RE:Biotech M&A to Boom across a landscape of uncharted markets “The acquisition of Bellus by GSK revolves around the potential of an undefined market, specifically chronic cough,” explains Greg. “While strategic interest and M&A activity have been observed in rare diseases, small markets, and established commercial portfolios, what distinguishes this acquisition is the uncharted nature of the market. Bellus is bringing a late-stage asset to GSK, but further development and construction are still required.”
This signals a promising appetite among industry players to invest in innovation, not only in well-understood diseases but also in novel approaches that address unmet needs in areas lacking established infrastructure but supported by data.
“In both the US and Europe, there is a discernible narrative where major pharmaceutical companies are pursuing acquisitions of smaller firms,” continues Renza. “GSK has also demonstrated a well-defined strategy in recent years, concentrating on later-stage programs nearing market readiness. A lot of these trends and strategies within the industry are fundamentally driven by innovation.”