94% of Life Sciences Companies Planning an Acquisition in the Next Year, Says Report

A global study of 100 senior executives at life sciences companies by law firm Reed Smith, in partnership with Mergermarket, states that 94% are planning to make an acquisition in the next year, with a further 87% expecting these to be cross-border transactions.

The report, Life lines: Life sciences M&A and the rise of personalized medicine, identifies the growing role of personalized medicine in life science companies’ strategies. More than two-thirds (70%) of respondents cited businesses that have a focus on personalized medicine as an area where they will increasingly look to make acquisitions. 

Nick Cheek, global managing editor of Remark, part of the Mergermarket Group, commented: “The M&A boom in the life sciences sector looks set to continue. Deal volumes are on track to beat 2014, itself the busiest year for transactions since the financial crisis seven years ago. Despite considerable uncertainty, transactions will continue apace, as life sciences companies work out where the pieces will fall for their strategies – and seek to build organizations that are fit for this purpose.” 

The report is available here.