Roche envisions its Indianapolis site as a “major hub” for the manufacturing of its continuous glucose monitoring systems. The news comes on the heels of an announced $700 million investment in North Carolina.
President Donald Trump unwrapped a massive drug pricing policy as CMS prepares for the next round of Medicare drug price negotiations; Vinay Prasad to take the helm at the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; Bayer cuts 2,000 more employees; Eli Lilly’s Zepbound scores again; and the Galapagos story turns again.
It’s another wild twist in the story of Galapagos, a company that has been around for more than 25 years but has yet to get a therapy approved.
Meanwhile, Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said Donald Trump’s Most Favored Nations policy could present an opportunity for European countries to make sure they are also funding their “fair share” of biopharma innovation.
The commitment is part of Roche’s recently announced $50 billion investment in the U.S., but a company spokesperson said that could change if certain yet-unspecified policies are implemented that could “harm our industry’s ability to operate and innovate in America.”
The third cycle of the drug price negotiations will involve drugs under Medicare Part B. New prices are set to take effect in 2028.
FEATURED STORIES
AstraZeneca last week set another ambitious goal, this time with plans to nearly double its total revenue by the end of the decade. However, it’s easier said than done, according to analysts.
While NK cell therapies can potentially avoid the serious side effects sometimes seen with CAR T cell therapies, experts say durability may stall their path to the market.
As AstraZeneca looks to climb toward the top of biopharma companies by revenue by the end of the decade, smaller companies are looking to join the ranks of the unofficial Big Pharma club.
Recent M&A activity indicates a potential resurgence in the appetites of larger companies for psychiatric drug development, but experts say the space may not offer a sufficient risk-reward proposition for R&D.
As we near the end of second quarter of 2024, the initial public offerings among biotechs have slowed, but the market is still going strong.
CEO Pascal Soriot on Tuesday heralded a “new era of growth” for AstraZeneca with plans to launch 20 new medicines in six years. He’s delivered before but can he do it again?
FROM BIOSPACE INSIGHTS
While FDA Commissioner Marty Makary emphasizes learning and humility, the FDA has systematically removed the very experience that would make change possible.
LATEST PODCASTS
In this episode presented by IQVIA, BioSpace’s head of insights Lori Ellis discusses the concerns and opportunities of patient data driving AI tasks with Louise Molloy, associate director medical information and pharmacovigilance.
Sarepta’s Elevidys is back on the market for ambulatory patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly plans to dissolve the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and “fix” the vaccine injury compensation program, Merck, AstraZeneca and more report Q2 earnings, Novo names a new leader and Roche’s trontinemab impresses at AAIC25.
Sarepta Therapeutics faces serious FDA action after news broke of a third patient death, the FDA gets a new top drug regulator in George Tidmarsh, a handful of new drugs get turned away from the market and pharma companies continue to commit billions to reshoring manufacturing.
Job Trends
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced today it has successfully completed the acquisition of Ambrx Biopharma, Inc.
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SPECIAL EDITIONS
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.
Peter Marks, the venerable head of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, has been forced out. In this special edition of BioPharm Executive, BioSpace takes a deep dive into the instability of the HHS.
DEALS
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In the largest biotech Series C financing so far this year, Generate:Biomedicines raised $273 million, while Neumora and RayzeBio announced IPO pricing valued at more than $560 million combined. -
The two biotech companies announced initial public offering pricing Thursday, respectively, with shares beginning trading Friday and valued at more than $560 million cumulatively. -
Following a Phase II review, Novartis has cut the development of a gene therapy candidate for geographic atrophy. In June, the company sold a dry eye disease drug to Bauch + Lomb for $1.75 billion. -
$27.8B Amgen-Horizon deal gets FTC clearance with restrictions; the White House names first 10 drugs subject to Medicare price negotiations; Sage Therapeutics axes 40% of staff. -
This is the Danish company’s second obesity-focused acquisition in three weeks. Under the deal, Novo Nordisk receives the full rights to develop and commercialize Embark’s lead metabolic platform.
