Zai’s R&D Head Touts ‘Beauty’ Of Novel Internal Assets

 

Two potentially first-in-class molecules signify Zai Lab’s renewed drive for the in-house discovery of drugs that it requires “to be innovative, differentiated and to have the potential to make a big difference for patients,” its global R&D head tells Scrip.

BridgeBio Takes A Victory Lap With First Full Quarter Of Attruby Sales

 
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BridgeBio reported $36.7m in Q1 2025 sales of its ATTR-CM drug Attruby, tripling consensus forecasts. Vyndaquel-maker Pfizer acknowledged the product’s impact during the quarter.

Novartis Gains Further Renal Territory With Regulus Acquisition

 

The San Diego biotech’s lead product candidate is an antisense oligonucleotide-based therapy slated to enter Phase III development in the third quarter.

In Brief: Merck To Invest $1bn In New US Biologics Production

 

Merck is investing $ 1bn in a Delaware facility to produce Keytruda and expand biologics manufacturing amid US tariff concerns.


Can European Biotech Survive And Thrive In Era Of Instability?

 

Europe's biopharma sector could suffer if the Trump administration incentivizes US investment but VC leaders believe the region can still thrive and potentially capitalize on instability elsewhere.

GSK Chief Optimistic About BD Despite Volatile Environment

 
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Emma Walmsley tells Scrip that the "biotech market is under a certain degree of pressure," so reasonably priced deals are available.

Pfizer CEO Bourla ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About Tariffs, Pricing Policies

 
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Bourla said the pharma industry may be able to negotiate productive solutions to Trump tariff and drug pricing concerns. He asserted anti-science views are not shared by all in the administration.

Abeona Sets $3.1m Price For Rare Skin Disorder Gene Therapy

 
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Abeona plans to offer an outcomes-based payment model for Zevaskyn, which likely will see complementary use with Krystal’s Vyjuvek in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients.


Another CRL Prompts Questions About Regeneron’s Regulatory Operations

 

CEO Len Schleifer explained on the company’s Q1 earnings call that most of the complete response letters the company has received related to third-party suppliers, not efficacy or safety.

Novartis Doubles Down On Push For Higher Drug Prices In Europe

 

CEO Vas Narasimhan urged European governments to spend more to support drug innovation during Novartis's first-quarter results call.

Soriot Cautions Europe Amid More US Expansion

 
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The AstraZeneca CEO again calls for rich European countries to pay more for new drugs because "a model where the US funds innovation in our industry for the entire world doesn't work."

AstraZeneca’s Truqap Trips Up In Prostate Cancer Study

 
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The AKT inhibitor proves ineffective for metastatic castration-resistant disease in a Phase III trial.


Stock Watch: Sanofi, Merck Open Windows Into Geopolitical Risks

 
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First-quarter results season featured tariff talk but without any full-year quantitation. As tariffs and foreign exchange movements bump up against capped drug prices, profitability could suffer.

In Brief: Ferrer Signs Deal For Prilenia’s Pridopidine In Europe

 

The companies will co-develop the drug for additional indications beyond Huntington’s disease, while Prilenia retains rights in key global markets.

NIH Funding Cut Left Less Money On R&D Table, Tariffs Would Add To Woes: Aragen’s CEO

 
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Funding cuts at the National Institutes of Health, big pharma’s US onshoring moves, GCC partnerships and talks with the Indian government to solve intellectual property challenges are discussed in an interview with Aragen’s CEO, who is also keenly watching the Trump administration’s moves on pharma tariffs

In Brief: Amgen Invests $900m In US Manufacturing

 

Amgen announces major expansion of existing US site amid ongoing threat of pharma import tariffs.


Merck Set To Add Perioperative Head-And-Neck Cancer To Keytruda Label

 
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With positive data versus radiation therapy in KEYNOTE-689, Merck & Co. files for approval in perioperative head and neck cancer, adding to additional claim in that cancer type.

Quick Listen: Scrip’s Five Must-Know Things

 
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In this week's episode: 2024’s top-selling drugs; two CEOs call for higher Europe drug prices; diabetes trial win for Lilly’s orforglipron; BMS trial failure in schizophrenia; and an analysis of alliance deal-making last year.

BMS Makes Dealmaking A Top Priority As Doubts About Growth Increase

 
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Bristol’s CEO Christopher Boerner says business development is the company’s biggest spending priority as analysts raise concerns about growth, citing a need for BMS to do more deals.

AbbVie Increases US Manufacturing, But Says It’s Not Because Of Tariffs

 
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CEO Robert Michael said AbbVie is positioned strongly to handle current and potentially upcoming tariffs, while committing $10bn to increased US manufacturing sites.