Life Sciences Software – 2020

October 29, 2020. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed accelerated adoption of frontier technologies in the life sciences software ecosystem, with a heavy focus on virtual trial capabilities. While the pandemic led to a temporary slowdown in transaction activity for a few weeks in early 2020, the fundamental technology shifts in the life sciences market have sparked a recent resurgence of M&A and investment appetite. We foresee strong continued interest in this sector in the coming months.

MPG actively tracks the life sciences software landscape and have noticed a number of market dynamics:

• The onset of COVID-19 has forced market incumbents and challengers to recognize the strategic imperative of virtual trial technologies, paving the way for eClinical disruption

• Passing of the final milestone in the SEND timeline will pave the way for conformity in pre-clinical submissions and provide further opportunity for pre-clinical vendors

• Patient recruitment and engagement is evolving from a site-based “hands-on” activity to a more efficient, scalable and non-traditional digital-first approach

• The Dassault / Medidata transaction led to a broader consolidation play in the eClinical market driven by both strategic acquirers and financial sponsors