11 M&A advisors active in San Diego life sciences deals in 2026. Covers biotech, biopharma services, diagnostics, and medical devices with firm profiles and recent deals.
San Diego is one of the top three life sciences markets in the US. Novartis, Merck, Roche, and AbbVie all acquired here in 2025 and 2026.
Four biotech deals closed in 12 months totaling $26.2B. Avidity ($12B), Cidara ($9.2B), Soleno ($2.9B), Capstan ($2.1B).
Buyers move fast and due diligence is detailed. IP ownership, clinical data, and regulatory filings all get reviewed before LOI.
Set up a virtual data room before your first advisor call. Buyers want organized records from day one.
| Firm | Deal Type | Deal Size | Sector Focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BroadOak Capital Partners | BroadOak Capital Partners | Both | $20M - $500M | Life Sciences, Biopharma Services, Diagnostics | broadoak.com |
| Leerink Partners | Leerink Partners | Both | $100M - $15B | Biopharma, Biotech, Medical Devices | leerink.com |
| Piper Sandler | Piper Sandler | Both | $50M - $5B | Biopharma, Biotech, Medtech | pipersandler.com |
| Houlihan Lokey | Houlihan Lokey | Both | $50M - $5B | Life Sciences, Healthcare, PE-backed | hl.com |
| Jefferies | Jefferies | Both | $100M - $10B | Biotech, Biopharma, Life Sciences | jefferies.com |
| Evercore | Evercore | Both | $200M - $20B | Biopharma, Large-cap Biotech | evercore.com |
| Goldman Sachs | Goldman Sachs | Both | $500M - $50B | Biopharma, Large-cap, PE-backed | goldmansachs.com |
| William Blair | William Blair | Both | $50M - $2B | Life Sciences, Medtech, Biopharma | williamblair.com |
| Oppenheimer | Oppenheimer | Both | $25M - $1B | Biotech, Life Sciences, Medtech | oppenheimer.com |
| Cowen (TD Cowen) | Cowen (TD Cowen) | Both | $50M - $5B | Biotech, Biopharma, Life Sciences | tdcowen.com |
| Stifel | Stifel | Both | $25M - $1B | Life Sciences, Biotech, Medtech | stifel.com |
How to verify an advisor's track record
Ask for a closed deal list in your sub-sector. A biopharma services boutique won't reach the same buyers as a biotech M&A specialist.
Advisors who know San Diego name Novartis, Roche, Illumina, and Neurocrine. Generic pharma references won't hold on a reference call.
Check whether they've run processes with both large pharma and PE sponsors. San Diego draws both buyer types across biotech and medtech.
Use Ellty to share financials with shortlisted advisors under NDA. You'll see who opens your files before your first call. Browse the San Diego M&A advisors guide for cross-sector context. Read the sell-side due diligence guide to prep before outreach.
Running a San Diego life sciences deal?
Share biotech financials with buyers under NDA. Track who opens them.
Start free 14-day trialHow a life sciences deal in San Diego runs
San Diego biotech deals typically close in five to eight months. IP review and regulatory filings can add two to four months on top.
| Stage | What happens | What you need ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: Preparation | Stage 1: Preparation | Run QoE, build CIM, shortlist advisors by sub-sector | Three years P&L, IP schedule, clinical data summary |
| Stage 2: Advisor engagement | Stage 2: Advisor engagement | Sign engagement letter, align on buyer list | Cap table, patent filings, key license agreements |
| Stage 3: Marketing | Stage 3: Marketing | CIM sent to buyers, NDAs signed, meetings set | Ellty data room live with CIM and key data packages |
| Stage 4: LOI | Stage 4: LOI | Buyers submit bids, LOIs negotiated, exclusivity signed | Clean revenue data, no open IP disputes or patent gaps |
| Stage 5: Due diligence | Stage 5: Due diligence | Buyer reviews IP, clinical data, financial, regulatory | Full Ellty data room: patents, trial data, financials |
| Stage 6: Close | Stage 6: Close | Purchase agreement signed, funds transfer | Reps and warranties signed, transition plans ready |
11 life sciences M&A advisors in San Diego
These 11 firms advise on life sciences M&A in San Diego. Coverage spans biotech, biopharma services, diagnostics, and medical devices.
1. BroadOak Capital Partners
A life sciences boutique focused on biopharma services, diagnostics, and research tools.
