Lilly, BMS, AbbVie y GSK disparan las operaciones farmacéuticas

In the first half of the year, pharmaceutical companies Lilly, BMS, AbbVie, and GSK collectively conducted operations worth 343.5 billion euros, a 70% increase compared to the same period last year. AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) were reportedly in talks for a potential merger, valued at approximately $400 billion, which could create a major pharmaceutical conglomerate, though discussions seem to have cooled.

Despite this, the biopharmaceutical and health industry has seen significant activity in mergers and acquisitions, with operations worth $400.334 million reported from January to July, a 70% increase compared to the same period last year.

BMS led the pack with its strategic alliance with Chinese pharma company Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, worth up to $15.2 billion. This deal aims to accelerate the development of innovative drugs in oncology, hematology, and immunology. Other notable transactions include CVC Capital Partners' and Groupe Bruxelles Lambert's (GBL) takeover bid of Italian Recordati for €10.7 billion to keep the company off the stock market for strategic flexibility.

Sun Pharma acquired Organon, the former Merck-MSD division specializing in women's health, for $11.75 billion, marking the largest pharmaceutical acquisition in India's history. Lilly, known for its diabetes and weight loss treatments Mounjaro and Zepbound, has been highly active, announcing at least ten deals since January totaling $33.1 billion in growth areas like neuroscience, oncology, and cellular therapies.

This includes investments in Centessa Therapeutics, Kelonia, and three vaccine developers for $3.83 billion, signaling a return to infectious diseases.

AbbVie made two significant moves, acquiring Apogee Therapeutics for $10.9 billion to expand its immunology portfolio and licensing RemerGen to develop an antibody for solid tumors. Gilead Sciences spent $14.8 billion on acquisitions, diversifying its pipeline from $7.8 million for Arcellx (cancer immunotherapy) to $5 million for Tubulis (oncology) and $2 million for Ouro Medicines (immunology). British pharma company GSK acquired Nuvalent, a cancer-focused biotech, for $10.6 billion to bolster its oncology portfolio.

Pfizer signed a collaboration deal valued at up to $10.5 billion with Chinese company Innovent to develop cancer treatments. Overall, deals involving Chinese pharma companies since January alone exceed $30 billion. Half of these deals, $15.2 billion, involve BMS' acquisition of Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. Merck-MSD reinforced its oncology portfolio with Terns Pharmaceuticals for $7 billion, preparing for the expiration of Keytruda's patent, which accounted for 48.7% of its 2025 revenue.