After more than a month of speculation over how the FDA will rule on Novavax’s application for an updated formulation of its COVID-19 shot, CEO John Jacobs said on the company’s Q1 earnings call: “When we have it, we’ll have it. Until then, we don’t have it.”
Interim results from a small group of children in a Phase I/II trial are essentially in line with that of Elevidys, according to BMO Capital Markets analysts.
In this episode of Denatured, presented by IQVIA, BioSpace’s head of insights Lori Ellis discusses how AI transformation can help organizations navigate a rapidly evolving regulatory environment with senior director of regulatory innovation and technology, Michelle Gyzen.
The Platform Technology Designation, which predates the current FDA leadership, is designed to streamline the drug development and review process, particularly for rare diseases.
The lawsuit alleges that HHS leadership knew the records they used to guide their layoff decisions were inaccurate and contained errors.
Genrix’s velinotamig complements Cullinan’s own pipeline, according to William Blair, which added that the deal will put Cullinan in a better position to target autoimmune diseases.
Massachusetts’ life sciences jobs grew by just 0.03% in 2024, according to a new MassBioEd report. Still, the report found encouraging signs for the industry, noting it’s expected to grow by 11.6% by 2029, adding an estimated 16,633 net new positions.
FEATURED STORIES
Clinical trial concerns and a negative advisory committee vote ultimately sunk the treatment.
This week, Q2 earnings from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly revealed that the competition between the pharma giants’ weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Zepbound is getting closer.
After Merck noted the issue in its Q2 earnings call without providing specifics, analysts are left in the dark about the HPV vaccine’s future in China.
Experts say the time is now to develop and provide widespread access to genetic medicines for the rarest diseases. What’s more, they say it is a moral imperative.
Longeveron and Lexeo Therapeutics are working on CGT therapies to treat Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s not clear whether they have a better chance of success than traditional approaches.
Ultracompact CRISPR systems, which are in some cases one-third the size of Cas9, are being designed to be more specific and enable in vivo gene editing in difficult to reach tissues.
FROM BIOSPACE INSIGHTS
Establishing trust through thought leadership is no longer optional in today’s cautious biopharma market. Learn how strategic insights and targeted outreach can turn awareness into high-converting leads.
LATEST PODCASTS
In this episode presented by Cresset, BioSpace’s head of insights Lori Ellis discusses clinical trial fail rates and AI’s potential to reduce preclinical costs with Mutlu Dogruel, VP of AI and Mark Mackey, CSO of Cresset.
A draft copy of an upcoming MAHA report reveals a strategy in lockstep with recent HHS actions such as reviving the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines; Viking Therapeutics reports robust efficacy from mid-stage oral obesity candidate but is tripped up by tolerability concerns; Novo Nordisk wins approval for Wegovy in MASH; and Lilly takes a pricing stand.
In this episode of Denatured, BioSpace’s head of insights Lori Ellis discusses the ‘enormous implications’ of patent policy changes with Aaron Cummings and Anne Li of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.
Job Trends
FDA
AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for ELAHERE® (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx) for the treatment of folate receptor alpha (FRα)-positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal adult cancer patients treated with up to three prior therapies.
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SPECIAL EDITIONS
BioSpace data show biopharma professionals faced increased competition for fewer employment opportunities during the second quarter of 2025, with increased pressure from further layoffs.
BioSpace did a deep dive into executive pay, examining the highest compensation packages, pay ratios and golden parachutes—what a CEO would get paid to leave.
A new generation of checkpoint inhibitors is emerging, with some showing more promise than others. From recent TIGIT failures to high-potential targets like VEGF, BioSpace explores what’s on the horizon in immuno-oncology.
DEALS
  1. FDA
    Friday’s FDA approval of Vertex-CRISPR’s Casgevy and bluebird bio’s Lyfgenia has immediately revealed startling differences between these two gene therapies: price and a black-box warning.
  2. The deal, announced late Wednesday, will provide AbbVie with access to Cerevel Therapeutics’ pipeline of clinical-stage and preclinical candidates for psychiatric and neurological diseases.
  3. This week we discuss ups and downs in the weight loss and ADC markets - including Altimmune, Pfizer setbacks, AbbVie’s ImmunoGen buy and more.
  4. The acquisition will give Roche access to Carmot’s clinical portfolio of three GLP-1 receptor agonists, placing it squarely in the middle of the competition to treat overweight and obesity.
  5. AbbVie’s $10.1 billion ImmunoGen buy and Altimmune’s Phase II win demonstrate that the antibody-drug conjugate market is red hot in cancer and GLP-1 drugs for weight loss are an absolute craze.
WEIGHT LOSS
  1. Novo Nordisk on Thursday reported a jump in first-quarter 2024 revenue, driven by a more than 100% increase in sales of weight-loss drug Wegovy and the strong performance of type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic.
  2. In a bid to improve competition in the industry, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is challenging the patents of 20 different pharmaceutical products, disputing the accuracy and relevance of their patents.
  3. Thanks to strong sales of its blockbuster drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, Eli Lilly on Tuesday reported nearly $8.77 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2024, while raising its full-year revenue guidance by $2 billion.
  4. After a record low in 2022, the pharma industry in 2023 saw a surprise rebound in productivity following one of its slowest years on record, according to a report from audit firm Deloitte.
