The buyers' wishlist: What makes a life sciences deal stack up?

Paul Jaskot and Pat Woolley discuss how intellectual property and related risks can shape the valuation, structure and viability of life sciences M&A transactions. Jaskot notes that buyers must weigh uncertainty around a product’s development history, potential litigation and commercial agreements, while deal structures such as earnouts may help bridge differing expectations about future value. Woolley emphasizes careful diligence into IP ownership and whether patents actually cover the assets being acquired, noting that identifying potential issues early can make them easier to address and help shift negotiations toward completing the transaction.