Some commercial-stage biotechnology companies blame the pandemic for their declining sales and continued losses. While an acquisition by a bigger company might once have been an aspiration, further fundraisings seem to be the more likely outcome.

Another blow-out quarter from Pfizer provided the impetus for an acquisition. But the history of recent commercial-stage biotech transactions and the risky nature of all early-stage companies suggest that the floodgates will not burst open.

A post-pandemic rebound in oncology sales contrasts with the lagging revenues of drugs administered by primary care and office-based specialists. Declining COVID-19 vaccine, diagnostic and treatment revenues could add further volatility.

Declining COVID-19-related diagnostic and therapeutic sales are likely to expose long-standing weaknesses and amplify the effects of new pressures that were masked during the pandemic.

The second-order pandemic effects on labor and logistics that have plagued other sectors appeared across J&J’s earnings announcement. With the biggest impact at its consumer business, why then has demand for J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine plummeted?

The announcement of a positive clinical trial and an intention to proceed to a regulatory submission are causes for a company’s investors to rejoice. Sometimes that can be premature.

When a small biotech company acquires a failed drug from big pharma and plans to repeat the clinical studies expecting a positive result, is that not a definition of insanity?

With two recent divestments of biosimilar franchises and lackluster performances from smaller biosimilar biotechs, the sector needs some standard-bearing successes.

A NASDAQ listing has been the pinnacle for non-US biotech companies because it brings access to more specialist investors and a larger capital base. But the appetite for – and aftermarket performance of – this biotech tourism is cycle-dependent.

Apart from assuming that its new drug will always be a blockbuster, the other common mistake made by biotech companies and investors is that there will invariably be a viable market for its drug. The competition will have other ideas.

Unlike big pharma, some small commercial companies cut sales and marketing costs in 2021. But with a little imagination, it could go further.

Virtual marketing was the logical way to interact with healthcare professionals during the pandemic. It may stay after the pandemic but could be an additional expense.