News
        While the FDA continues to put out guidance documents and approve drugs, some companies are already reporting delays in dealings with the agency, while insiders warn of falling morale and a negative perception from the rest of the biopharma world.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    FEATURED STORIES
        
        
        
    
        To drive true innovation in drug development, executives must not let excitement about the latest shiny object obscure ultimate outcomes.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Heading into the final quarter of a year that has seen dramatic upheaval at the FDA—from the exodus of numerous senior leaders to unclear policy changes and a safety saga that engulfed the gene therapy space—drug approvals appear roughly on par with recent years. 
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Therapies from industry leaders BioMarin and Ascendis Pharma supply a key hormone that promotes bone growth. In order to move the field forward, challengers are looking to address the underlying cause of the rare, genetic disease.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    Job Trends
        
        
        
    
        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.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    FROM OUR EDITORS
        
        
            Read our takes on the biggest stories happening in the industry.
        
        
    
        BioSpace Senior Editor Annalee Armstrong headed to the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference with a months-long story idea brewing. Unfortunately, it was one she’s written before.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    THE LATEST
    
    
        Roche has already signed several high-ticket deals this year, including the $3.5 billion acquisition of 89bio and Genentech’s $2.1 billion molecular glue pact with Orionis Biosciences.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        In this episode presented by Element Materials Technology, guests Dr. Jihye Jang-Lee and Dr. Khanh Courtney discuss how small biotechs face mounting pressure amid manufacturing uncertainties.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Despite showing no meaningful benefit on lung function, Arcturus’ mRNA therapy ARCT-032 reduced mucus volume in patients with cystic fibrosis—an outcome William Blair found “potentially promising.”
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        With Avadel under its fold, Alkermes expects to accelerate its expansion into the sleep market, laying the foundation for its late-stage narcolepsy asset alixorexton.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        A key question for investors going forward will be whether Moderna’s other latent virus vaccines for Epstein-Barr and shingles can succeed after the failure of the CMV program.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Looking for a job in regulatory? Check out the BioSpace list of eight companies hiring life sciences professionals like you.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Biopharma professionals have become increasingly likely to be dishonest when interviewing for jobs, based on BioSpace interviews with three talent acquisition experts. The experts discuss the reasons why as well as the types of fraud happening, including people posing as applicants.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        The deal focuses on ICT01, a monoclonal antibody being tested in acute myeloid leukemia. ImCheck is also developing assets in infectious disease and other oncology indications.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        While the threat of tariffs dies down for the pharma industry, President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a new investigation that could result in import taxes against U.S. trading partners that don’t pay enough for drugs.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Seven in 10 U.S. hiring managers say their company usually considers employing overqualified applicants, according to a survey from Express Employment Professionals and The Harris Poll. However, 75% of employers believe such hires struggle to stay motivated in lower-level roles.