SoftBank Group to Expand Investment in Biotech and Healthcare Sectors

SoftBank Group Corp. is poised to broaden its investments in the healthcare and biotech sector, marking a new frontier in its management strategy and an expanding asset portfolio. SoftBank, which has already committed a significant amount of capital to the healthcare sector, is now directing its focus toward the burgeoning biotech industry. The company intends to infuse a staggering sum of $312 million in California-based Pacific Biosciences, a DNA-sequencing firm whose stock price has surged ninefold since 2020.

 In addition, SoftBank’s asset management arm, SB Northstar, is planning to invest billions in public biotech companies, enabling these firms to cultivate innovative strategies to elevate their market position.

SoftBank’s main objective is to allocate funds to numerous public biotech sectors, including reputable firms like 10x Genomics and Roivant Sciences. The conglomerate has also secured an equity stake valued at $298 million in Canada-based AbCellera Biologics Inc., a prominent antibody-drug discovery platform, and invested in 4D molecular therapeutics. However, SoftBank is seeking to enhance its equity stack even further as it seeks to expand its reach in the biotech domain.