Meet biotech's new potential acquirers

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer, and today in healthcare news:

• We rounded up the biotechs most likely to usurp Big Pharma as major acquirers;
• Flagship Pioneering's Noubar Afeyan walked us through the 4 steps he uses to create biotech companies;
• Indoor dining is out for health experts, who shared what they're doing to stay safe as Delta spikes.

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at lramsey@insider.com or tweet @lydiaramsey125. Let's get to it...

11 biotechs primed to make billion-dollar buys and usurp Big Pharma

• It's been a quiet year for drug-industry mergers and acquisitions.
• Biotechs that used to be active acquirers have been bought by larger pharma players.
• Insiders say a new group of biotechs has war chests of cash and a desire to make deals.

Here's the full list>>

Gigantic leaps, bad ideas, and bold bets: Venture legend Noubar Afeyan lays out the process he uses to create superstar biotechs like Moderna

• Noubar Afeyan, a cofounder of the coronavirus-vaccine maker Moderna, recently sat down with Insider.
• He shared the four steps used by his venture firm Flagship Pioneering to create companies.
• Flagship builds biotechs in its own labs, straddling the line between an incubator and a VC firm.

Find the rest of the conversation here>>

Health experts share what they're doing to stay safe amid Delta's threat: They're still traveling but avoiding indoor dining

• Health experts are adjusting their behavior now that the Delta variant is driving up COVID-19 cases.
• While they're fully vaccinated, experts say they're wearing masks in all indoor settings.
• But they're still traveling, seeing friends, and taking their kids on outdoor playdates.

Get the full story>>

More stories we're reading:

• A growing number of 'multi-vaxxers' are getting unauthorized booster shots. Most are mixing and matching.(Insider)
• A WHO expert reveals her hesitations for COVID-19 booster shots (Stat News)
• Members of the US military will need to get a COVID-19 vaccine starting in September (Insider)
• Home-care tech startup Honor is buying one of the biggest home-care providers (Senior Housing News)

- Lydia