PitchBook News & Analysis
2 articles
Market Mood
Biotech M&A Reaches $106 Billion in 2026 Amid Strong Momentum
Global biopharma M&A has reached $106 billion across 201 deals in 2026, positioning it for the strongest year since pre-COVID, according to PitchBook data. If the pace continues, total deal value could exceed $250 billion by year-end. The average deal value has increased to $527.3 million from $365 million in 2025, driven by strategic acquisitions. Major companies are focusing on 'bolt-on' deals in the $1 billion to $5 billion range, with GSK's $2.2 billion acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics exemplifying this trend.
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Billion-Dollar Startups Face Value Cuts as AI Era Emerges
Venture capital funding has significantly shifted since the arrival of ChatGPT, impacting startups valued over $1 billion. Nearly half of the 857 U.S. 'unicorns' haven't secured fresh funding in three years, resulting in average valuation declines of 68% for those last funded in 2021 and 52% for those in 2022. This situation has left over 220 companies termed as 'fallen unicorns,' unable to keep pace with the advancements driven by AI. As AI-focused firms receive heavy investment, traditional startups struggle to remain competitive.
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