Novo Nordisk will pay up to $2.6 billion to license HRS-1596, an experimental oral obesity drug from China's Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, marking the company's second major deal since a key investor meeting.
Merck agreed to pay Chinese biotech SciBrunch Therapeutics $400 million upfront for global rights to an experimental cancer drug targeting the KRAS G12D mutation, continuing a trend of U.S. drugmakers licensing China-developed therapies.
Roche's Genentech is paying Earendil Labs $55 million upfront in a research collaboration to discover and develop multiple bispecific antibody cancer therapies. The oncology-focused deal includes milestone payments that could bring its total value to over $1.5 billion.
Novo Nordisk agreed to pay up to €1.165 billion ($1.3 billion) for a global license to Swedish biotech Nanexa's PharmaShell drug delivery technology, which could enable obesity medications requiring injections only once every few months. Nanexa shares surged more than 110% on the announcement.
Eli Lilly announced a partnership with China-based InnoCare Pharma worth up to $3.35 billion, marking the pharmaceutical giant's fourth China-focused alliance since January 2025. The deal focuses on oncology and autoimmune drug development, continuing Lilly's aggressive dealmaking strategy in the region.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Eli Lilly's Onswik, a once-weekly basal insulin injection for adults with type 2 diabetes. The approval offers patients an alternative to daily long-acting insulin injections, potentially reducing the number of injections by more than 300 per year.
Merck announced that remigromig, a tri-specific antibody acquired in a $1.3 billion buyout, achieved its primary endpoint in the pivotal Phase 2b/3 BRUNELLO trial for diabetic macular edema. However, language regarding the drug's safety profile has raised concerns among analysts.
Swiss drugmaker Roche has entered a partnership with Atavistik Bio potentially worth nearly $2 billion, including milestone payments, to develop oral treatments for cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic diseases. The deal includes $70 million upfront with an additional $1.9 billion in potential milestone payments.
Roche's experimental RNA drug sefaxersen significantly reduced proteinuria in a late-stage trial for IgA nephropathy, positioning the company to bring a new treatment to market for the autoimmune kidney disease that currently has limited approved therapies.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from its phase 2b AMPLIFIED study of inaxaplin in people with APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD), including patients with modest proteinuria and those with type 2 diabetes. The company is positioning the drug for a broad kidney disease label ahead of a key readout next year.
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar told Reuters that oral weight-loss medications could represent up to half of the global obesity drug market by 2030, as the Danish drugmaker positions itself for a shift toward pill-based treatments alongside its injectable GLP-1 drugs.
Roche's experimental obesity shot enicepatide reduced blood sugar and body weight by 15.5% in type-2 diabetes patients in a mid-stage trial, with a meaningful proportion reaching normalized glucose levels within less than a year of treatment.
Smart ring maker Oura has launched its U.S. initial public offering targeting a valuation of up to $15.62 billion, but the company will receive little to none of the $2.2 billion raised as existing investors sell their shares. The Finnish health and fitness wearables company is offering 50 million shares priced between $40 and $44 each.
Novo Nordisk announced its experimental drug CagriSema achieved 12.4% average weight loss in diabetes patients, surpassing Eli Lilly's rival treatment. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly reported 700,000 new seniors have begun GLP-1 treatments since Medicare coverage for obesity drugs launched in July, with 70% choosing Lilly medications.
Telix Pharmaceuticals is acquiring ITM for $1.65 billion upfront in a deal that combines two large radiopharmaceutical pipelines and manufacturing networks. Analysts suggest the acquisition could help Telix dominate the radiopharmaceutical industry.
Paramount Skydance reached settlements with California and 11 other state attorneys general who sued to block its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The settlement includes terms requiring 30 films annually and penalties for non-compliance.
Novo Nordisk announced topline results showing CagriSema achieved 12.4% weight loss versus 9.1% for tirzepatide at 60 weeks in adults with type 2 diabetes in the REIMAGINE 5 trial, and induced 21% weight loss at 68 weeks in people with overweight or obesity without diabetes in the REDEFINE trial.
Senator Susan Collins and other members of Congress are pushing back against a White House proposal to create a commission of political appointees to review National Institutes of Health research grants. The plan, pushed by OMB Director Russell Vought, has sparked concerns about politicization of federal biomedical research funding.
Novo Nordisk announced it cut 13,000 jobs in the past year and outlined plans to diversify beyond obesity drugs with new pipeline assets and bolt-on acquisitions. CEO Mike Doustdar faced investor skepticism about pricing power and strategy ahead of patent expiries.
Compass Pathways executives revealed plans to model their upcoming psychedelic treatment launch after Johnson & Johnson's strategy for Spravato, the ketamine nasal spray, as the FDA considers approval. The move comes as psychedelic therapeutics face a critical juncture following Lykos' failed MDMA therapy approval in 2024.
