Viking shares sink as obesity pill misses expectations in key study

The company’s market value was nearly cut in half following trial results showing higher rates of treatment discontinuations among people receiving Viking’s drug. 

Reunion’s psychedelic drug headed to late-stage testing

The drug, which functions similar to psilocybin, scored positive enough results in a mid-stage study that Reunion is now setting up a larger experiment to hopefully secure approval in postpartum depression.

Stealth resubmits rare disease drug to FDA

The biotech, which cut jobs following the rejection in May of its Barth syndrome therapy, claimed it has addressed the agency’s concerns and now sees potential for a speedy review.

Novo’s Wegovy becomes first GLP-1 drug approved for MASH

The FDA clearance sets Novo’s medicine up for a market battle with Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ fast-selling Rezdiffra.

Precigen wins immunotherapy approval; Pfizer sickle cell drug fails trial

The FDA’s announcement of Papzimeos’ approval contained an unusual quote from newly reinstated CBER director Vinay Prasad. Elsewhere, Eli Lilly and Superluminal Medicines struck a deal.

Merck KGaA ventures into new territory in the US

Miguel Fernández Alcalde, head of Merck KGaA’s U.S. arm, aims to “double down” on innovation. The company’s recent SpringWorks deal is just a start.

HHS revives defunct task force on childhood vaccine safety

The panel’s reinstatement is one of a series of controversial moves made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to put vaccines under new scrutiny.

Lilly says it will raise drug prices in Europe, responding to Trump threats

As the Trump administration works to implement a “most-favored nation” policy, Lilly said it’s “rebalancing” prices to “align” costs across different countries.

Sarepta sells Arrowhead shares as partnership, debt payments loom

Liquidating its stake in Arrowhead helps Sarepta cover a milestone payment and secure what one analyst described as “additional breathing room” ahead of a debt maturity in 2027.

Vedanta, PureTech’s microbiome startup, to cut staff after study setback

The result marks the latest failure for a microbiome therapy in inflammatory bowel disease, which has long been a top target of Vedanta and other companies like it.

Vor says drug licensed from RemeGen succeeded in Sjögren’s study

While Vor provided no details on the results, the company is now evaluating a global trial of the drug in the chronic immune condition.

With FDA PreCheck, drugmakers may get a manufacturing boost

The newly announced program targeting domestic manufacturing is the latest Trump administration move to ramp up drugmaking in the U.S.

AbbVie to build API plant in Illinois as it steps up US production

The expansion is part of AbbVie’s larger $10 billion commitment to U.S. investment in the face of Trump’s tariff threats. 

Expedition, a startup searching for drugs from China, cuts its first deal

The startup agreed to pay Fosun Pharma as much as $645 million for a drug in testing for multiple lung conditions, including bronchiectasis.

Updated Aug. 12, 2025

Insmed gains US approval of lung disease drug forecast to be blockbuster

Brinsupri, which Insmed acquired from AstraZeneca nearly a decade ago, is the first treatment for bronchiectasis that’s not caused by cystic fibrosis. 

PureTech launches new biotech built around lung disease drug

The spinout, known as Celea Therapeutics, will advance what’s designed to be an improved version of the drug pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. 

Pfizer looks to expand ADC use after positive bladder cancer data

Padcev, an antibody-drug conjugate which Pfizer acquired via its $43 billion Seagen deal, could help people who don’t qualify for chemotherapy.

Bayer buys into KRAS cancer drug; Novartis immune therapy goes 3 for 3

The German pharma will license a KRAS G12D inhibitor from Kumquat Biosciences. Elsewhere, a Biohaven OCD drug missed its study goal, while Biogen and Stoke began a key Phase 3 test.

Vinay Prasad, in surprise reversal, to rejoin FDA after abrupt departure

One analyst speculated that, going forward, Prasad may be less “heavy-handed” in reviewing rare disease therapies given the public backlash to the agency’s confrontation with Sarepta.

Updated Aug. 11, 2025

Novartis drug acquired in Morphosys deal succeeds against tough-to-treat autoimmune disease

The drug, ianalumab, met its objectives in two Phase 3 studies in Sjögren’s syndrome, boosting the outlook of a multibillion-dollar deal that hadn’t yet paid dividends.

IO Biotech sees path forward for skin cancer vaccine despite study setback

A regimen involving the company’s shot failed a Phase 3 trial “by a hair,” an executive said, leading the company to believe it still could win U.S. approval.

As gene therapy sales sputter, one biotech aims to defy the odds

With a strong launch underway for a bladder cancer gene therapy, Ferring is finding the kind of commercial success that’s eluded many of its peers.

BioNTech ends patent fight with mRNA rival CureVac ahead of buyout deal

The complex settlement, which hands payouts and royalties to CureVac and partner GSK, comes as BioNTech is inching toward an acquisition of its one-time COVID-19 vaccine competitor.

Inside AstraZeneca’s long-term strategy in lung cancer

Decades-long research has yielded a strong and growing franchise built around drugs for a genetic form of lung cancer.

Elevidys sales weaken; Neumora gets into obesity

Sarepta reported a quarter-on-quarter dip in sales for its Duchenne gene therapy. Elsewhere, Jazz won FDA approval of a brain cancer drug and Novo decided to advance a Prothena medicine into Phase 3.