Boehringer Ingelheim Expects Two Key Approvals In Second Half Of 2025

 

The privately held German pharma firm is hoping to bring a new generation of pulmonary fibrosis and cancer drugs to market but their commercial success is not yet a certainty.

Deal Watch: Novartis Hopes To Ace Inflammatory Disease With Matchpoint Tie-Up

 

Plus deals involving Lilly/Gate Bioscience, Concentra/iTeos, Nicox/Kowa, Ajax/Schrodinger, I-Mab/Bridge Health, Otsuka/Cantargia, JCR/Acumen and more.

Viking Rapidly Advancing Oral And Injectable VK2735 For Obesity

 
• By 

In its Q2 update, Viking reported that Phase III trials of subcutaneous VK2735 are under way, and that it expects Phase II data for an oral formulation before year’s end.

AZ Poised To Bring Self-Administered C5 Inhibitor To Market

 

Gefurulimab will give AstraZeneca a new option to compete against Argenx’s Vyvgart Hytrulo, which is available subcutaneously.


Roche Keen To Cut Out The Middle Men On US Pricing

 
• By 

The Swiss giant has been talking to the US government about selling medicines directly to patients.

Leo Looks To Grow In US After Hand Eczema Cream Approval

 
• By 

The Danish medical dermatology specialist doubles boosts its sales force ahead of the launch of Anzupgo.

Gateway To Africa: Natco Bids For 35.75% Of Adcock Ingram

 

Natco to buy out Adcock Ingram’s minority shareholders in what’s possibly its biggest M&A investment, opening up substantial opportunities in South Africa and the region. If the offer goes through, it will result in the delisting of Adcock, with Bidvest and Natco co-owning the firm.

Roche, Following Sarepta, Pauses Elevidys Shipments In Certain Countries

 
• By 

Roche paused shipments of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy in countries that reference US FDA approval of Elevidys after the agency asked Sarepta to pause US shipments; it remains available in Japan and Brazil.


Dispatch Uses ‘Flare’ To Send CAR-Ts To Solid Tumors

 

With $216m in initial funding, the newly launched company is aiming to develop a cell therapy-based universal immuno-oncology option for solid tumor indications.

Abivax Over The Moon As Obefazimod Storms Phase III

 
• By 

Stock shoots up over 460% on positive results in two ulcerative colitis trials of the oral first-in-class candidate.

Scrip M&A Podcast: Is Biopharma M&A In A Holding Pattern Or A ‘New Normal’

 
• By 

Scrip discusses the latest M&A activity and trends with CEO Shawn Titcomb of Allele Capital and Cheryl Reicin, a partner focused on international life sciences activity at Mintz.

Finance Watch: Sarepta’s Debt Woes Grow With Elevidys Shipment Pause

 
• By 

Public Company Edition: Sarepta restructured after stopping shipments of its Elevidys for some patients to ease future debt pressures, but now it has stopped shipments to all patients. Also, Madrigal secured up to $500m in new debt, Cogent closed a $230m offering and other financings.


Avalyn Raises $100m Series D To Advance Inhaled Pulmonary Fibrosis Candidates

 
• By 

Looking to improve on the efficacy and safety of Roche’s Esbriet and BI’s Ofev, Avalyn has inhalable formulations of those drugs in Phase IIb and Phase I, respectively.

AstraZeneca Pledges Big Investment In US Manufacturing Amid Tariff Threats

 

The drugmaker plans to build a large manufacturing center in Virginia as the centerpiece of an effort to invest $50bn in the US by 2030.

Replimune CRL Could Hold Warning For Accelerated Approvals

 

FDA issued a complete response letter to Replimune’s BLA for a novel oncolytic immunotherapy for melanoma in a surprise to management and investors.

Stock Watch: Q2 Sales Growth Sparks Diverging Reactions To J&J And Novartis

 
• By 

With drug sector indexes underperforming the broad market in the first half of 2025, investors may have been anticipating tariff-related and other headwinds. But impending loss of exclusivity on key products may be provoking more anxiety at this point.


Sanofi Doubles Down On Respiratory Vaccines With Vicebio Buy

 
• By 

The French major is paying $1.15bn For the UK biotech and its bivalent candidate, VXB-241.

Quick Listen: Scrip’s Five Must-Know Things

 
• By 

In this week's episode: J&J delivers in Q2 despite Stelara drop; Sarepta cuts jobs as Elevidys slumps; AI is inevitable but needs to be applied appropriately; China’s mid-cap companies thrive; and a look behind Glenmark’s landmark trispecific deal.

Chief Strategist O’Hara On Novavax’s Partnership-Focused Approach

 
• By 

A deal last year with Sanofi relieved Novavax of commercial costs for the COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid, allowing the company to focus on R&D and finding partners for its other vaccines.

After Gilead Deal, Hookipa Hangs Up Its Hat

 
• By 

The Austrian firm is delisting from the NASDAQ and closing down.