Biotech Industry Expected to Experience More M&A Activity in 2013

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 01/28/13 -- Lost revenues from expiring patents has played a major part in the Biotech Industry's success in recent years. A total of 676 takeovers of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have occurred in the past three years, with an average premium of 38 percent, according to data collected by Bloomberg. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Biotech Industry and provides equity research on Array Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ: ARRY) and Venaxis Inc. (NASDAQ: APPY).

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At the end of the third quarter five of the biggest drug makers in the U.S. held over $70 billion in cash, near cash and short-term investments. Major revenue losses from patent expirations have forced big pharmaceutical companies to look to biotech companies to help fill the void. Pfizer's Lipitor and Bristol-Myers' Plavix, which lost exclusivity in late 2011, had combined annuals revenues of $17 billion at their peaks.

"We're through many cost-cutting programs, restructurings and portfolio arrangements," said Henry Gosebruch, Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions J.P. Morgan. "When you put that together with record levels of cash available and improving, but still moderate R&D productivity, we think there will be more big pharma M&A activity in 2013."

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Array is evolving into a late-stage development company, with two wholly-owned programs, ARRY-614 and ARRY-520, and three partnered programs, selumetinib (with AstraZeneca), MEK162 (with Novartis), and danoprevir (with InterMune / Roche), having the potential to begin Phase 3 or pivotal trials by the end of calendar year 2013. Shares of the company have gained over 60 percent in the past year.

Venaxis (formerly AspenBio Pharma, Inc.) is an in vitro diagnostic company focused on the clinical development and commercialization of its blood-based appendicitis test, APPY1. The company earlier this month reported that it is prepared to commence their initial product launch of APPY1 in select European territories in the first quarter of 2013.

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