European biotech enters 2026 in a strange, almost contradictory mood. The easy-money years are gone, the post-pandemic correction has done its damage, and investors are no longer rewarding science for being exciting alone. Yet the sector is far from frozen. If anything, 2025 showed that European biotech capital has become more selective, more concentrated and, in many ways, more sophisticated.
Paris-based Ipsen has agreed to acquire US biotech Kartos Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $1.75bn, adding a late-stage blood cancer programme to its growing oncology pipeline.
ProQR has reported the first clinical target-engagement data for its Axiomer RNA editing platform, while pricing a share offering and concurrent private placement that includes existing partner Eli Lilly.
Italian pharma Recordati has entered into a license agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for exclusive development and marketing rights to zilganersen, an investigational RNA-targeted medicine for the treatment of Alexander disease (AxD), in all countries outside the U.S.
ADC Therapeutics will cut about 17% of its global workforce as it tries to preserve cash and keep Zynlonta’s regulatory strategy on track after a difficult Phase III readout.
Novartis has signed a multi-target oncology discovery deal with Antares Therapeutics, paying $105m upfront for access to the Boston biotech’s small-molecule discovery engine. The agreement could bring Antares up to $1.8bn more in option, development, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on global net sales that could reach the low double-digit range.
Dutch biotech Leyden Labs has raised €40m from a group of investors to advance its nasal spray approach for protection against influenza and other respiratory viruses.
London’s RQ Bio, a private biotech developing long-acting antibody therapeutics to prevent flu, has raised $115 million (£85.5 million/€101 million) in its Series A financing.
Thalia Therapeutics is acquiring Sanmirna Therapeutics for an initial £3.675 million and up to £13 million in milestone payments, adding the clinical-stage acute myeloid leukemia (AML) candidate miRisten and transforming the company from a preclinical platform into a clinical-stage RNA therapeutics company.
Merck KGaA has partnered with Versant Ventures to launch Saturnus Bio, a new biotech developing precision medicines for rare genetic cardiomyopathies.