 marked a slow year of merges and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical industry. However, experts from some of the largest drug manufacturers are expecting the pace of deals in 2018 to significantly accelerate as a result of the tax overhaul.
And, so far, they have been right. Just three weeks into 2018, deal activity is already almost halfway to 2017's tally, according to CNBC.
In the past two weeks, the following drugmakers announced or completed mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and general transactions.
1. Merck to purchase Viralytics for $394M: 3 things to know
In a move to expand its cancer immunotherapy pipeline, Merck & Co. inked a deal Wednesday to buy Viralytics, a virus-based cancer drug firm, for 502 million Australian dollars ($394 million).
2. AbbVie, Voyager ink $69M deal to develop Alzheimer's drug
AbbVie, a pharmaceutical company based in North Chicago, Ill., teamed up with Voyager Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company, to develop a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
3. J&J reportedly seeks buyers for its $2B sterilization division: 4 things to know
As part of its move to divest non-core assets, Johnson & Johnson is reportedly seeking buyers for its sterilization products division.
4. Novartis looks to auction off US generics business: 4 takeaways
Novartis plans to auction off its generic pill business in the U.S. amid heightened competition.
5. Bristol-Myers, Nektar ink $1.85B cancer drug deal
Bristol-Myers Squibb will pay Nektar Therapeutics $1 billion to develop a cancer immunotherapy treatment — one of the largest deals ever inked for a single drug's development.
6. Walgreens is reportedly in talks to purchase AmerisourceBergen: 7 things to know
Walgreens Boots Alliance is reportedly in talks to purchase the portion of AmerisourceBergen, a drugmaker, it doesn't already own — a move that could help the company in the increasingly competitive healthcare landscape.