Alternative Paths to the Public Markets: Options, Tradeoffs and Outlook
Cooley Market Talks
Event summary
Against the backdrop of an ever-changing capital markets landscape, Cooley’s Market Talks virtual series cuts through the noise and drills down on what you need to know about the current market.
As 2026 draws to a close, the life sciences and healthcare capital markets have become more active, and M&A activity has resurged, giving companies a broader set of capital formation and strategic pathways. Companies, their boards and investors are increasingly evaluating these alternatives in parallel.
In this edition of Cooley Market Talks, leaders from Leerink Partners and Cooley examine how life sciences and healthcare companies are navigating alternative pathways. The discussion focuses on the growing role of reverse mergers and deSPACs, the company and investor dynamics shaping these transactions, and how their strategic, governance and execution tradeoffs compare with a traditional IPO or sale.
Topics include:
- 2026 update on life sciences and healthcare M&A and capital markets
- Which companies and investors are pursuing reverse mergers and deSPACs – and why
- Comparing reverse mergers, deSPACs and traditional IPOs
- Board and governance considerations when evaluating parallel financing, go-public and M&A alternatives
- Outlook for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027
Presenters
- Jack Bannister – Senior Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets, Leerink Partners
- Dan Lepanto – Senior Managing Director, M&A, Leerink Partners
- Lindsey O’Crump Crow – Partner, M&A, Cooley
- Div Gupta (moderator) – Partner, Capital Markets, Cooley
For more information, please email Erica Koljonen.
Related Contacts
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