Global Pharma M&A and Collaboration Highlights: October 2025 Sees Record Momentum in Biotech and Life Sciences

October 2025 turned out to be a blockbuster month of strategic partnerships, billion-dollar acquisitions, and cross-border collaborations redefining how innovation scales in the post-pandemic biotech economy.

From antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to RNA medicines, obesity drugs, and gene therapies, global giants and agile biotechs alike moved decisively—cementing a vision where precision medicine, technology convergence, and global synergy lead the way.

LOTTE Biologics and SK pharmteco Join Forces

If one deal captured the imagination of the biomanufacturing world, it was the LOTTE Biologics–SK pharmteco alliance. The two South Korean powerhouses announced a landmark Letter of Intent (LOI) to build a next-generation ADC CDMO ecosystem, offering an integrated one-stop solution from R&D to commercial manufacturing.

This partnership positions both firms as global contenders in the high-growth antibody-drug conjugate space—a segment forecasted to exceed $20 billion by 2030.

LOTTE Biologics CEO James Park called the move “a milestone for Korea’s biopharma leadership on the global stage,” noting the deal’s potential to fuse innovation, infrastructure, and manufacturing resilience across continents.

“This is not just a partnership—it’s the beginning of a global value chain for next-generation biologics,” Park emphasized.

Eli Lilly Doubles Down on Gene Therapy with Adverum Biotechnologies

The U.S. pharmaceutical titan Eli Lilly and Company made headlines with its acquisition of Adverum Biotechnologies, a bold play that strengthens its foothold in gene therapy for ocular diseases.

Adverum’s lead candidate, Ixo-vec, a one-time gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), embodies the “One and Done™” philosophy reshaping chronic disease treatment.

CEO Dr. Laurent Fischer shared his optimism:

“Together with Lilly, we can accelerate the future of vision preservation for millions.”

The acquisition cements Lilly’s growing dominance in genetic medicines, complementing its existing strength in diabetes, neurodegeneration, and aging-related health.

Novartis Acquires Avidity Biosciences, Spins Off SpinCo

Swiss pharma giant Novartis made a high-impact move with its agreement to acquire Avidity Biosciences, an RNA therapeutic pioneer developing Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs).

The deal grants Novartis access to late-stage programs targeting Duchenne muscular dystrophy, DM1, and FSHD, while a spin-off company, aptly named SpinCo, will carry forward Avidity’s early-stage cardiology programs as a publicly traded independent biotech.

Industry analysts call it a masterstroke—Novartis gains critical mass in RNA therapies, while SpinCo preserves the startup spirit that first drove Avidity’s innovation.

Accord Plasma Acquires Prothya Biosolutions

In the plasma therapeutics arena, Accord Plasma B.V. (part of Intas Pharmaceuticals) finalized its acquisition of Prothya Biosolutions Belgium BV.

The move strengthens Accord’s plasma fractionation capacity and global supply network, addressing surging demand for plasma-derived medicines used in immune deficiencies and rare diseases.

By uniting India’s manufacturing scale with Europe’s technical expertise, the acquisition signals the rise of a truly global plasma leader—with patient accessibility at its heart.

Takeda and Innovent Biologics: A New Era in ADC and IO Collaboration

Japan’s Takeda and China’s Innovent Biologics announced one of the month’s most strategic collaborations—uniting their pipelines to co-develop immuno-oncology and ADC therapies.

The collaboration centers on Innovent’s promising candidates, including IBI363 (PD-1/IL-2α bispecific fusion), IBI343 (CLDN18.2 ADC), and IBI3001 (EGFR/B7H3 ADC).

The deal exemplifies the east-meets-west R&D fusion now defining the next wave of oncology breakthroughs—combining Takeda’s global clinical expertise with Innovent’s speed and innovation.

Pfizer Acquires Metsera: Chasing the Next Obesity Frontier

Pharma heavyweight Pfizer also joined the October dealmaking rush, acquiring Metsera, Inc., a metabolic biotech with a pipeline of incretin and non-incretin obesity therapies.

Metsera’s portfolio, spanning oral and injectable formats, could make Pfizer a formidable rival in the $100 billion obesity drug market, dominated today by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Analysts see it as Pfizer’s “redemption play” following earlier pipeline setbacks—proof that the obesity race is far from over.

Novo Nordisk Buys Akero Therapeutics to Boost MASH Portfolio

Not to be outdone, Novo Nordisk deepened its metabolic franchise with its acquisition of Akero Therapeutics. The star asset: efruxifermin (EFX), a phase 3 FGF21 analogue targeting metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

The acquisition amplifies Novo Nordisk’s position in liver and metabolic health, bridging its GLP-1 legacy with next-generation therapies aimed at fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Roche Expands Asia-Pacific Presence through Hong Kong OASES Collaboration

In a move reflecting the globalization of innovation, Roche announced a five-year strategic collaboration with Hong Kong’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES).

The initiative aims to transform Hong Kong into a regional life sciences hub, expanding Roche’s pharmaceutical and diagnostics footprint and nurturing the next generation of biomedical talent in Asia-Pacific.

Avantor and BlueWhale Bio Transform CAR-T Manufacturing

Rounding out the month, Avantor, Inc. entered into a collaboration with BlueWhale Bio to advance CAR-T manufacturing using the Synecta™ platform, a nanoparticle-based technology that could dramatically reduce production time and improve scalability.

This partnership highlights the critical role of bioprocessing innovation in making cell and gene therapies commercially viable—and accessible to more patients.

Together, these strategic moves underscore a new reality for global healthcare: innovation thrives through partnership. As 2025 enters its final months, the momentum from October’s deals suggests a transformative 2026 — where precision, digital intelligence, and global collaboration converge to deliver the next generation of medical breakthroughs.