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Dan Samorodnitsky

Dan Samorodnitsky

News Editor

Dan Samorodnitsky is the news editor at BioSpace. He has a decade of experience covering biotech, genetics and medicine. Before coming to BioSpace he was an editor at Drug Discovery News and Massive Science, and his writing has appeared in outlets such as Quanta, STAT, GROW and many others. He is based in Minneapolis. You can reach him at dan.samorodnitsky@biospace.com.

Podcast
Weight Loss Waves, Pazdur’s Exit and FDA Instability, New Neuro Breakthroughs
Pfizer deals again in obesity space as Wave and Structure drop splashy weight loss results; what CDER Director Richard Pazdur’s sudden retirement means for biopharma; neuro diseases take center stage at CTAD; and more.
December 10, 2025
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Hands holding red circle. Sensing energy between palms. Concept of human relation, togetherness, partnership, connection, contact or network. Design for banner, flyer, poster, cover or brochure.
Japan
Japanese Pharmas Looking Beyond Borders for M&A to US, EU
Long a quieter, locally focused industry, Japanese pharma giants are increasingly looking to the rest of the world for deals.
December 10, 2025
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7 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Shanghai.China-Feb.25th 2022: Pfizer company sign on office building. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation
Obesity
After Metsera Battle, Pfizer Heads to China for Another Obesity Deal Worth up to $1.9B
Pfizer apparently had more in the tank after the high-profile battle to acquire Metsera earlier this fall. The company has licensed a new GLP-1 from YaoPharma.
December 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Top view of a white boat with a train sailing to the blue sea
Weight loss
Wave Soars on Early Results for Obesity Treatment That Could ‘Disrupt’ the Landscape
Although still in Phase I, Wave Life Sciences’ injectable RNA weight loss treatment achieved results that impressed analysts, with 4% fat reduction after three months, beating Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide at a similar time point.
December 8, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Silver Spring, MD, USA - June 25, 2022: The FDA White Oak Campus, headquarters of the United States Food and Drug Administration, a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Regulatory
In Change That Pushed Pazdur Out, FDA May Lower Clinical Trial Requirements
Commissioner Marty Makary said that the FDA will soon start requiring only one pivotal trial, instead of two, for companies seeking approval for new drugs.
December 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
2006 James Gathany Captured by James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control's biomedical photographer, this 2006 image depicted the exterior of the new "Tom Harkin Global Communications Center", otherwise known as Building 19, located on the organization's Roybal Campus in Atlanta, Georgia. The facility houses the CDC's Information Center/Library, auditoria and meeting halls, which are used to accommodate in-house staff meetings, and national/international conferences hosted by the CDC, and the National Center for Health Marketing's, Division of Creative Services, which includes a full service television broadcast facility. The exhibit area currently features the "Global Symphony", the first of several permanently installed exhibitions, and changing exhibitions that focus on a variety of public health topics. The exhibits in the Center are self-guided, and require no advance reservations. Additional curriculum-based exhibits and programming will be added in the future. Tom Harkin Global Communications Center Exhibit Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30333 - Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, except for federal holidays Admission is free - Government-issue photo ID is required for entry. Please note that CDC is a working federal facility and as such does not provide public tours of its campus and laboratories. - For more information please call 404-639-0830.
Vaccines
Former CDC, FDA Chiefs Decry Vaccine Policy Changes as ACIP Meeting Begins
Writing in separate editorials in two leading medical journals, former chiefs of federal scientific agencies issued warnings about the changes being proposed to vaccine frameworks by current officials.
December 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Podcast
Prasad’s Leaked FDA Memo, Alzheimer’s Ups and Downs, Next-Gen Obesity Drugs
Experts unpack the implications of CBER Director Vinay Prasad’s claim that COVID vaccines have caused 10+ child deaths; the 2025 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease conference continues following two disappointing readouts; and Novo Nordisk’s amycretin yields promising weight loss results.
December 3, 2025
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Direction uncertainty with a landscape of confused tangled roads and highways and a group of traffic signs competing for influence as a symbol of the challenges of planning a strategy for success.
Regulatory
Experts Decry Prasad Memo’s Lack of Transparency as Vaccine Stocks Dip
With no evidence to support the claim that 10 children died due to COVID-19 vaccines, experts unpack the impact of CBER chief Vinay Prasad’s leaked vaccine memo.
December 2, 2025
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4 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Axial view of the brain showing a glioblastoma in the left frontal lobe with central necrosis, peripheral infiltration, and early midline shift.
Brain cancer
Imvax Heads to FDA With 6-Month Survival Gain in Glioblastoma, Despite Endpoint Miss
While Imvax’s autologous immunotherapy IGV-001 missed the primary endpoint of progression-free survival in a Phase IIb trial, the company will request a meeting with the FDA to discuss next steps for “synergistic” treatment.
December 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Insulin syringe pens wrapped in dollar bills on a blue background. Pharmaceutical monopolists raise drug prices. Top view with copy space
Drug Delivery
Lilly Cuts Zepbound Prices, Again, When Buying Through DTC Program
Following Novo Nordisk’s price cuts for its own GLP-1 medicines, Eli Lilly is offering discounts for the obesity drug purchased through LillyDirect. Both pharmas recently struck a deal with the White House for cheaper prices via the yet-to-be-launched TrumpRx.
December 1, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA - 30 July 2024. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company logo on office building.Biotech industry
Rare diseases
FDA Probing Patient Death Linked to Takeda’s Enzyme Replacement Therapy
The regulator has received reports that a group of patients treated with Adzynma had neutralizing antibodies against the protein the therapy replaces.
November 21, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Poznan, Poland - 5 October 2024: GSK -Glaxosmithkline headquarters office building in Poznan.
Legal
UPDATE: GSK’s Tesaro Sues AnaptysBio Over Current Jemperli Contract; Anaptys Countersues
After GSK subsidiary Tesaro filed a lawsuit Thursday claiming that AnaptysBio breached “certain requirements” under their 2014 license agreement involving GSK’s Jemperli, Anaptys responded Friday morning.
November 21, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Four miniature figurines of men in casual and formal attire stand around a large stopwatch showing zero, symbolizing time management or competition.
Regulatory
FDA Breakthrough Designations Lead to Priority Reviews, Report Finds
A new analysis from Jefferies shows that drugs receiving breakthrough designations sail through the regulatory process more quickly, on top of frequently winning approval.
November 20, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
man pulling each of the opposite ends of a rope in black and white, on a blue background with some blank space on top
Mergers & acquisitions
UPDATE: Avadel Accepts Alkermes’ Revised $2.37B Counteroffer, Besting Lundbeck
Lundbeck had tried to scoop the narcolepsy drug maker out from under Alkeremes with $2.4 billion, but Avadel has elected to go with its original suitor.
November 19, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Podcast
Billions More in M&A, Another Bidding War and More FDA Drama
Merck has made a $9.2 billion play for Cidara, and there’s another bidding war afoot, this one for sleep biotech Avadel. Meanwhile, Rick Pazdur has taken the helm at CDER while tensions run high between FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and Health Secretary RFK Jr.
November 19, 2025
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
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