Two $1bn+ alliances were penned in March. In the top alliance by deal value, Merus NV will use its Triclonics anitbody platform to discover new dual tumor-associated antigens targeting trispecific antibodies for Gilead Sciences. Merus will lead early-stage research activities for two programs, with an option to pursue a third. Gilead will have the right to license programs developed under the collaboration after the completion of select research activities. If Gilead exercises its option to license any such program from the collaboration, Gilead will be responsible for additional research, development and commercialization activities for such program. The deal could be worth up to $1.5bn for Merus.

Just one $1bn+ alliance was penned in February, compared to ten in the previous month. In the top alliance by deal value, Neomorph and Novo Nordisk entered into a potential $1.46bn agreement for the discovery, development, and commercialization of molecular glue degraders (MGDs) for cardiometabolic and rare diseases. The collaboration brings together Novo Nordisk's expertise in those disease areas with Neomorph's MGD discovery platform. Neomorph will lead discovery and preclinical activities against selected targets with Novo Nordisk having the right to exclusively pursue further clinical development and commercialization of the compounds.

Ten $1bn+ alliances were penned in January. In the top alliance by deal value, Shanghai Argo Biopharmaceutical entered into exclusive collaboration with Novartis Pharma for two undisclosed Argo cardiovascular disease programs, one in Phase I and another in Phase I/IIa. Novartis gets an exclusive global license to develop and commercialize the Phase I program and also receives an option to potentially license compounds directed against up to two additional targets. For the Phase I/IIa program, Novartis gets an exclusive license worldwide except in Greater China. The deal could be worth up to $4.17bn for Argo.

During Q4, biopharma merger and acquisition deal value reached $63bn and drew in $75.4bn in potential deal value from alliances. Device company M&A values reached $4.8bn, while in vitro diagnostics and research tools players’ M&A activity totaled $3.4bn.

During the fourth quarter, biopharmas brought in an aggregate $13.1bn in financing and device company fundraising totaled $1.1bn; while in vitro diagnostic firms and research tools players raised $459m.

Six $1bn+ alliances were penned in December. In the top alliance by deal value, Biokin and its SystImmune subsidiary licensed Bristol Myers Squibb exclusive rights to develop and commercialize its cancer candidate BL-B01D1 worldwide, excluding Mainland China where SystImmune retains rights. BMS will pay $800m up front, up to $500m in contingent near-term payments, and up to $7.1bn in development, regulatory, and sales milestones, for a total potential consideration of up to $8.4bn.