Angle Health, an AI-based health benefits platform founded by two former Palantir engineers, secured $600 million in funding led by European midmarket firm Vitruvian Partners, reaching a $2.7 billion valuation. The San Francisco-based startup provides digital healthcare benefits for employers.
Electra Therapeutics, a clinical-stage immunology drug developer, raised $350 million in an upsized initial public offering priced at the mid-point of its marketed range. The IPO is part of a resurgence in biotech public offerings, with nearly a dozen firms raising $300 million or more in 2026, levels not seen since 2021.
Lisata Therapeutics has acquired Marea Therapeutics alongside a $225 million private placement financing to develop first-in-class medicines for cardioendocrine diseases. Marea brings multiple late-stage clinical candidates including MAR001/005 for cardiovascular and endocrine conditions.
A Texas judge approved a wind-down bankruptcy plan for CVS Health subsidiary Omnicare LLC following the sale of its business operations for $250 million and resolution of a nearly $1 billion judgment related to improperly dispensing prescription drugs.
Roche announced that its T-cell engager Lunsumio successfully met the primary endpoint in a confirmatory phase 3 trial for earlier-line follicular lymphoma treatment. The company is now pursuing a label expansion for the drug based on these positive results.
Patrick Velliky, HaloMD's chief external affairs officer, maintains the No Surprises Act is reducing out-of-network spending despite contradictory research, while responding to criticisms of both his analysis and the company.
England's NHS will provide AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) for aggressive breast cancer after the drug was previously rejected twice. The approval follows an agreement reached with the companies.
Novartis is purchasing Sironax's platform technology for $125 million to transport drugs across the blood-brain barrier, as the pharmaceutical giant faces multiple neuroscience pipeline failures including the halt of an experimental ALS drug.
French biotech Axoltis Pharma announced that its Phase 2 clinical trial for an experimental ALS treatment failed to meet its primary endpoints. The company suggested it may have found a small signal to potentially continue development.
The FDA has approved Curium's Bexlutry (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection), marking the industry's first radioligand equivalent and setting up the first generic competition for Novartis in the radioligand therapy field. The approval came after a court cleared Curium of all patent claims.
Abbott Laboratories agreed to pay over $384 million to settle allegations it knowingly manufactured infant formula in environments that posed substantial contamination risk, then sold the products without proper testing. Some federal prosecutors believed there was enough evidence for criminal charges, but Justice Department leadership opted for a civil settlement.
AI company Anthropic has informed its backers it will be profitable this quarter, marking its second consecutive profitable quarter as it prepares for a blockbuster IPO and moves to address investor concerns about cash burn at frontier AI companies.
Pfizer is targeting air traffic control agencies in Poland and Romania to enforce a Belgian court ruling ordering the two countries to accept €1.9 billion worth of COVID-19 vaccines they refused to take delivery of after pandemic-era demand waned.
AstraZeneca announced that its breast cancer pill failed to meet the primary endpoint of improving progression-free survival in a late-stage clinical trial. The setback came just one week after the treatment received U.S. regulatory approval.
A group of diabetes leaders released a letter announcing a boycott of the American Diabetes Association following the organization's independent review of ejection incidents that occurred at the ADA Scientific Sessions in June. The letter was distributed via Google Forms.
Major Novartis shareholder Artisan Partners is demanding board changes and improved dealmaking after the Swiss drugmaker's shares suffered a record fall following three consecutive major clinical trial failures, raising questions about corporate governance and R&D strategy.
The FDA has filled four senior roles, including naming Mikhail and Davis as permanent leaders of CBER and CDER respectively, bringing stability to the agency after nearly two years of leadership turnover under the Trump administration.
The Trump administration made permanent the acting leaders of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), stabilizing key agency posts as a new commissioner awaits confirmation.
The CEO of Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz cautioned that President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on generic drugs would ultimately be paid by American patients, as manufacturers could pass increased costs onto consumers.
The CEO of Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz cautioned that President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on generic drugs would ultimately be paid by American patients, as manufacturers could pass increased costs onto consumers.
AstraZeneca announced its experimental drug tozorakimab achieved approximately 30% reductions in moderate and severe COPD exacerbations compared to standard therapy in two late-stage studies presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress.
AstraZeneca's experimental drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease significantly reduced dangerous flare-ups across a wide range of patients in two late-stage trials, positioning it as a potential blockbuster treatment for the deadly lung condition.
AstraZeneca released full results from two successful late-stage trials showing its experimental drug significantly reduced dangerous flare-ups in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients across a broad patient population, boosting the treatment's blockbuster potential.
Bristol Myers Squibb reported its experimental GPRC5D-directed CAR-T cell therapy achieved a high overall response rate in a mid-stage trial for patients with hard-to-treat multiple myeloma who had progressed after prior CAR-T treatment.
Healthcare automation startup Forus raised $150 million in a Series C round led by Bain Capital Ventures, tripling its valuation to $3 billion in approximately four months. The company uses AI to accelerate patient access to specialty medicines.
