Gossamer sells rights to drug it hopes can rival a new Merck therapy

One analyst thinks the collaboration “bodes well” for Gossamer, which has had trouble convincing investors its drug seralutinib can compete on the market.

AstraZeneca ups stake in Cellectis in latest cell therapy bet

The British drugmaker, which has made genetic medicine a larger priority of late, added $140 million to a deal to develop up to 10 gene and cell therapies.

As drug shortages reach record highs, regulators weigh next steps

With many chemotherapy and ADHD drugs stuck in stubbornly short supply, several agencies are looking for new solutions.

Why selling to Novartis made sense for Mariana

Conversations at this year's J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference led to a $1 billion buyout that Mariana's CEO described as a "perfect marriage."

Amgen shares soar as executives outline obesity drug push

The company said data for its Wegovy competitor was promising enough to move the drug into late-stage testing, triggering a stock jump that added billions to Amgen’s market value.

CG follows big IPO with new results for bladder cancer drug

Newly disclosed Phase 3 results presented Friday match findings the biotech disclosed last year, while offering a more comprehensive look at how its drug stacks up to rival therapies.

Activist investor pushes case against Novavax leadership

Shah Capital, which owns a 7.5% stake in Novavax, called for shareholders to vote against re-electing three of the vaccine maker’s director nominees.

Novo sees Wegovy sales dip on lower price, tight supply

First quarter sales of the in-demand obesity drug were down slightly compared to the fourth quarter last year, as the company tries to meet demand.

Novartis to buy Mariana Oncology in radiopharmaceutical expansion

The $1 billion dollar acquisition will add to Novartis’ pipeline of the targeted radiation drugs, giving it a potential lung cancer treatment.

Delphia starts up with $67M to make a new type of cancer drug

The startup is developing medicines designed to overstress cellular pathways to the point tumor cells die, an approach the biotech calls “activation lethality.”

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 May 2, 2024

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Chasing Novo and Lilly: The obesity drugs that could challenge Wegovy and Zepbound

Large and small drugmakers are vying for a piece of what analysts view as one of the biggest market opportunities in the pharma industry's history. Here’s what’s coming next.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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