Avant View

AVANT VIEW Quarterly Report Q4 2025

The life sciOn the M&A side, activity remained selective rather than frenzied. Several strategics are actively looking to acquire, with a clear focus on building around core platforms and expanding capabilities. The underlying driver: next-generation therapeutics, from complex biologics and multispecifics to cell and gene therapies, require fundamentally new tools and approaches across the value chain. The looming patent cliff, with nearly $300B in revenue expected to lose exclusivity by decade’s end, is accelerating this shift as pharma looks beyond traditional small molecules to defend growth. This is translating directly into tools M&A, whether it’s advanced drug delivery (Halozyme-Elektrofi), single-cell sequencing for target discovery (QIAGEN-Parse), or structure-based design capabilities (Pharmaron-Biortus). For life science tools players, the opportunity lies in enabling these new modalities at scale.

Strategic acquisitions in Q4 2025 highlight continued consolidation around platform technologies that enable next-generation therapeutics. 

  • Elektrofi acquisition by Halozyme completed ($900M, Nov 2025) – Consolidates two subcutaneous delivery specialists; Hypercon™ platform complements Halozyme’s ENHANZE with existing Lilly, J&J, and argenx partnerships.
  • Parse Biosciences acquired by QIAGEN ($225M, Nov 2025) – Instrument-free single-cell RNA sequencing platform positions QIAGEN for AI-driven drug discovery demand
  • Biortus Biosciences acquired by Pharmaron ($189M, Oct 2025) – Structural biology CRO strengthens Pharmaron’s structure-based drug design capabilities
  • InSilico Medicine IPO (HKEX: $293M, Dec 2025) – First AI-driven biotech on HKEX Main Board; 1,427x oversubscribed with Lilly, Tencent, and Temasek as cornerstone

Deals:

Q4 2025 saw deal activity pick up across the life sciences industrial sector, though many rounds closed below initial targets, a sign that capital discipline continues to define the market. The notable exception: AI platforms, which captured the lion’s share of funding and commanded premium valuations, mirroring trends in broader tech markets. There’s a growing sense that AI is starting to deliver real value, with multiple large pharma partnerships and back-to-back raises for leading platforms.

Q4 continued the surge in AI-driven platform funding, with several large raises signaling sustained investor conviction.  Foundation models for biology, autonomous lab systems, and automated chemistry all saw significant capital inflows.

  • Chai Discovery ($130M Series B, $1.3B valuation) – OpenAI-backed foundation model platform for antibody and small molecule design; second raise within five months.
  • Profluent ($106M Series B) – AI protein design with 115B+ protein database; created OpenCRISPR-1, the first AI-designed CRISPR system.
  • Edison Scientific ($70M Seed, $255M valuation) – FutureHouse spinout building autonomous AI scientist platform for literature synthesis and molecular design.
  • Chemify ($50M Series B) – Glasgow-based digital chemistry company combining AI and robotics to automate molecular design and synthesis; launched first fully automated Chemifarm facility.

AVANT VIEW

As 2025 ends, we see the life sciences sector has moved beyond reaction and into execution. A year defined by policy volatility, capital constraint, and operational pressure has forced sharper prioritization across the ecosystem. The result is a more disciplined industry, increasingly focused on platforms that can scale with resilience built in.

Going into 2026, several themes will shape how we at AVANT Bio will invest and advise.

Discovery infrastructure takes center stage

One of the clearest signals heading into 2026 is the renewed strategic importance of research and drug discovery infrastructure. Across the value chain, conviction is building around tools that compress timelines, improve decision-making, and reduce downstream risk, particularly at the intersection of biology, data, and computation.  AI and machine learning will increasingly become foundation to no surprise.

Capital: selective conviction takes hold

Capital markets did not fully rebound in 2025, but sentiment meaningfully improved. M&A activity accelerated around enabling platforms, while investors continued to favor revenue-generating, infrastructure-like businesses that reduce friction across discovery, development, manufacturing, and analytics. We see this move toward selective conviction continuing into 2026.

AI becomes core to pharma infrastructure

Big Pharma is increasingly placing big bets on AI infrastructure. NVIDIA and Eli Lilly announced a $1B AI drug discovery hub in South San Francisco, while Lilly also integrated its AI platform with Benchling, giving 1,300+ biotechs access to its discovery models. Servier signed a €1B+ deal with Iktos, and we’re seeing a wave of partnerships pairing pharma data with AI capabilities (GSK-Noetik, Lilly – Chai, Genentech-Caris, BMS-Harbour BioMed).  These types of strategic partnerships and investments will continue into 2026 with smaller players also coming into play.

The China dynamic

A recent Senate-mandated report warned that China is outpacing the U.S. in select areas of innovation, driven by faster trial approvals and a sharp rise in outbound licensing from 5% of global deals in 2022 to 42% in early 2025.  As the Biosecure Act advances, lower-priced China-origin assets are increasingly part of the global comparison set, influencing pricing benchmarks. These forces are converging around valuation and acquisition dynamics. However, fit, data quality, and regulatory credibility remain paramount, suggesting that while China may anchor price expectations, high-quality platforms aligned with Western regulatory standards continue to command strategic value.

J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Week – Market pulse check

Overall, JPM this year felt more restrained than in previous years, with fewer attendees from pharma, hinting at greater discipline and sharper focus. Conversations were heavier on intent and positioning than on fresh signatures, with companies openly scanning for assets across stages. The optimism that previously led to disappointment has given way to a more rational, realistic tone. If the discipline holds, 2026 could see more meaningful deal activity as buyer and seller expectations continue to align.

What this means for AVANT BIO

Entering 2026, the industry appears better positioned to execute. Macro pressures and policy risk remains, but it is increasingly priced into decisions. Capital is cautious but engaged. Innovation continues with greater discipline and clearer intent, with key tech like AI & ML becoming a driving force.  Tools for research and drug discovery will take center stage.  This environment reinforces AVANT BIO’s focus on therapeutic-enabling technologies, platforms that modernize how therapies are discovered, developed, manufactured, and delivered. We see growing opportunity in companies built for resilience, scalability, and regulatory alignment as the sector shifts from adjustment to execution.

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