Bogged down by an ongoing spat with its largest shareholder and a share price that continues to flirt with penny stock territory, Mereo BioPharma Group plc announced an updated operating plan on 18 October that is designed to maximize shareholder value. The plan, which is meant to make Mereo’s £76m ($86m) in cash last into 2026, will focus the company’s resources on its two lead assets and results in a 40% reduction in headcount.
Finance Watch: With Limited Fundraising Options, Biotechs Restructure To Extend Cash Runways
A Closer Look At Recent Layoffs And Strategic Updates
Mereo will reduce its headcount by 40% to focus on its lead programs while NeuBase revealed a 60% workforce reduction to extend its cash runway. Also, Invivyd (formerly Adagio), Greenlight and BioMarin announced job cuts, while Otonomy and others planned strategic shifts.
More from Strategy
More from Business
• By
The German firm’s chairman, Hubertus von Baumbach, is adopting a ‘wait-and-see’ approach to the threat of pharma tariffs.
• By
Trump announced a 26% reciprocal tariff on India but a country-agnostic exemption of pharmaceuticals implies that the interests of Indian firms and the US consumer are protected for now. What is Indian pharma’s business exposure and what is domestic industry saying?
• By
Industry lobbied for pharmaceuticals to be exempt from Trump’s sweeping US tariffs and the effort appears to have paid off. J&J, Lilly and Merck & Co. even got shout outs.