Partnerships between big pharma and biotech focused on biologic therapies for hepatitis B could reap the benefit of less competition as lone biotechs, such as Aligos, discontinue their candidates.

The big pharma has a gene therapy R&D site in New York from its Prevail Therapeutics buy; the RNA-focused Boston site also will conduct drug delivery research benefitting programs at both locations.

The potential for RNA medicines to achieve holy grail goals – reaching undruggable targets and bringing drugs to market faster – has Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis and others in a deal-making frame of mind. 

Following two record-breaking years for biotech fundraising, stock valuations are heading downwards. Biopharma executives and industry experts surveyed by Scrip anticipate big pharma executing more deals and acquisitions in 2022.