Drug Hunter 2023 M&A Review: Part 2 – Small Molecule-Focused Deals Countdown

In April 2024, there were promising examples of drug repurposing, significant clinical and regulatory milestones for therapies aimed at rare and pediatric diseases, the initiation of a rolling NDA submission for suzetrigine, substantial billion-dollar acquisitions, and positive trial results were reported for both a D1/D5 receptor agonist and a PARP1 inhibitor. However, the industry also had setbacks as demonstrated by the failed clinical trials for an MNK inhibitor and an NMDA receptor modulator. In case you missed anything, here’s a recap of the most notable news highlights from April 2024!

There has been substantial interest in the development of screening methods capable of surveying a wider sample of chemical space and larger numbers of compounds. Over the past two decades, DEL technology has evolved into a broadly utilized and validated platform in drug discovery, yielding diverse hits for a wide range of biologically relevant targets. Read the full review for a historical and technical overview of DEL technology, including how libraries are prepared and screened, a comparison to other HTS methods, and examples of successful applications in drug discovery.

In the aftermath of the thalidomide tragedy, the FDA advised excluding females in the childbearing age from early-stage clinical trials. However, this policy resulted in the prolonged underrepresentation of women in clinical research, limiting knowledge about how drugs affect genders differently. Recent policy changes, including the NIH's emphasis on considering sex as a biological variable, aim to reduce these disparities by promoting more diverse clinical trial participation. This article explores the current landscape of endometriosis therapies and how it relates to women’s healthcare.

Drug Hunter has sifted through news articles, press releases, financial disclosures, SEC filings, and more to bring you a roundup of 2023’s biggest mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the drug discovery world. In part 3 of this 4-part series, we bring you the top-ranked small molecule-focused deals by value. Covering a range of targets and modalities, this article gives Drug Hunter members in-depth background and analysis of the hottest science opening checkbooks in 2023.

In May 2024, several significant transactions worth millions and billions of dollars took place to advance next-generation neuroplastogens, KRAS G12C inhibitors, Pompe disease treatments, and molecular glues. We also highlight positive clinical readouts for hot targets such as tetrameric transthyretin (TTR) stabilizers, Hedgehog pathway inhibitors, plasma kallikrein inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DPP-1) inhibitors, and PCSK9 inhibitors. Here's a recap of the most notable news highlights from May 2024!