While FDA Commissioner Marty Makary emphasizes learning and humility, the FDA has systematically removed the very experience that would make change possible.
The decision follows last month’s vote of the CDC’s revamped vaccine advisory committee. Thimerosal, mostly removed from vaccines decades ago, has long been a target of anti-vaccine advocates for unfounded links to autism and adverse health outcomes.
Looking for a biopharma job in California? Check out the BioSpace list of 11 companies hiring life sciences professionals like you.
Dispatch seeks to address two main challenges of immunotherapies in solid tumors: the lack of a target and the immunosuppressive tumor environment.
The FDA will select at most five companies that align with national priorities, including lower drug prices and increased domestic investment.
The voluntary pauses follow two patient deaths associated with the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy.
FEATURED STORIES
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, X4 Pharmaceuticals and Day One Biopharmaceuticals secured their maiden approvals this year in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, WHIM syndrome and pediatric low-grade glioma. Geron Corporation and ImmunityBio also notched wins.
This year saw lofty highs and devastating lows for neuroscience drug developers like Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and AbbVie, following the predictable pattern of successes and failures that characterizes this space.
Already established as cornerstone therapies in diabetes and obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonists also show potential in several other indications, including cancer, addiction and neurodegenerative diseases.
Novo Nordisk executives set a high bar for itself when it projected CagriSema could achieve 25% weight loss. When the GLP-1 combo didn’t hit that mark, investors reeled.
Suddenly the hottest thing in biopharma isn’t a new indication, disease target or modality—it’s manufacturing, and all of pharma is going to be vying for capacity and talent.
Some 90% of investigational drugs fail—and success rates are even more dire in the neuro space. Here, BioSpace looks at five clinical trial flops that stole headlines over the past 12 months.
LATEST PODCASTS
Heather, Greg and Tyler discuss a busy news week including Wegovy’s label expansion, biosimilars, surprise donanemab delays for Eli Lilly and speculate on election impact.
These days you can hardly move without figuratively bumping into antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This week we discuss Pfizer’s strategic priorities for oncology - focused on ADCs and less on small molecules - and how the market is being influenced by the IRA.
This episode explores the drug pricing gap between consumer experience and industry norms. Join Lori and our KOLs as we explore the drivers of healthcare costs, the CBO, rebates, and overall spend in this new series.
Job Trends
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), the leading RNAi therapeutics company, today reported its consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 and reviewed recent business highlights.
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SPECIAL EDITIONS
In this deep dive, BioSpace explores the next big thing in obesity.
BioSpace did a deep dive into biopharma female executives who navigated difficult markets to lead their companies to high-value exits.
BioSpace data show biopharma professionals faced increased competition for fewer employment opportunities during the second quarter of 2025, with increased pressure from further layoffs.
DEALS
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Citing anonymous sources involved in a Phase III trial, STAT News reported Sunday that MorphoSys’ pelabresib may worsen the risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia, potentially putting Novartis’ proposed $2.9 billion acquisition at risk. -
Is there a connection between Bristol Myers Squibb’s announcement that it will reduce its headcount by 6% and the company’s recent acquisitions of Karuna, Mirati and RayzeBio? -
Here’s how to assess whether to develop a new therapy by building a proprietary platform, acquiring another company or asset or partnering with an established entity. -
CEO Hervé Hoppenot said Tuesday on an investor call that Escient Pharmaceuticals’ two lead assets “address large populations with a clear medical need” with a potential multibillion-dollar market opportunity. -
Novartis on Thursday announced that it is making $150 million in upfront payments to protein degradation biotech Arvinas, while separately revealing that its tender offer for MorphoSys has begun.
WEIGHT LOSS
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On the heels of Terns’ positive Phase I results that analysts compared with Lilly’s and Pfizer’s weight loss pills in development, Novo Nordisk showcased more details about its own oral candidate. -
A recent study estimated that Wegovy’s label expansion beyond obesity could push Medicare spending to $145 billion annually, but analysts remain dubious of the estimate. -
A study published Tuesday in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that children between the ages of six and 12 who took liraglutide for just over a year experienced a significant reduction in body mass index compared to placebo.
