December 12, 2014
By Riley McDermid, BioSpace.com Breaking News Sr. Editor
Biotech analysts are already creating their year-end lists and fielding predictions for 2015 will hold. Today we look at new themes that could emerge for the sector in 2015, as predicted by Joshua Schimmer and the biotech analysis team at Piper Jaffray.
“End of year is always a useful time to reflect on what new themes could emerge in the year ahead, and also consider what 'surprises' may lurk around the corner that could have meaningful impact on the broader market or specific stocks,” wrote Schimmer Friday.
In their report, Piper Jaffray identified 15 events that haven't reached a high level of visibility or consideration but which could prove transformative in 2015.
“While not all are ‘high probability events,’ there is still value in considering the 'fat tails', i.e., lower probability events that are off radar screens but could be potentially impactful ones,” said Schimmer. “Among the list, perhaps not surprisingly, gene therapy is well represented as we believe the field is positioned to delivery multiple proof-of-concept readouts.”
Our Top 15 Potential "Surprise" Biopharma Events For 2015
1. Gene therapy establishes proof of concept in hemophilia
2. Heart failure explodes on the biopharma scene with gene therapy success
3. Biopharma does even better in 2015 than it did in 2014
4. Failed trials get approved, starting with BioMarin Pharmaceutical ’s drisapersen
5. bluebird bio cures sickle cell anemia
6. Biogen Idec finishes the year with the best large-cap pipeline and freedom to operate on Tecfidera
7. Sanofi-Aventis / MannKind Corporation Afrezza launch goes well.
8. PD1 antibodies start to look like a thing of the past.
9. Amgen blocks Regeneron Pharmaceuticals /Sanofi’s PCSK9 antibody
10. A biosimilar Soliris enters Phase 3.
11. Gene therapy cures blindness.
12. Iran gets the nuke; military spending hikes force other budget cuts.
13. Two large-cap biotechs get acquired.
14. Cannabidiol hits the radar screen for autism.
15. ProQR Therapeutics B.V. transforms the cystic fibrosis landscape.