WEIGHT LOSS
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A week after Britain’s debut of the four-week Kwikpen, a European Medicines Agency panel is slated to review Eli Lilly’s multi-dose, pre-filled pen injector for diabetes drug Mounjaro. -
Novo Nordisk seems to believe it can do a better job managing troubled Catalent than the contract manufacturer. However, the Danish drugmaker has its work cut out for it. -
Studies presented Monday at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting show semaglutide has positive impact on outcomes for total hip arthroplasty patients. -
The startup will use the money to fund a Phase II trial in combination with Eli Lilly’s Zepbound in the hopes of increased weight loss results, while attempting to protect body composition from muscle wasting. -
Analysts say Novo Holdings made the right decision last week in scooping up the CDMO to increase manufacturing capacity for Novo Nordisk’s diabetes and weight-loss drugs.
POLICY
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Daiichi Sankyo has secured a victory in its patent arbitration with Seagen, nabbing a $47 million award for attorneys’ fees and other costs, plus interest. However, a larger patent battle with Pfizer remains. -
In a potential challenge to Pfizer’s Prevnar 20, Merck’s Capvaxive has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection for use in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease in adults. -
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned the long-standing Chevron doctrine, which required courts to defer to federal agencies and their interpretation of statutes, putting potential limits on the FDA’s regulatory decisions. -
Rocket Pharmaceuticals’ gene therapy Kresladi has been hit with an FDA Complete Response Letter requesting additional chemistry, manufacturing and controls information to complete its review. -
The FDA on Thursday rejected Merck and Daiichi Sankyo’s HER3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate patritumab deruxtecan in a Complete Response Letter, citing problems with a third-party manufacturer.
Many principles of an online interview are unknown to everyone and they lack confidence. Here are some virtual interview tips to help enhance your skills.
Consider limiting the use of “manage” on your resume, opting instead for more powerful keywords for your resume that can better indicate you’re a leader.
If you’re having trouble finding your confidence again, try these tips for regaining a (healthy) ego.
The interview process at many organizations is not limited to a single interview. Multiple interviews are common and can occur for numerous reasons.
If you’re planning on looking for a new job at the beginning of the year, now is the time to start your job search prep.
Interview practice will help you reduce interview anxiety, improve your interview skills, and in many cases, gain important feedback about how you interview.
HOTBEDS
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
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AbbVie and Genmab on Wednesday announced the FDA has expanded the label of their bispecific antibody Epkinly, allowing it to be used in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. -
One patient died of respiratory failure in a Phase I study of Lyell Immunopharma’s investigational CAR-T therapy. The company on Wednesday said it has not definitively linked the fatality to the treatment. -
AstraZeneca’s PD-L1 inhibitor failed to significantly improve disease-free survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, but hit its primary endpoint in a late-stage trial in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. -
The FDA’s calendar is relatively light in July, with only five major deadlines, including one for a PD-1 blocker and another for an opioid overdose drug. -
G1 Therapeutics on Monday reported Phase III study results showing its drug Cosela did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect in overall survival in triple-negative breast cancer patients.
NEUROSCIENCE
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The French drugmaker Thursday touted trial results in The New England Journal of Medicine showing frexalimab significantly slowed disease activity in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis. -
A longer-acting formulation of Otsuka Pharmaceuticals’ aripiprazole could help soften the blow of Abilify Maintena’s loss of exclusivity coming later this year, according to a new report from GlobalData. -
In the fourth quarter of 2023, Biogen’s revenue from multiple sclerosis drugs fell 8% due to generics competition and the company paid $60 million in close out costs related to Alzheimer’s treatment Aduhelm. -
AVP-786 was unable to significantly reduce total scores in the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory versus placebo, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals reported Monday. The company is evaluating the next steps for the drug combination. -
Thanks to a rough launch of its Biogen-partnered Alzheimer’s disease treatment, Eisai will likely miss its target of treating 10,000 patients with Leqembi by the end of March 2024.
CELL AND GENE THERAPY
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From innovation in manufacturing to more-flexible regulation and better communication with payers, much needs to happen to make CGTs commercially viable. But it is possible, experts agreed at a recent panel. -
The primary focus in scaling up production should first be the adoption of lean manufacturing principles used in virtually every other industry. -
The pivotal Phase II trial is testing Allogene’s CAR T candidate cemacabtagene ansegedleucel for large B-cell lymphoma. ALLO-647 was being used as a preparative lymphodepletion therapy. -
The FDA greenlit multiple new drugs this month and issued some notable label expansions, including for Eli Lilly’s Kisunla. Meanwhile, the regulator turned away a cell therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and a gene therapy for the rare disease Sanfilippo syndrome. -
As analysts parsed news of Vinay Prasad’s ouster, worries over drug approval delays, cell and gene therapy impacts and more were top of mind.