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BioMarin’s new business strategy leaves investors with questions; Lykos CEO steps down; Terns releases compelling data on oral weight loss candidate; and more. -
Phase I data for TERN-601 suggests Terns’ oral GLP-1 candidate for obesity could be a contender in the market next to big names like Lilly, Pfizer and Roche.
POLICY
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Konstantina Katcheves, Senior VP of Innovative Global Business Development at Teva Pharmaceuticals brings insights from the World Economic Forum to SCOPE 2025. -
Pfizer reacts to Donald Trump’s tariff threats on big pharma, another regulatory meeting is canceled under RFK Jr., AbbVie and Eli Lilly strike mid-sized deals in obesity and molecular glues, priority review vouchers set to take a hit and immuno-oncology matures.
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Leqembi’s application now moves forward to the European Commission, which will issue a formal verdict for the injection that will apply to all EU member states as well as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. -
In the current legal and political landscape, it is all about survival for DEI initiatives. -
In the five weeks since Donald Trump returned as U.S. president, the FDA, NIH and CDC have been thrown into disarray, with meetings regarding vaccines and rare diseases canceled or indefinitely postponed—all without a clear reason why.
Providing interview feedback to the candidate after an interview is very crucial if you want to pick out only the best. This article will help you do that efficiently.
Are you feeling that your productivity is decreasing at work? Here are some beneficial time management strategies to be mindful of to get work done efficiently.
Here are some of the best remote companies to work for this year. These companies can provide you with the right kind of exposure that will help you professionally.
What are the benefits of becoming a remote worker? Let’s explore together.
If you’re considering preparing for your next interview, know that you need to learn the art of drafting a perfect cover letter to show that you’re a great match for the position.
BioSpace recently interviewed Elizabeth Elting, founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, to discuss her thoughts on how the pandemic has affected women in the workforce.
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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Alongside the layoffs, Alligator will also suspend work on all of its earlier-stage assets and devote its resources to lead candidate mitazalimab, being developed for the frontline treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. -
The cancers were diagnosed 19 to 92 months after Skysona treatment. -
At the conference, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo will present their case for Dato-DXd in NSCLC, while BioNTech and Merus will reveal promising mid-stage data for their respective cancer candidates. -
Emboldened by technological advances and a deeper knowledge of glioblastoma, Merck, Kazia Therapeutics, CorriXR Therapeutics and others are targeting the often-fatal brain tumor. -
Truqap’s positive clinical data comes after it failed a late-stage study in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. It helps AstraZeneca position itself as a top player in the prostate cancer space, alongside its Big Pharma colleagues.
NEUROSCIENCE
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After the FDA declined to approve Lykos Therapeutics’ MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder, companies are pivoting away from or delaying similar therapeutics targeting the psychiatric disease. -
BMS’ KarXT targets muscarinic receptors and “is at least 2-3 years ahead of the competition” including AbbVie and Neurocrine Biosciences, Truist Securities wrote in a note to investors. -
Results from TEMPO-1, which showed that tavapadon significantly improved motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease, will help AbbVie as it builds a regulatory case for the D1/D5 dopamine receptor agonist. -
Despite the settlement, the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday sued Cassava Sciences in the Western District Court of Texas, claiming that the company misled investors regarding the Phase IIb performance of its Alzheimer’s disease drug candidate. -
New research has found that MS patients treated with anti-CD20 antibodies, such as Roche’s Ocrevus, do not experience significantly slower progression of disability.
CELL AND GENE THERAPY
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Johnson & Johnson and Legend Biotech’s Carvykti cell therapy significantly improved survival in patients with multiple myeloma when used in the second-line setting, the companies announced on Tuesday. -
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. -
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. -
After winning expanded approval for its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Sarepta’s leadership and analysts see a sizeable commercial opportunity on the horizon. -
Exsilio Therapeutics emerged from stealth on Tuesday with a platform that leverages mRNA technology to develop redosable genomic medicines for a range of complex diseases.
