RE:RE:RE:RE:AstraZeneca's ADC disappoints - on severe adverse eventsFebruary 20, 2023 - " .....We’re also heading into the period, theoretically, when the Medicare drug price negotiations kick in in either 2026 or 2028, depending on whether it’s a similar or small molecule.
The major players are looking at that period and that’s what’s caused a spurt of M&A. It’s returned strongly in 2023, and we expect that to continue in 2024. Given how strongly it’s returned, especially with the number of companies who have made major moves, the first half of 2024 will be back to the tuck in mode. This is just because a lot of companies have made their major acquisitions .... acquisitions generally require a higher price tag, which is why I’m seeing the outlay is pretty high. Even with the cash piles that these companies have, $10 billion doesn’t buy as much as it once did. " - Arthur Wong, Managing Director, Healthcare, S&P Global Ratings