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Even as FDA approvals for biologic therapies fell in the first half of 2026, regulatory experts are optimistic about a turnaround in the rare disease space after the departure of key leaders at the agency. Still, there will continue to be tension between science and politics.
FEATURED STORIES
A mostly black box since emerging with more than a billion dollars in hand, Xaira Therapeutics is slowly pulling back the curtain, revealing plans to find partners and validate its pipeline.
IPO
After debuting on the public markets with $256.3 million and raking in an additional $472 million, Veradermics has emerged as one of biotech’s biggest post-IPO standouts. CEO Reid Waldman credits the weight loss craze for establishing consumer-driven channels.
Molecular glue degraders are gaining traction in the clinic as well as funding from Big Pharma, with their potential to treat previously “undruggable” cancers and immunological diseases. Here are five clinical programs worth keeping an eye on.
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Congressional letters sent to the CEOs of Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Merck, BMS and AbbVie this week voicing concerns about the pharmas’ clinical trials in China highlight an ongoing discrepancy in how government and industry think about the rise of the Asian country’s biotech industry.
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Now designated as a Tech Hub by the White House, Alabama’s nonprofit Southern Research is winnowing its focus and investing in healthcare solutions.
Gene therapy company uniQure announced Tuesday “ongoing evidence” of a clinical benefit for its Huntington’s disease treatment. However, investors were not impressed as the stock dropped nearly 20%.
On this episode of the Weekly: Biden administration puts pressure on the biopharma industry; renewed interest in psychedelics after MindMed announces LSD-based candidate meets primary endpoint; bluebird changes its tune.
The competition between Merck’s pneumococcal vaccine and Pfizer’s Prevnar series of vaccines is intensifying after the regulator granted priority review to the former’s BLA for V116.
A court in Germany on Tuesday nullified one of CureVac’s intellectual property rights in a patent case against BioNTech. However, court proceedings involving seven other patent rights will continue.
With an upfront payment of $185 million, GSK on Wednesday added another exclusive antibody-drug conjugate license agreement with China-based Hansoh Pharma.
Continued fallout from the IRA, heightened antitrust enforcement and the rise of AI will all shape the first wave of biotech mergers and acquisitions coming this year, experts tell BioSpace.
Argenx’s subcutaneous Fc receptor blocker efgartigimod was unable to induce a significantly higher rate of complete remission than placebo in the skin autoimmune disease. The company’s stock plummeted in response to the news.
Also called an umbrella or basket trial, the master trial allows for a more targeted approach to cancer treatment, faster patient enrollment and the flexibility to pivot.
FDA
Chiesi Global Rare Diseases gained access to the Filsuvez topical gel in January 2023, when it bought Amryt Pharma. Tuesday’s approval comes nearly two years after an initial rejection by the regulator.