Antibody Start-Ups: Riding the Big Pharma Acquisition Wave

 
• By Melanie Senior
  
Generate a summary of this article
Listen to this article
Beta

It's a good time to be an antibody company. As almost all the Big Pharma fall over each other to grab whatever antibody assets they can, investors backing still-independent firms are rubbing their hands in glee. One of the companies we profile this month claims it has found a novel route around the one major drawback to antibody development--the dreaded IP blackout. But whatever their trump card-whether they're improving existing antibodies, like Anaptys and 4-antibody, or, like f-star, creating antibody fragments, interest from strategic partners is guaranteed.

It’s a good time to be an antibody company. As almost all the Big Pharmas fall over each other to grab whatever antibody assets they can—at whatever price—investors backing the remaining still-independent antibody companies are rubbing their hands in glee. ( See "Big Pharma’s Leap into Biologics: Bridging both Scientific and Cultural Gaps," IN VIVO , October 2007 Also see "Big Pharma's Leap into Biologics: Bridging both Scientific and Cultural Gaps" - In Vivo, 1 October, 2007..)

Many VCs, such as those behind GlycArt, Haptogen, or Adnexus Therapeutics Inc., for instance (acquired by Roche, Wyeth, and Bristol...

Scrip Podcast

Keep up with the top pharma business news of the week. On the go.

Scrip brings you a weekly bulletin of top picks.

SpotifyApple PodcastsWebsite

More from Strategy

Scrip-Business (Free-1): Top-Selling Drugs 2024: Keytruda, Ozempic And Dupixent Dominate

 
• By Nabil

Merck’s immuno-oncology blockbuster was the world’s best-selling drugs by revenues for the second year in a row, with an almost $12bn lead over its closest rival, Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 drug Ozempic.

Ordspono Will Be Regeneron’s First Independent European Launch

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Ordspono, a bispecific antibody newly approved in the EU to treat follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, joins Libtayo in Regeneron’s growing oncology portfolio.

Galderma Gets First Biologic To Market With Nemluvio Approval

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Nemluvio is a first-in-class IL-31 inhibitor that the US FDA approved for prurigo nodularis. 

Kerendia Could Be Next Jewel In Bayer's Pharma Crown

 
• By Kevin Grogan

CEO Bill Anderson would not be drawn on whether the drug, currently approved for chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes, will hit a previous forecast of €3bn peak sales, but expansion into heart failure may make that figure look conservative.

More from Business

How A New Healthcare Dialogue Is Driving Market Access In Mexico

Companies stand a better chance of securing public reimbursement in Mexico for innovative medicines if they understand changing approaches to healthcare. The shift means the emergence of managed entry agreements and a focus on economic impact, explains AMIIF, Mexico's research-based pharmaceutical industry association.

How Novartis Is Elevating CVD Outcomes, Driving ‘Personalized Access’ In APMA

Novartis’s APMA chief outlines the company’s tailored approach to deliver long-term outcomes, novel access solutions via innovative financing options and shape the CVD disease ecosystem in the extraordinarily diverse region. Partnering to build AI infrastructure is another key prong.

India Rare Diseases: Court Shows Path For Policy Action, Funding, Price Issues-- Test-2

A court order encompassing funding, drug pricing, clinical trials and overall policy implementation aspects is expected to bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of rare diseases in India. Sarepta, Roche and Sanofi are among the key players that have been part of pricing discussions.