Stay informed about the latest in drug development with BioPharma Dive’s free newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. In the pharmaceutical industry, business deals are just as important as scientific discoveries. Many of today’s top-selling drugs, like the cancer treatment Keytruda and the anti-inflammatory drug Enbrel, wouldn’t exist without mergers and acquisitions (M&A). At the end of the last decade, pharmaceutical companies made record-breaking deals, often buying smaller biotech firms to gain access to innovative treatments for cancer, rare diseases, and immune system disorders. These areas were seeing big successes in clinical trials and generating high profits for approved treatments. However, dealmaking slowed down in 2021 and 2022 due to new challenges and rising interest rates. Now, there are signs of a comeback. Drug companies are focusing on areas like obesity and investing in new technologies like antibody-drug conjugates. Even neuroscience, which was previously overlooked, is attracting investment again. BioPharma Dive is tracking these M&A activities in a database that includes drugmaker buyouts since 2018, valued at $50 million or more. The database is regularly updated and provides details on each deal. You can click on any acquiring company to learn more. If you notice any missing information or have suggestions, feel free to reach out. This database only includes companies developing human medicines and focuses on full company acquisitions, not partial equity stakes or product licensing. Deals must have at least $50 million in upfront payment, which can include cash or equity. Deals with unspecified or lower upfront payments, like Eli Lilly’s purchase of Versanis or Novartis’ acquisition of Kate Therapeutics, are not included. Premiums are calculated based on the acquired company’s share price from the previous trading day. Each acquired company is categorized under one therapeutic area, usually based on its lead product. If a company has multiple focuses, it may be classified under ‘other.’ Some private biotech purchases may lack certain data. The database is updated when deals are announced, and entries are removed if transactions fall through or updated if another company outbids the original acquirer. The database now includes the 50 best-selling pharmaceutical products and reflects current patent expiry expectations. Additionally, MapLight Therapeutics’ $372.5 million Series D funding round is the third-largest venture financing this year, according to BioPharma Dive’s tracking. Stay updated with the free daily newsletter read by industry experts.