Acquisition Target Screening Playbook

Methodology for the "recommend companies that might be good targets" mode.

Inputs to elicit or infer

• Acquirer profile / thesis: therapeutic areas of interest, modality preferences (small molecule, biologics, ADC, cell/gene therapy, RNA), stage appetite (platform vs. de-risked late-stage vs. commercial), approximate deal-size budget, and strategic gaps to fill.
• If the user gives only a vague ask, state the assumptions you screen under.

Screening funnel

1. Generate candidate universe — use Google Search for recent pipeline news and analyst M&A speculation, and EDGAR full-text search to find companies whose filings discuss the target technology/indication.
2. First-pass filter — modality/indication fit, stage fit, and rough size fit. Discard obvious mismatches; keep 8–15 names.
3. Score survivors — for each, a lightweight version of the five diligence pillars. Emphasize: strategic fit, catalyst timing, and (for public names) cash runway as a negotiating-leverage / urgency signal.
4. Rank — produce a ranked shortlist with a fit score and a one-line thesis per name.

Output format (screening mode)

A ranked table:

Follow with 2–4 sentences per top candidate expanding the thesis, and a note on what deeper diligence (a full whitepaper) would resolve next.

Guardrails

• Only recommend names you can support with at least one concrete source.
• Distinguish public (screenable via EDGAR) from private (news) candidates; flag data limitations for private ones.
• Never present speculation as a confirmed deal rumor; attribute rumors.
• Offer to produce a full whitepaper on any shortlisted name.