Three $1bn+ alliances were penned in July. In the top alliance by deal value, Dren Bio teamed up with Novartis for the discovery and development of therapeutic bispecific antibodies for cancer using Dren Bio’s proprietary targeted myeloid engager and phagocytosis platform. The deal could be worth up to $3bn. The companies will collaborate to advance selected targeted myeloid engager programs in oncology through clinical candidate selection, at which point Novartis will assume full responsibility for all remaining development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization activities. In the top M&A, Eli Lilly penned a definitive agreement to acquire Morphic Therapeutic for $57 per share or approximately $3.2bn. Morphic's pipeline includes integrin therapies for autoimmune and fibrotic diseases and cancer and is led by Phase IIb candidate MORF-057. The selective oral small molecule inhibitor of α4β7 integrin is being evaluated for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. It could provide Lilly with a strong competitor to Takeda Pharmaceuticals' marketed IBD therapy Entyvio (vedolizumab). Financing reached $4.6bn in biopharma, $769m in devices, and $373m in diagnostics.

During Q2, biopharma merger and acquisition deal value reached $22.2bn and drew in $36.3bn in potential deal value from alliances. Device company M&A values reached $21.3bn, while in vitro diagnostics and research tools players’ M&A activity totaled $631.6m.

During Q2, biopharmas brought in an aggregate $22.8bn in financing and device company fundraising totaled $2.7bn; while in vitro diagnostic firms and research tools players raised $1.2m.

Four $1bn+ alliances were penned in June. In the top alliance by deal value, Ascidian Therapeutics signed an agreement with Roche for the discovery and development of RNA exon editing therapeutics targeting neurological diseases. Roche received exclusive rights to Ascidian's RNA exon editing technology for undisclosed targets. Ascidian will conduct discovery and certain preclinical activities in collaboration with Roche, which will be responsible for certain preclinical activities, and further clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Ascidian will receive an up-front payment of $42m as well as up to $1.8bn in research, clinical, and commercial milestone payments, as well as sales royalties.

Six $1bn+ alliances were penned in May. In the top alliance by deal value, AC Immune SA granted Takeda an option to license exclusive global rights to active immunotherapies targeting toxic forms of amyloid beta, including ACI-24.060 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. AC Immune will receive $100m up front and is eligible to receive an option exercise fee and additional potential development, commercial and sales-based milestones of up to approximately $2.1bn, plus sales royalties.

Seven $1bn+ alliances were penned in April. In the top alliance by deal value, Medincell entered a collaboration with AbbVie to co-develop and commercialize up to six therapeutic products across multiple therapeutic areas and indications. Medincell will receive a $35m upfront payment and is eligible to receive up to $1.9bn in development and commercial milestones, plus mid-single to low-double-digit royalties on net sales.