  5. With GLP-1 agonists slated to become the best-selling drugs in 2024, the biopharma industry is already pivoting to explore treatments that preserve muscle mass as patients shed pounds.
POLICY
  1. Well-financed startup Tome is winding down operations just as two new companies, Borealis Biosciences and GondolaBio, are launching. Meanwhile, in the midst of already tense relations with China, House lawmakers raise the alarm about U.S. companies working with the country’s military on trials.
  2. The number of patients who will be eligible for Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster GLP-1 under new Medicare Part D plan guidelines will vary depending on how cardiovascular disease is defined, according to researchers.
  3. Johnson & Johnson’s proposed changes to the hospital drug discount program are inconsistent with the federal statute, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.
  4. Project 2025, a blueprint for a potential second Trump term that highlights the IRA as a potential target, took a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.
  5. In a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, a House committee flagged several U.S. companies—including Eli Lilly and Pfizer—that have allegedly worked with the People’s Liberation Army on clinical trials in Xinjiang, raising ethical and intellectual property concerns.
CAREER HUB
You should regularly update LinkedIn profile to give the best outlook to the recruiters looking at your profile. Here are some more reasons to consider.
This article offers suggestions for how to be camera-ready for a virtual interview.
Many people are wondering how they can make meaningful connections and grow their professional network in a time when large group meetings are discouraged.
Once you’ve made initial meaningful contact with a hiring manager – through an interview, online or phone inquiry, informational interview or networking experience – the best way to turn that encounter into opportunity is through sustained follow-up.
Here are four ways to improve your productivity while working from home!
You can apply these career-planning and goal-setting techniques to establish career goals that are just as exciting as those you dreamed about as a kid.
The interview goes both ways and in order to choose a perfect workplace, you must analyze a few things. Here are a few interview red flags to watch out for during an interview.
HOTBEDS
Where are the Best Places to Work in life sciences? BioSpace’s annual Best Places to Work list demonstrates a company’s desirability in the recruitment marketplace - find out who made the list this year.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
A retrospective cohort study found that semaglutide and tirzepatide are linked with significantly lower risks of dementia and stroke, hinting at potential neuroprotective effects of GLP-1 therapies.
REPORTS
In this Employment Outlook report, BioSpace explores current workforce sentiment, job activity trends and the prospective job and hiring outlook for 2025, particularly as it compares to the previous year.
BioSpace’s third report on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in life sciences examines dramatic shifts in attitude around diversity initiatives.
CANCER
  1. The Biden administration on Thursday touted discounts of up to 79%, but many of these first 10 drugs are already sold well below list price.
  2. The European Union has approved the first-ever combination therapy consisting of an immunotherapy and a PARP inhibitor for the treatment of endometrial cancer, AstraZeneca announced Wednesday.
  3. The Connecticut-based biotech, which emerged from stealth last year, has secured $202 million to date as it looks to move two assets targeting prostate and breast cancer into the clinic.
  4. Gilead Sciences’ liver disease portfolio delivered surprisingly robust performance in the second quarter, jumping 17% as the company awaits next week’s potential FDA approval of seladelpar in primary biliary cholangitis.
  5. Citius Pharmaceuticals’ Lymphir is a reformulated version of denileukin diftitox—an FDA-approved cancer therapy—and the only treatment for cutaneous T cell lymphoma that targets the IL-2 receptor located on malignant T cells and Tregs.
NEUROSCIENCE
  1. Following disappointing late-stage data, Amylyx on Thursday said it is withdrawing the company’s amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug Relyvrio from the U.S. and Canadian markets and cutting its workforce by approximately 70%.
  2. Acorda Therapeutics becomes the latest biotechnology company in 2024 to go bankrupt and shutter its business, following years of financial difficulty. Merz Therapeutics will acquire two commercial medicines from Acorda for $185 million.
  3. A federal appeals court Monday backed Teva and Viatris’ challenge to a lower court ruling, finding that the companies can again make their case against Johnson & Johnson’s patent covering its schizophrenia drug Invega Sustenna.
  4. The filing of a Biologics License Application for a subcutaneous version of Biogen and Eisai’s Leqembi (lecanemab) has been delayed due to procedural reasons, the companies announced Monday.
  5. While disease-modifying therapies largely steal the spotlight in Alzheimer’s drug development, several companies are working to solve this less-discussed but disruptive facet of the illness.
CELL AND GENE THERAPY
  1. BioNTech will pay $50 million in cash and purchase $200 million of Autolus Therapeutics’ shares to progress the companies’ respective CAR-T candidates to commercialization.
  2. On Thursday, Kyverna Therapeutics is debuting on the Nasdaq with an upsized initial public offering which the biotech will use to support its pipeline of anti-CD19 CAR T therapy candidates.
  3. Under the FDA’s compassionate use program, an eyedrop formulation of Krystal Biotech’s Vyjuvek restored the vision of a teenager with the rare genetic disease dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
  4. Metagenomi could potentially raise over $100 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, assuming an initial public offering price of $16 per share.
  5. Topline results from a mid-stage study show that 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ investigational gene therapy cut annual rates of Eylea injections by 85% and 89% for the low and high doses, respectively.