News
A year of significant policy change at the FDA brought momentum and scrutiny into the new year. As 2026 gets underway, biopharma companies are responding to sweeping vaccine changes while concerns surface about the politicization of the agency.
FEATURED STORIES
The American Diabetes Association’s annual congress will feature a superstar lineup, including weight loss giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. But several scrappy biotechs will also present obesity candidates with the potential to match—if not outperform—their deep-pocketed competitors.
After trial flops in spinal muscular atrophy, depression and bipolar disorder—and a costly rare disease drug rejection—Biohaven is undergoing a reset, recasting its former SMA candidate for obesity.
PD-(L)1×VEGF bispecifics have emerged as a closely watched new class in immuno-oncology, with multiple candidates advancing through trials in lung cancer. But the potential of these drugs may be highest in cancers where angiogenesis and immune escape are tightly intertwined.
FROM OUR EDITORS
Read our takes on the biggest stories happening in the industry.
FDA veteran Peter Marks will now shape the future of Eli Lilly’s vaccines work after the buys of Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics and Vaccine Company for up to $3.8 billion total.
THE LATEST
Edgewise Therapeutics will now focus on a handful of cardiovascular programs including EDG-7500 for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy thanks to the non-dilutive capital from France’s Servier.
Swiss service provider CordenPharma is acquiring AmbioPharm, gaining facilities such as a plant in South Carolina to provide a fully U.S.-based supply.
“King Keytruda’s reign continues,” analysts at BMO Capital Markets declared after Chinese data for Summit Therapeutics’ ivonescimab were revealed at the American Society for Clinical Oncology in Chicago.
Riding a newfound surge of interest on infectious disease concerns, Moderna is linking up with a global vaccine foundation in hopes of developing a vaccine to slow the new surge in Ebola underway in the Congo and Uganda.
Expanding in the metabolic space, Eli Lilly has struck a back-loaded licensing deal with South Korea’s Hanmi Pharm for a mid-stage GLP-2 agonist being trialed for short bowel syndrome.
In addition to eliciting 17.3 months median overall survival vs. 8.5 months for patients given standard of care treatment in a prior study, Immuneering’s atebimetinib demonstrated a robust tolerability profile—something CEO Ben Zeskind said equates highly with survival.
Interim overall survival data on a TROP2 ADC from Merck and Chinese partner Kelun-Biotech provide support for the pharma’s big bet on its potential to help navigate Keytruda’s impending loss of exclusivity.
Revolution Medicines and its RAS inhibitor daraxonrasib stole the show at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting this weekend, as Truist Securities predicts a possible third quarter launch for the pancreatic cancer drug.
Analysts, investors and partner Summit Therapeutics had all been keenly awaiting the overall survival update, after previous data from Akeso’s HARMONi-6 trial left them wanting.
FDA inspectors found Alchymars failed to adequately maintain equipment used to make active pharmaceutical ingredients for the U.S. market. Over-the-counter drugmakers GC America and Sato Pharmaceutical also received warning letters.