Biotech Expert Talks Potential M&A Activity, Partnerships And Women's Health

Benzinga recently had the chance to chat with Jason Napodano, biopharma analyst and consultant, owner of BioNap Consulting and former biotech analyst at Zacks. Below are just a few of the expert’s comments on potential M&A activity and partnerships in the biotech segment in the current market, in addition to a brief comment on women's health.

Potential M&A Activity

When asked about the potential M&A activity in biotech in the current market and macro environment, the analyst explained that biotech companies use each other’s shares as currency.

For instance, if Juno Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: JUNO) was down 50 percent from months ago and Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) made a deal for 30 percent premium, investors would be disturbed, he expounded.

Related Link: Jason Napodano On His Approach To Biotech & Current Market Conditions

That being said, Napodano noted it is a common misconception that biotech M&A deals are completed during selloffs and bear markets. Quite the opposite: the analyst believes it is more likely for these deals to occur in bull markets.

Partnerships And Biotech

Partnerships are fundamental for biotech companies, especially during development stages. When questioned about them, Napodano said partnerships are more attractive than outright M&A deals, noting that can be particularly beneficial for small companies in terms of funding.

The basic idea here is that “50 percent of something is better than 100 percent of nothing.”

Women’s Health

Finally, the expert was prompted on women's health in general and endometriosis and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: NBIX) in particular.

Regarding this subject, he commented that endometriosis' current treatments, like Lupron, are actually cancer drugs that aren't specifically designed for endometriosis.

Consequently, Neurocrine can specialize and take advantage of developing a drug specifically designed to treat endometriosis, as opposed to bigger biotech firms that may pass on the opportunity.

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