The Latest
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Deep Dive
Biotech M&A is on the upswing. Track the latest deals here.
Mariana Oncology’s sale to Novartis is the latest acquisition in a $9 billion deal streak involving developers of radiopharmaceutical drugs for cancer.
Updated 10 hours ago -
Sponsored by Asymchem
Sustainability in pharmaceutical manufacturing: a CDMO’s contribution
Consideration of sustainability early in process development, throughout the entire development cycle, and across the entire supply chain must also become common practice.
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BridgeBio spinout launches with $200M for KRAS cancer drugs
The company, BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics, has one drug in the clinic and hopes to soon advance two other candidates.
Updated 10 hours ago -
Reunion raises over $100M to build a better psychedelic drug
The funding will help Reunion pay for a mid-stage study testing its most advanced medicine — essentially a synthetic version of the hallucinogenic psilocin — in women with postpartum depression.
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Moderna ends gene editing alliance with Metagenomi
Metagenomi said the companies’ decision to part ways followed a “strategic prioritization” undertaken by Moderna, which has made several investments in gene editing research in recent years.
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Pfizer’s strong Vyndaqel sales draw attention to rare disease drug’s patent life
Sales of the transthyretin amyloidosis treatment widely beat Wall Street forecasts in the first quarter. The company aims to extend its patent exclusivity.
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Deep Dive
Biotech IPOs are the industry’s lifeblood. Track how they’re performing.
Cancer drug startup Lirum Pharmaceuticals set terms for what could be the 11th IPO so far this year. But it would also be one of the smallest, with about $25 million in anticipated proceeds.
Updated April 19, 2024 -
FTC targets ‘junk patents’ on Ozempic, other top drugs
The move broadens the antitrust regulator’s campaign against allegedly “improper or inaccurate” patent listings by drugmakers to include top-selling medicines for weight loss, diabetes, asthma and COPD.
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GSK raises forecasts on strong vaccine, HIV drug sales
Sales of the shingles vaccine Shingrix and the RSV shot Arexvy helped fuel quarterly revenue totals that surpassed analyst expectations, though the company warned momentum could slow in the months ahead.
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Astellas adds to ‘off-the-shelf’ cell therapy capabilities with Poseida deal
The partnership follows Astellas’ investment in the biotech last year and adds to its portfolio of donor-derived cellular medicines.
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Obesity drugs
Lilly counts on manufacturing scale-up to unstick obesity drug supply
Increasing the production capacity for Zepbound and Mounjaro is “the most ambitious expansion plan in our company’s history,” said CEO David Ricks.
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FDA defends lab test rule, as critics fear industry upheaval
The new policy aims to ensure important diagnostics remain available to patients, but some experts caution the increased regulatory burden could slow access to testing.
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Obesity drugs
Lilly hikes revenue forecast by $2B as GLP-1 drug sales climb
Supply continues to be tight, however, and the company anticipates further sales growth will be limited by how quickly it can add production capacity.
Updated April 30, 2024 -
AstraZeneca, Daiichi look to broaden Enhertu use again with new study data
The drug benefited people whose tumors have “ultralow” levels of HER2 protein, a result that could extend its reach in HER2-positive breast cancer.
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Enlaza gets JP Morgan, Regeneron backing for covalent biologics
The funds will help the cancer-focused startup Enlaza bring several candidates toward human testing in the next few years, its CEO said.
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Deciphera to sell for $2.4B, adding to upswing in biopharma M&A
For Japan-based Ono Pharmaceutical, buying Deciphera offers a way to build out in cancer research as well as get a stronger foothold in the U.S. and European markets.
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Bristol Myers to cut 6% of workforce, trim drug pipeline
The layoffs will impact some 2,200 employees, the company said, as it repositions ahead of looming patent expirations for top-selling products.
Updated April 25, 2024 -
FDA finalizes lab developed test rule over industry opposition
Risks associated with the tests have increased, requiring greater oversight to protect patients, the agency contends.
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Prime gets FDA green light to begin first trial test of ‘prime editing’
The company will soon start a Phase 1/2 study of its treatment for chronic granulomatous disease, a milestone for the search-and-replace gene editing technology.
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Emerging biotech
Repertoire pivot pays dividends with Bristol Myers deal
The alliance validates the new direction pursued by Repertoire, a startup that cut staff and switched CEOs in 2022 after research on personalized cell therapies disappointed.
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Pfizer hemophilia gene therapy arrives in US to uncertain future
The Food and Drug Administration approval of Beqvez comes as other gene therapies for the bleeding condition struggle to gain traction.
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AbbVie tries to reassure investors on Humira biosimilar threat
Prescription volume erosion is tracking with company forecasts, executives claimed, even as more insurers could exclude the branded drug.
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BioMarin drops drug programs in pipeline cull
The cuts of four pipeline prospects come as BioMarin resets its priorities following the slow launch of its hemophilia gene therapy Roctavian.
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AstraZeneca’s earnings surprise investors as cancer drugs fuel growth
The British drugmaker has bolstered its business with nearly $5 billion in acquisitions as attention turns to its pipeline of experimental medicines.
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Gene editing
Regeneron expands in gene editing with Mammoth deal
“With each passing year, we're more committed to becoming a serious player in the genetic medicine space,” a Regeneron executive said.
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Biogen: Don’t expect any big acquisitions this year
While the company is eager to diversify, CEO Chris Viehbacher said any near-term dealmaking would likely focus on collaborations and early-stage assets.