Aakash Desai, Associate Director of Phase 1 and Precision Oncology Program at UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“2024 saw a 50% drop in cancer-focused M and A and licensing deal value ($90B) vs. 2023—but oncology remains the dominant category in biopharma transactions. – Aakash Desai
Emerging Trends:
- Shift away from ultra-targeted, niche biomarker drugs toward broader pan-cancer modalities.
- Significant investment in ADCs, radioligand therapies (RLTs), and bi/trispecific antibodies.
- Fewer late-stage deals; more early-stage, high-potential platforms.
- Smaller molecules and protein degraders gaining renewed interest.
The market is moving toward precision with scale—balancing targeted mechanisms with broader commercial reach. The pursuit of the next ‘Keytruda-class’ blockbuster continues.
As we head into 2025, the oncology pipeline is growing more diverse, global, and competitive—forcing dealmakers to think strategically about risk, differentiation, and long-term value.”