Recent Deals: Added $200M+ of permanent capital in October 2025. Launched BroadOak Fund VI with first investment in Azure Biosystems. Participated in Telesis Bio (San Diego) financing in 2025. Has advised on 50+ M&A transactions in life sciences sub-sectors.
LinkedIn: BroadOak Capital Partners LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Biopharma services, diagnostics, research tools, life sciences
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $20M - $500M
Location: San Diego, CA / Washington, DC / San Francisco, CA
Website: broadoak.com
2. Leerink Partners
The top-ranked bank by biopharma deal count and market share in 2025.
Recent Deals: Led biopharma stock deal market share in 2025, overtaking Jefferies. Sole adviser to Tourmaline Bio on its sale to Novartis in 2025. Sole adviser to GSK on its purchase of IDRx in 2025. On pace for record revenue in 2026 with 370+ staff.
LinkedIn: Leerink Partners LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Biopharma, biotech, medical devices, life sciences
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $100M - $15B
Location: National (active in San Diego biotech)
Website: leerink.com
3. Piper Sandler
A healthcare bank covering biopharma from early-stage biotech to large-cap pharma.
Recent Deals: Active in biopharma M&A and capital markets through 2025-2026. Covers 115+ biopharma companies in equity research. Active in life sciences M&A advisory nationally. Advises on deals from early-stage to large-cap pharma.
LinkedIn: Piper Sandler LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Biopharma, biotech, medtech, life sciences
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M - $5B
Location: National (active in San Diego biotech)
Website: pipersandler.com
4. Houlihan Lokey
The #1 ranked global M&A advisor by deal count in 2025 with a healthcare team.
Recent Deals: Topped Goldman Sachs by volume in Q1 2026 with 76 transactions. Ranked #1 globally for all M&A by LSEG in 2025 with 318 deals. Active in life sciences, healthcare, and PE-backed M&A through 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: Houlihan Lokey LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Life sciences, healthcare, PE-backed, multi-sector
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M - $5B
Location: National (active in San Diego life sciences)
Website: hl.com
5. Jefferies
A top-five global investment bank with a dedicated life sciences M&A team.
Recent Deals: Acted as joint bookrunner with Leerink on Medincell placement in 2026. Active in biotech and biopharma M&A globally through 2025-2026. Previously ranked #1 in biopharma deal count before Leerink overtook it in 2025.
LinkedIn: Jefferies LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Biotech, biopharma, life sciences, PE-backed
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $100M - $10B
Location: National (active in San Diego biotech)
Website: jefferies.com
Selling a San Diego life sciences business?
Set up your data room before your advisor call. Track who opens it.
Start free 14-day trial6. Evercore
A bulge-bracket advisory firm for large-cap biopharma transactions.
Recent Deals: Active in large-cap biopharma M&A globally through 2025-2026. Advises both acquirers and targets on multi-billion life sciences deals. Covers cross-border pharma deals with European and US strategic buyers.
LinkedIn: Evercore LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Biopharma, large-cap biotech, cross-border life sciences
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $200M - $20B
Location: National (active in San Diego biotech)
Website: evercore.com
7. Goldman Sachs
Topped North America M&A advisors by value in Q1 2026 with life sciences deals.
Recent Deals: Topped North America M&A advisors by deal value in Q1 2026. Active in large-cap biopharma and life sciences M&A through 2025-2026. Covers strategic pharma acquirers and PE-backed life sciences businesses.
LinkedIn: Goldman Sachs LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Biopharma, large-cap, PE-backed, life sciences
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $500M - $50B
Location: National (active in San Diego biotech)
Website: goldmansachs.com
8. William Blair
A Chicago bank with a life sciences advisory team for growth-stage companies.
Recent Deals: Active in life sciences, medtech, and biopharma M&A nationally through 2025-2026. Covers growth-stage biotech and medical device companies. Advises founder-owned and PE-backed businesses targeting premium exits.
LinkedIn: William Blair LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Life sciences, medtech, biopharma, growth companies
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M - $2B
Location: National (active in San Diego life sciences)
Website: williamblair.com
9. Oppenheimer
A mid-market bank with a healthcare and life sciences advisory team.
Recent Deals: Active in biotech, life sciences, and medtech M&A nationally through 2025-2026. Covers early-stage and growth-stage life sciences companies. Works with PE-backed and founder-owned businesses in the middle market.
