On a fateful day in late June, Gilead Sciences made waves in the biopharmaceutical world with a bold financial move. They acquired a staggering 3 million shares of AlloVir stock, a transaction that rang in at a hefty price tag exceeding $10 million. What’s more, the very next day, Gilead dove into another investment, purchasing slightly over 1 million shares of Arcus Biosciences for a jaw-dropping sum of nearly $20 million.
In the not-so-distant past, such cross-company stock exchanges were par for the course in the biopharma arena. Ira Leiderman, a seasoned managing director of healthcare at Cassel Salpeter & Co., noted that this practice was commonplace. However, as times have evolved, this phenomenon has become a rare breed. Leiderman remarked, “Gilead’s move is a prime example, but you won’t stumble upon many deals like this in today’s landscape.”
These intriguing transactions, often referred to as equity investments or cross-holdings, serve a multitude of purposes. They serve as the scaffolding for forging strategic alliances, allowing businesses to pool their collective knowledge and resources to tackle the formidable challenges of drug development head-on.
Adam Garcia, the astute CEO of the Stock Dork, emphasized the broader scope of these deals. He explained, “Cross-ownership empowers companies to broaden their product portfolios, gain entry into novel technologies, and venture into uncharted markets with unparalleled efficiency.” Moreover, such stock acquisitions can serve as the glue that solidifies existing partnerships.
In Gilead’s case, the story goes beyond mere financial transactions. They’ve been a stalwart supporter of AlloVir since its debut in the public eye in 2020. Notably, AlloVir’s CEO, Diana Brainard, once held the prestigious position of heading the virology therapeutic area at Gilead for a decade. Similarly, Gilead had an ongoing collaboration with Arcus, centered on the pursuit of groundbreaking cancer immunotherapies and combination therapies. By investing in the stock of these companies, Gilead is essentially channeling funds into its pre-existing collaborations.
Yet, there’s more to these equity investments than meets the eye. They act as a buffer, helping companies diversify their portfolios and mitigate risks. Garcia elaborated, “By holding shares in multiple biopharma companies, a company can spread its investments across different therapeutic areas and business models.” This diversification serves as a safety net, cushioning the impact of potential setbacks in specific drug development endeavors and ensuring a more stable financial footing.
Another intriguing facet of stock purchases lies in their potential to catalyze silent takeovers. These covert maneuvers involve a company quietly amassing a significant stake in another, all without publicly disclosing its intention to acquire a majority share. This clandestine strategy bypasses the customary public takeover bid process, which entails laborious negotiations and regulatory approvals. Silent takeovers, while discreet, can wield immense influence, reshaping leadership, strategic direction, and overall control of the acquired company, with far-reaching implications for the market.
However, it’s important to note that, according to Leiderman and his colleague Margery Fischbein, silent takeovers are currently dormant in the biopharma realm. In fact, Gilead’s recent foray into stock acquisition with its partners stands as an anomaly in the present economic climate. Several factors contribute to this anomaly.
Firstly, many biopharma companies are still in the process of readjusting to normalcy following the disruptive wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This makes them less enticing prospects for investment, even for fellow biopharma firms, as Fischbein observed.
Simultaneously, companies that may have previously contemplated investing in biopharma stock now find themselves grappling with financial constraints. As Leiderman aptly put it, “Cash is the lifeblood of biotechs, and these are tough times.” Instead of accumulating stock in other companies, some biopharmas are exploring alternative avenues, including selling their own stock to secure much-needed capital.
In essence, it all boils down to a stark divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” In today’s landscape, there’s an abundance of “have-nots” – companies grappling with unsteady balance sheets, cash shortages, and fluctuating stock prices.
Nonetheless, for those fortunate biotechs that secure financial backing from pharmaceutical giants like Gilead, it’s a game-changer. Fischbein emphasized, “It adds a layer of credibility that’s hard to match. When a behemoth like Gilead, GSK, or Novartis invests significantly, it’s not just an endorsement – it’s a testament to the promise and potential for success.”