As 2025 unfolds, the Biologics and Biotech sectors have witnessed a pronounced shift toward bold, transformative corporate actions.
Renewed vigour in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), high-stakes licensing, and forward-looking partnerships point to a reshaping of the innovation landscape. Here’s a roundup of the key developments so far this year:
1. Sanofi’s $9+ Billion Blueprint Buyout
- Sanofi acquired Blueprint Medicines for approximately $9.1 billion, gaining control over Ayvakit – a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for systemic mastocytosis – and Blueprint’s broader oncology pipeline.
- Shortly after, Sanofi moved to acquire Vicebio, a UK-based biotech, for $1.15 billion, inheriting their “Molecular Clamp” tech enabling rapid, liquid-form vaccine development for RSV, hMPV, and influenza – complementing its respiratory vaccine portfolio. The deal includes up to $450 million in R&D-linked milestone payments and is expected to close in late 2025.
2. Merck’s Mammoth Bet on Breathing Disorders
- Merck signed on to acquire Verona Pharma for $10 billion, focusing on ensifentrine, a PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor approved for COPD. This purchase became one of the largest in biotech for July.
3. A Surge of Targeted Acquisitions
- BioMarin acquired Inozyme for $270 million, gaining its enzyme replacement therapy, INZ-701, targeted at ENPP1 deficiency.
- Concentra Biosciences executed a spree of acquisitions totaling $217.5 million, including Cargo Therapeutics, IGM Biosciences ($82M), and iTeos Therapeutics, consolidating its foothold in CAR-T and antibody platforms.
- Sino Biopharmaceutical acquired Shanghai-based LaNova Medicines for $951 million, gaining an ADC (LM-302) in development for gastric and pancreatic cancers.
4. CDMO Expansion & Strategic Infrastructure Moves
- Zydus Lifesciences purchased two biologics manufacturing facilities in California (San Francisco Bay Area) for $75 million upfront, plus up to $50M in revenue-based payments. This signals its entry into the global biologics CDMO space.
5. Lilly Bets Big on CRISPR-Verve Therapeutics
- Eli Lilly announced a $1.3 billion deal (including $1B upfront + $300M milestones) to acquire Verve Therapeutics, a CRISPR-based gene-editing firm targeting the PCSK9 gene for atherosclerosis and high cholesterol. Phase I success paves the way for Phase II trials.
6. GSK’s Ambitious Liver Disease Investment
- GSK inked a deal worth up to $2 billion for efimosfermin, a once-monthly injection targeting steatotic and alcohol-related liver disease. The upfront payment is $1.2B, with up to $800M in milestones and royalties to Novartis. Launch is anticipated around 2029.
7. AbbVie’s Strategic Collaborations
- AbbVie demonstrated strong alliance-driven innovation:
- $200 million acquisition of Nimble Therapeutics, focusing on oral peptide autoimmunity treatments.
- A $1.64 billion partnership with Neomorph to develop molecular glue degraders across oncology and immunology.
- A $1 billion deal with Simcere Zaiming for a multiple myeloma candidate.
- A collaboration with ADARx for RNA-based therapies in neuroscience, immunology, and oncology.
8. BMS Rolls Out Radiopharma Strategy
- Bristol Myers Squibb acquired RayzeBio for $4.1 billion, marking its entry into radiopharmaceuticals.
- Novartis completed its purchases of Anthos Therapeutics and Regulus Therapeutics for $925 million and up to $1.7 billion, respectively, strengthening its neurologic and cardiometabolic portfolios.
9. Possible Future: Novartis Eyes Avidity Biosciences
- Novartis is considering a $5.8 billion acquisition of Avidity Biosciences, focused on rare muscular dystrophy treatments (e.g., Del-zota). The deal remains exploratory, but underscores aggressive pipeline replenishment amid looming patent losses.
2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for biologics and biotech M&A activity. From mega-deals like Sanofi’s Blueprint buyout to platform-level acquisitions and infrastructure investments, companies are increasingly focused on owning their destiny – securing future growth via transformative, integrated strategies.