LinkedIn: Oppenheimer LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Biotech, life sciences, medtech, healthcare
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $25M - $1B
Location: National (active in San Diego life sciences)
Website: oppenheimer.com
10. Cowen (TD Cowen)
A specialized life sciences bank known for biotech and biopharma M&A coverage.
Recent Deals: Active in biotech and biopharma M&A advisory nationally through 2025-2026. Covers clinical-stage and commercial-stage biotech companies. Works with growth-stage biopharma on sell-side and buy-side transactions.
LinkedIn: TD Cowen LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Biotech, biopharma, life sciences, medtech
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M - $5B
Location: National (active in San Diego biotech)
Website: tdcowen.com
11. Stifel
A national bank with a life sciences and healthcare M&A advisory practice.
Recent Deals: Active in life sciences, biotech, and medtech M&A nationally through 2025-2026. Covers growth-stage and commercial-stage life sciences companies. Works with PE-backed and founder-owned businesses across biotech and medtech.
LinkedIn: Stifel LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Life sciences, biotech, medtech, healthcare
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $25M - $1B
Location: National (active in San Diego life sciences)
Website: stifel.com
Who buys San Diego life sciences companies
San Diego draws large pharma, specialty pharma, and PE sponsors as buyers. Novartis, Roche, Merck, and AbbVie all acquired here in 2025 and 2026.
Large pharma targets RNA therapy, rare disease, and oncology assets. San Diego has a concentration of all three sub-sectors.
PE sponsors focus on biopharma services, diagnostics, and CRO businesses. They're less active in clinical-stage biotech but active in commercial life sciences.
Use Ellty to share your data package with each buyer class separately. Set permissions so each group sees only what their NDA covers. Read the mergers and acquisitions guide for deal structure basics. See the due diligence page to prepare early.
What buyers check in San Diego life sciences diligence
IP ownership is the first thing any life sciences buyer checks. Unclear patent assignments or open licensing issues stop deals fast.
Clinical data organization comes next. Buyers want trial results, regulatory filings, and CMC documentation in one place.
Revenue quality and customer concentration matter for commercial-stage companies. Buyers also check manufacturing agreements and key supplier contracts.
Use Ellty to share IP schedules, clinical data, and financial records in one data room. Trackable links show which buyers reviewed your key files before LOI. Read the IP due diligence guide to prep your patents before buyers ask. See the private equity page to understand how PE buyers approach life sciences diligence.
Cross-border M&A in San Diego life sciences
European pharma companies were the most active acquirers in San Diego in 2025 and 2026. Novartis and Roche both completed multi-billion acquisitions here.
Cross-border deals add complexity. Tax structure, regulatory approvals, and IP assignment across jurisdictions all need careful prep.
Advisors who handle cross-border life sciences deals know which European buyers move fast and which take six months to LOI. That knowledge saves time in a competitive process.
Use Ellty to share files with international buyer teams under watermarked, time-limited access. Analytics show you which overseas teams are active. Read the M&A process guide to understand how cross-border deals differ. See the San Diego M&A advisors guide for a broader view of the local advisory market.
How Ellty helps you close an M&A deal in San Diego
You've picked your San Diego advisor. Set up your data room next. Get buyers reviewing files fast.
- 1.Upload IP filings, clinical data, and financialsOrganize by type. Life sciences buyers check IP and clinical data first.
- 2.Set access by buyer type and NDA statusPharma buyers and PE sponsors need different document sets.
- 3.Track who reviews your key filesSee which buyers open your IP schedule and how long they spend.
Common questions about San Diego life sciences M&A advisors
- Biotech and biopharma lead deal volume. Biopharma services, diagnostics, and medtech also drew significant buyer interest in 2025 and 2026.
- Local boutiques like BroadOak know San Diego buyer networks deeply. National banks like Leerink and Jefferies reach the largest pharma and PE platforms.
- Most deals close in five to eight months. Patent assignment review and regulatory approval can add two to four months on top.
- IP ownership and clinical data come first. Revenue quality and manufacturing agreements surface in week two for commercial-stage companies.
- Before your first advisor call. Buyers want organized IP, clinical, and financial records from day one of diligence.
- BroadOak Capital Partners, Oppenheimer, William Blair, and Stifel all work in the lower middle market for life sciences businesses.
