Homology enters reverse merger with Q32 Bio

The deal, which will result in a combined company operating under Q32's name, comes months after Homology laid off much of its staff.

FDA approves new Bristol Myers drug for lung cancer

Acquired via a $4 billion biotech buyout, Augtyro is one of an array of new products the pharma hopes will offset patent expirations for current top sellers.

Gilead expands Arcellx cancer cell therapy deal

The deal gives Gilead an estimated 13% ownership in Arcellx and extends the company’s cash runway into 2027.

Alkermes separates cancer drug business as new company Mural

Now independent Mural Oncology will focus on advancing a pipeline of engineered cytokines for cancer, while Alkermes has recast itself as a “pure-play” neuroscience company.

A gene editing biotech’s struggles end with reverse merger

Since halting work on a sickle cell treatment early this year, Graphite Bio has laid off staff, shed assets and, now, agreed to be subsumed via a merger with Lenz Therapeutics.

New AMA policies target GLP-1 coverage, corporate medicine

The lobbying group urged broader health insurance coverage for treating obesity, including with GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy.

Forbion-backed biotech raises $138M to develop ALS drug

The Series A round for three-year-old startup VectorY is one of the largest private financings in Europe this year, Forbion said.

Novartis licenses Legend cell therapy for lung cancer

With the deal, the Swiss pharma is exploring a tumor target, DLL3, that’s thwarted past drugmaker efforts to attack it.

Ajinomoto spices up its biopharma business with gene therapy deal

Forge Biologics operates a contract manufacturing business and develops its own gene therapies, which appears to have attracted the Japan-based food and biotechnology company.

Anthos blood thinner bests Xarelto on safety in mid-stage study

Trial results add to evidence that so-called Factor XIa inhibitors could have less bleeding risk than currently available oral anticoagulants like Xarelto.

Updated Nov. 14, 2023

Wegovy study details revive debate over GLP-1 impact on devices

Shares in several heart device makers, which have been battered over the perceived impact of obesity medicines, rose this week following AHA data on Novo’s therapy.

First look at Verve study data offers base editing ‘proof of principle’

Early clinical trial results showed Verve’s therapy can substantially lower bad cholesterol. Still, investors sent the biotech’s shares down by 40% Monday.

Detailed trial data confirm Wegovy heart benefit

As GLP-1 drugs for weight loss take off, the results for Novo Nordisk’s treatment could help convince insurers to expand coverage.

Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine approved by FDA

The preventive shot is the first to receive regulatory approval for the mosquito-borne illness, which is growing in prevalence worldwide.

Novo takes aim at obesity drug shortages with $6B manufacturing plan

The maker of Wegovy and Ozempic plans to expand production in its home country of Denmark to help meet surging demand for the GLP-1 drugs.

CAR-T biotech Cargo Therapeutics prices $281M IPO

While the proceeds came in at the low end of Cargo’s expected range, the IPO is the fourth largest this year for a biotech company.

Atara’s cell therapy approach to MS falls short in study

Shares in the biotech tumbled by 75% as results from a Phase 2 trial showed more improvement in participants given a placebo.

AstraZeneca stays in GLP-1 drug race with new deal

AstraZeneca is paying $185 million upfront to gain access to an experimental GLP-1 drug from China-based biotech Eccogene.

Takeda secures FDA approval for colon cancer drug

The pharma paid $400 million to license the drug from Hutchmed earlier this year in an effort to bolster its oncology business.

Lilly rival to weight loss drug Wegovy approved by FDA

The pharmaceutical company will sell the GLP-1 drug, branded as Zepbound, at a list price about 20% lower than Novo Nordisk's competing therapy.

Updated Nov. 8, 2023

Bayer’s new CEO signals business shake-up, plans to slash management

Company head Bill Anderson said Bayer may separate its consumer health or crop science business, and signaled “significant” layoffs are in the future.

Biogen says growth is coming, but won’t specify when

CEO Chris Viehbacher said the company has “the elements to think about a return to topline growth.” Yet, that goal hinges on the successful commercialization of multiple new products.

Updated Nov. 8, 2023

FTC challenges patents held by nine big drugmakers, citing unfair competition

The agency claims intellectual property for emergency allergy shot EpiPen and asthma medication Advair was “improperly listed” in an FDA database.

Biogen, Sage set price of postpartum depression pill at $15,900

The price is below what some analysts had predicted and significantly less than $34,000 Sage initially set for its earlier postpartum infusion, Zulresso.

Flagship expands into Asia-Pacific with new Singapore hub

The biotech company creator hopes its new office will help its portfolio companies grow and strike partnerships in the region.