The need for more corporate responsibility has evolved for today’s corporations and the next generation of business leaders in the form of environmental, social and governance (ESG). Investors, activists, and regulators are now requiring proactive, community-structured commitment and accountability that is designed to step above shareholder returns. Today’s global capital markets aren’t interested in more marketing from companies in every industry. Instead, they are demanding sustainability and eco-friendly business practices as well as a reasonable return. Global healthcare companies and their executives are now hearing this call, and the industry is being more proactive in this movement. 

Moderna

A shareholder proposal calling on Moderna Inc. to study transferring production of COVID-19 vaccines to less-developed countries won 24 percent support from investors on April 28 after the company received a rare endorsement from the World Health Organization.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. will spin off its antibody discovery business into a new entity known as OmniAb Inc., which will then merge with special-purpose acquisitions company Avista Capital Partners and head to the Nasdaq Stock Market. 

AbbVie bolstered the company’s neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative portfolio with the acquisition of Belgium-based Syndesi Therapeutics in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. 

With companies like GlaxoSmithKline and bluebird bio moving closer to splitting their businesses into multiple entities, Novartis is reviewing the Swiss drugmaker’s Sandoz division to determine the best moves going forward to maximize value for shareholders.

Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc. is acquiring Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc. for about $400 million as the Rockville, Maryland-based company is expanding its portfolio of treatments for Parkinson’s disease and reducing reliance on the drugmaker’s top-selling epilepsy medicine, Trokendi XR.

Sanofi agreed to buy U.S. biotech company Translate Bio in a $3.2 billion deal, as the French pharmaceuticals firm bets on next-generation mRNA vaccine technology beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, confirming a Reuters exclusive report.

Bristol Myers Squibb Co. was sued for $6.4 billion on June 3 for allegedly delaying the company’s Breyanzi cancer drug to avoid payments to shareholders of the former Celgene Corp., which the drugmaker bought in 2019.

Roivant Sciences is combining with Montes Archimedes Acquisition Corp (MAAC), a particular purpose acquisition company sponsored by Patient Square Capital. 

Clarus Therapeutics Inc. and Blue Water Acquisition Corp. on April 27 announced a definitive business combination agreement that will result in Clarus becoming a publicly traded company.