September 22, 2025 | M & A Insights
The global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry is in a phase of intensified activity, with acquisitions, licensing deals, and strategic alliances reshaping the landscape. Over the past month, major companies have pursued bold moves to strengthen pipelines, scale manufacturing, and accelerate access to next-generation therapies.
Oncology continues to dominate deal-making, as firms race to deliver innovative biologics, CAR-T therapies, and precision medicines to meet urgent clinical needs.
At the same time, artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation to core adoption, streamlining drug discovery, trial design, and manufacturing processes.
Manufacturing resilience is another priority, with companies securing long-term capacity and expanding U.S. and global footprints to ensure reliable supply.
Taken together, these trends reflect a sector focused not just on scientific breakthroughs but also on delivering them efficiently and at scale—reshaping the future of patient care worldwide.
Labcorp completed its $225 million acquisition of BioReference Health’s oncology testing business from OPKO Health. The deal expands Labcorp’s cancer diagnostics portfolio while allowing OPKO to concentrate on its 4Kscore® Test franchise and optimize profitability.
Cytiva, a Danaher company, partnered with WhiteLab Genomics to integrate artificial intelligence into cell line development. By applying predictive modeling, the collaboration aims to cut costs and reduce genomic medicine development timelines by up to 70%, enhancing scalability for advanced therapies.
Belgium’s Jessa Ziekenhuis advanced its oncology capabilities through a partnership with SOPHiA GENETICS. By adopting cloud-based NGS workflows, the hospital expects to cut hands-on time by up to 50%, lower costs by 25%, and accelerate turnaround times, boosting personalized medicine efforts across the country.
Zydus Lifesciences entered into an exclusive licensing and supply agreement with Synthon BV to launch generic Ozanimod Capsules (ZEPOSIA®) in the U.S. Synthon will manage manufacturing and approvals, while Zydus oversees commercialization, providing patients with greater access to multiple sclerosis treatment options.
LOTTE BIOLOGICS secured a late-stage to commercial manufacturing partnership with a U.S.-based biopharma company. Extending through 2030, the deal strengthens LOTTE’s U.S. operations and reflects the growing trend of reshoring and supply chain realignment in the biomanufacturing sector.
IQVIA joined forces with Flagship Pioneering to support the development of early-stage biopharma companies. By leveraging IQVIA’s analytics, trial design, and commercialization expertise, the alliance will help Flagship’s portfolio companies bring therapies to market more efficiently.
In dermatology, Boehringer Ingelheim granted LEO Pharma global rights to SPEVIGO®, its therapy for generalized pustular psoriasis. LEO will lead commercialization and further development, expanding its dermatology portfolio while ensuring broader patient access to an innovative treatment.
Pfizer expanded its oncology pipeline through an exclusive ex-China licensing agreement with China’s 3SBio for SSGJ-707, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF. Pfizer will invest $100 million in 3SBio and manufacture the therapy in the U.S., reinforcing its leadership in immuno-oncology.
Kite, a Gilead Company, announced plans to acquire Interius BioTherapeutics for $350 million. Interius’s platform enables CAR T-cell generation directly within patients, eliminating the need for preconditioning chemotherapy and potentially transforming the accessibility of cell therapies.
AbbVie strengthened its immunology capabilities by completing the acquisition of Capstan Therapeutics. The deal adds Capstan’s proprietary tLNP platform and lead candidate CPTX2309, advancing new approaches in in vivo immune programming.
Bayer entered a global license agreement with Kumquat Biosciences to co-develop a KRAS G12D inhibitor, targeting a mutation prevalent in pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancers. The collaboration complements Bayer’s oncology pipeline while addressing significant unmet needs.
Sartorius Stedim Biotech invested in Nanotein Technologies, acquiring a minority stake to support commercialization of its NanoSpark® immune cell activation platform. The collaboration aims to improve scalability and consistency in CAR-T and NK cell therapies.
China’s Kexing Biopharm partnered with IQVIA to accelerate clinical development and global commercialization of its biosimilars and novel drugs, particularly in Europe and other regulated markets. The alliance strengthens Kexing’s position as an emerging international player.
Finally, Alveolus Bio secured strategic funding from Shilpa Medicare, which also becomes its global development and manufacturing partner. The collaboration will advance Alveolus’s resMIT™ platform for inhaled therapies targeting COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
🔍 Article Insights:
Oncology Dominance: A majority of deals, including Pfizer–3SBio, Labcorp–BioReference, Bayer–Kumquat, and Kite–Interius, highlight the sector’s continued focus on cancer innovation.
AI in Biopharma: Collaborations like Cytiva–WhiteLab and IQVIA–Flagship show how AI is reshaping development efficiency.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain: LOTTE’s U.S. expansion and Sartorius’s investment in Nanotein underscore industry priorities in biomanufacturing resilience.
Global Collaboration: Cross-border deals, especially involving Chinese and European firms, reflect a trend toward globalized R&D ecosystems.
