Bayer AG Acquires Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio)

TPG Capital and Vida Ventures Invest $225M in Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio)

April 11, 2019

Biotechnology

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio) raised $235 million in new capital, with TPG Capital and Vida Ventures investing $225 million for a minority stake while AskBio’s founders and board co-invested $10 million. The funding will be used to accelerate clinical development and expand manufacturing capabilities, particularly for AskBio’s AAV gene therapy platform and pipeline.

Merck & Co., Inc. Acquires VelosBio Inc.

November 5, 2020

Biotechnology

Merck & Co., Inc. will acquire all outstanding shares of clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company VelosBio for $2.75 billion in cash. The acquisition adds VelosBio's lead investigational antibody-drug conjugate VLS-101 and ROR1-directed pipeline assets to Merck's oncology portfolio and is expected to close by the end of 2020, subject to customary conditions.

Astellas Pharma Acquires Xyphos Biosciences

December 26, 2019

Biotechnology

Astellas Pharma has acquired Xyphos Biosciences, gaining Xyphos' ACCEL convertible-CAR technology platform and immuno-oncology talent. The deal included $120 million paid at closing and potential milestone payments bringing the total transaction value to up to $665 million.

Sanofi to Acquire Vicebio for Up to $1.6 Billion

July 25, 2025

Biotechnology

Sanofi will acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Vicebio in a deal worth up to $1.6 billion, including $1.15 billion upfront and $450 million in milestone payments. Vicebio, created by Medicxi using the University of Queensland's Molecular Clamp technology, develops multivalent vaccines targeting respiratory viruses and recently advanced a bivalent RSV/hMPV candidate into Phase 1 trials.

Novartis Acquires Vedere Bio

September 30, 2020

Biotechnology

Novartis has acquired Vedere Bio, a Cambridge-based optogenetics AAV gene therapy company, for $150 million upfront plus up to $130 million in potential regulatory and clinical milestones (total consideration of $280 million). The deal includes Vedere Bio's lead preclinical intravitreal AAV programs focused on pan-genotypic vision restoration; earlier-stage assets were spun out into a newly formed independent company, Vedere Bio II.

Ipsen Acquires Albireo Pharma

January 9, 2023

Biotechnology

Ipsen has agreed to acquire Albireo Pharma in a cash tender offer of $42.00 per share plus a contingent value right (CVR) tied to FDA approval in biliary atresia, in a transaction intended to expand Ipsen's Rare Disease portfolio. The acquisition brings Albireo's approved pediatric liver drug Bylvay (odevixibat) and a pipeline of bile-acid modulators into Ipsen's global R&D and commercial capabilities.