Strategy

UroGen Plots Expansion, Brings In A New Asset

 

The company acquired a next-generation oncolytic virus from IconOVir that it plans to develop as a locally administered therapy for bladder cancer.

Zealand Narrows Field Of Potential Partners For Petrelintide

 
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Amylin analogs could well match the weight loss seen with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly’s GLP-1-based blockbusters with less fewer tolerability issues. The Danish company believes petrelintide will lead the pack and is vetting potential big pharma partners very carefully.

Biopharma Deal Metrics Declined Across The Board In 2024

 
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INFOGRAPHIC: 2024 was a particularly quiet year for biopharma M&A, with no buyouts reaching the $5bn threshold, while alliance volume and valuations declined compared to 2023, as well.

Dupixent Set To Dominate Bullous Pemphigoid Space

 

Argenx has discontinued Vyvgart for the rare skin disease as other potential candidates linger in the very early stages of development.


Alligator Snaps Back Into Shape With Cash And FDA Backing

 
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The Swedish biotech has held positive talks with US regulators about the Phase III design for its pancreatic cancer candidate, mitazalimab. Now it needs to pin down a partner.

Egetis Eager To Launch Ultra Rare Disease Drug Emcitate

 
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The Swedish company is celebrating approval for the first treatment for MCT8 deficiency

Commission Led By HHS Secretary Kennedy Will Probe ‘Threats’ To Children, Including Medicines

 
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President Trump's Executive Order creating the commission does not mention vaccines, which Kennedy has criticized.

Lexicon Has A Lot Riding On LX9211 Phase IIb Readout In Pain

 

CEO Mike Exton talked to Scrip about moving the company forward after a disappointingly disruptive 2024.


Reflections From Biotech Leader John Maraganore

 

The founder and director of City Therapeutics and founding CEO of Alnylam discussed pressing issues facing the biotech sector in a fireside chat at the recent BIO CEO & Investor Conference.

Ipsen Pleased With Iqirvo Launch And Plots More Deals

 
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The Paris-headquartered group has been reflecting on a solid performance last year.

Spotlight On IPF Successors To Esbriet And Ofev

 

Only two drugs have been approved for the progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease but the pipeline is full of promising, and hopefully more tolerable, candidates.

How To Work With Trump, The Future Of US Life Sciences And More: Updates From BIO CEO & Investor

 

Highlights from the BIO CEO & Investor Conference, held in New York 10-11 February, include the impact of US political changes, Chinese companies entering the obesity race, and IPO pitfalls.


Inventiva Tries Restructuring To Reach Phase III Finish Line In MASH

 
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Large headcount reduction and ending preclinical programs may give Inventiva runway to report Phase III data for lanifibranor that are expected during the second half of 2026.

Novartis Welcomes Abelacimab Back Into The Fold With Anthos Acquisition

 
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The Swiss major may have to pay over $3bn for the dual-acting Factor XI/XIa inhibitor that it originally developed before the drug was passed on to Anthos Therapeutics, founded by private equity firm Blackstone and the Swiss major in 2019.

Aurobindo: US Tariffs “Not A Challenge” For Now, Scouting For Biosimilars Tie-Ups

 
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A US tariff on imports from China raises the spectre of similar action against India, but Aurobindo, the largest generics company in the US by prescriptions dispensed, assures it has alternatives in place. While trials for an opthalmology biosimilar are delayed, supply of other biosimilars to Europe is set to begin in Q2 FY26

How Research Head Jane Grogan Is Reinforcing Biogen’s Internal And External R&D Focus

 
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CEO Christopher Viehbacher has said repeatedly that Biogen will build its pipeline internally and through deals, and Grogan reshuffled the research organization with that in mind.


Dr Reddy’s On Semaglutide Canada Opportunity: “We have a good chance”

 

Dr Reddy’s hopes to be the “first one in the pack”, when Ozempic loses patent cover next year in markets like Canada, where the semaglutide opportunity is projected at $2bn. Openings for the product in 80 smaller markets also loom, it said, but the GLP-1 agonist won’t ‘replace’ generic Revlimid and all business levers will have to grow.

Zydus To Expand Takeda Supply Chain Role, Boost US Sales With CVS Tie-Up

 
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A Zydus-Takeda joint venture is expected to supply more raw materials to the Japanese major. Meanwhile, a tie-up with CVS Caremark for the sitagliptin franchise is a boost for Zydus’s US sales while the company focuses R&D efforts on rare diseases like ALS and CAPS

The Tourette’s Deal That Came Too Late To Save Sweden’s Asarina

 
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Relmada has acquired sepranolone, a potential blockbuster for the complex neurological condition characterized by involuntary tics, for a bargain €3m from the Stockholm group that went into liquidation late last year.

Lilly’s Q4 Growth Came From More Than Just Tirzepatide

 
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Mounjaro and Zepbound led Lilly’s 45% sales increase, but non-incretin products such as Verzenio and Taltz helped produce 20% growth outside of the incretin portfolio.