Astrazeneca shows megamergers were still possible in 2020

It might not have been the biggest year for biopharma acquisitions, but despite a global pandemic and rising asset prices 2020 still managed to pull off a respectable transaction haul, with almost $130bn of deals announced.

There had been concerns after a very flat first half that things might not play out so well, but a strong finish to the fourth quarter, thanks to Astrazeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb, ensured that despite its problems 2020 compared favourably to more normal years.