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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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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.
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.
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.
As Summit Therapeutics’ Chinese partner prepares to reveal data for a key trial at ASCO, analysts consider the impact on rivals Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and BioNTech.
Beren Therapeutics is seeking approval in Neimann-Pick disease type C, an application the FDA was set to decide on by August 17. The new target action date is November 17.
Pfizer continues its dealmaking spree by striking a back-heavy partnership with China’s Innovent Biologics to assemble a pipeline of antibody-based therapies for cancer.