Abstract
In This Issue.
Aside from biotechnology's continued hot streak on Wall Street, the fourth quarter was a quiet one for the life sciences industry, which raised only $6.4 billion in financings, the lowest quarterly total of 2005. Only four initial public offerings (IPOs) were made in the United States, and both alliance and ownership activity dropped dramatically. Secondary public offerings (SPOs) were the only financial vehicle that increased over the third quarter's totals, and biotech stocks turned in a strong fourth quarter, outperforming the life sciences industry and the U.S. economy as a whole. In this report, we review the fourth quarter's IPOs, SPOs, debt financings, private placement and venture capital activity, ownership changes, and company alliances. We also examine the most active pharmaceutical and biotech companies of the quarter. In addition, we take an in-depth look at the year-end bidding war for Guidant that drew the attention of the life sciences industry--as well as the business world in general--by highlighting the current and likely continued profitability of drug-eluting stents in the cardiovascular industry.
Table of Contents
Overview
Major Corporate Events in Cardiology?A Year-End Bidding War over Drug-Eluting Stents
- A Brief Look at Guidant
- Why Guidant Was Attractive to Johnson & Johnson
- Why Guidant Was Attractive to Boston Scientific
- Backed by Abbott, Boston Scientific Prevails
- Warning Letter from the FDA and Device Safety Issues
- Patent Struggles Continue
- Future Acquisition Candidates for Johnson & Johnson
Financings
- Initial Public Offerings
- Secondary Public Offerings
- Debt Financings
- Private Placements and Venture Capital
Ownership Changes
- Novartis/Chiron
- Allergan/Inamed
- Amgen/Abgenix
- St. Jude Medical/Advanced Neuromodulation Systems
Alliances
- AstraZeneca/AtheroGenics
- Pfizer/Incyte
- AstraZeneca/Protherics
- Roche/BioCryst Pharmaceuticals
- Novartis/Astex Therapeutics
Most Active Pharmaceutical Companies
Most Active Biotechnology Companies