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis saw its stock drop as much as 10% following the failure of an experimental neuromuscular treatment in a late-stage clinical trial. The setback comes just days after another high-profile trial failure in heart disease, marking the company's third recent drug development disappointment.
BrainChild Bio, spun out of Seattle Children's Hospital, secured $116 million in series A funding to advance its lead CAR-T therapy BCB-276 into pivotal trials for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare and fatal brain tumor affecting approximately 300 U.S. children annually.
The FDA granted accelerated approval to AstraZeneca's oral SERD camizestrant (Etcamah) for breast cancer treatment, marking a rare divergence from its expert advisory panel's recommendation and opening a new ctDNA-guided treatment paradigm.
The FDA granted accelerated approval to AstraZeneca's oral SERD camizestrant (Etcamah) in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors for ESR1-mutated breast cancer, overriding a negative advisory committee recommendation.
Dating app Grindr has agreed to pay £26 million to settle a lawsuit brought by thousands of UK users who alleged the company shared highly sensitive personal information, including HIV status in some cases, with third parties.
Novartis and Ionis's pelacarsen failed to protect heart health despite lowering Lp(a) levels in a large clinical trial, raising questions about the therapeutic approach and increasing pressure on Novartis's drug pipeline. Shares fell 3.3%.
Bristol Myers Squibb paused closely watched autoimmune drug research in early June after reports of life-threatening side effects and deaths, notifying regulators, researchers and patient advocacy groups.
The FDA approved Zanvastro, an antisense oligonucleotide therapy from Ionis Pharmaceuticals, as the first targeted treatment for Alexander disease, a rare and deadly genetic neurological disorder affecting adults and children. The company priced the injectable drug at $285,000 per dose.
The Kenyan government has reached an agreement with US pharmaceutical company Pfizer that will reduce the cost of cancer medications by more than sevenfold, according to President William Ruto. The deal is expected to significantly lower treatment costs for cancer patients across the country.
Novartis temporarily halted enrollment and treatment in eight clinical trials of an experimental CAR-T therapy for autoimmune and neurological disorders in late August after three patients died. Bristol Myers Squibb programs were also paused.
Cytokinetics announced detailed late-stage trial results showing its drug aficamten significantly improved symptoms and exercise capacity in patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition with no approved treatments.
Meta agreed to implement changes for minors on Instagram and Facebook, including cutting off access at night and during school hours. However, a whistleblower criticized the settlement as insufficient to meaningfully address harms to teen mental health.
Tezspire succeeded in a Phase 3 trial for eosinophilic esophagitis, potentially becoming the drug's third approved indication and positioning it to compete with Sanofi's Dupixent, currently the only approved biologic for the condition.
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals has entered into a licensing agreement with South Korean drugmaker SK Biopharmaceuticals for its epilepsy drug platform, including Opakalim, in a deal worth up to $795 million.
Roche acquired rights to Hanmi Pharmaceutical's obesity drug for $190 million upfront and up to $2.3 billion total. The drug is designed to activate receptors in skeletal muscle to increase muscle mass while reducing fat, addressing a key concern with current GLP-1 weight loss medications.
Moderna and Merck announced positive results from a Phase 3 trial showing their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, combined with Keytruda, significantly reduced melanoma recurrence and spread. The companies aim to bring the therapy to market in 2027.
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals' experimental drug avexitide met its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial for post-bariatric hypoglycemia, showing a 55% reduction in serious low blood sugar events compared to placebo in patients who experienced dangerously low blood sugar following weight-loss surgery.
Fulcrum Therapeutics announced an all-stock reverse merger with privately held Slate Medicines, accompanied by a $245 million private placement. The deal follows Fulcrum's discontinuation of its lead drug development after regulatory setbacks.
The IRS is investigating UnitedHealth over potential tax avoidance related to transfers to a foreign subsidiary, seeking to recoup taxes. This adds to mounting scrutiny following the Change Healthcare cyberattack and investor lawsuits alleging governance failures.
AstraZeneca discontinued a Phase 3 trial combining its experimental bispecific antibody volrustomig with chemotherapy for lung cancer after an interim data review indicated survival goals would likely not be met. This marks another setback for the company's pipeline as it pursues an $80 billion sales target.
The FDA has approved Zenbexus (iberdomide) for multiple myeloma treatment, marking the first approval in the novel CELMoD drug class that uses targeted protein degradation. Bristol Myers Squibb acquired the therapy through its Celgene acquisition and is positioning it as a successor to its legacy myeloma products.
Spanish pharmaceutical company Grifols has temporarily halted plasma donations at all 16 of its Canadian clinics following the deaths of two donors and a government investigation into potential unsafe practices at the for-profit facilities.
PTC Therapeutics won the bankruptcy auction for Sangamo Therapeutics' gene therapy assets with a $211 million bid. Sangamo filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June after failing to find strategic alternatives.
