With Vivtex deal, Novo gains a chance at better oral obesity drugs

The potentially $2.1 billion collaboration gives Novo access to technologies that are meant to help optimize the delivery of oral biologic medicines. 

GSK to acquire 35Pharma in $950M deal for cardiovascular drug

The deal hands GSK a drug it views as a potentially “best-in-class” therapy for blood pressure diseases like pulmonary arterial hypertension — the target of Merck’s fast-selling Winrevair.

Alkermes’ Richard Pops to step down after three-decade run as CEO

One of biotech’s longest-tenured leaders, Pops steered Alkermes through several reinventions, the latest of which has made it a frontrunner in developing a new narcolepsy drug.

15 states sue HHS over changes to childhood vaccine schedule

The lawsuit seeks to reverse the abrupt overhaul of the U.S. immunization schedule as well as the federal government’s allegedly “unlawful” reformation of a key vaccine panel.

BreezeBio banks $60M to make more precise genetic medicines

The company has shed its former “GenEdit” name and strategy in favor of a plan to develop its own medicines, starting with a potential tolerance-inducing treatment for Type 1 diabetes.

Trump’s State of the Union trumpets healthcare greatest hits, but no new policies

In his lengthy address Tuesday night, the president touted his efforts to make drugs and insurance more affordable but steered clear of hot-button issues like vaccine access and the GOP’s Medicaid cuts.

Novo, searching for a spark, spotlights new data for three-pronged obesity drug

Novo’s answer to a closely watched Lilly drug spurred roughly 20% weight loss after 24 weeks in a Phase 2 trial, results one of its executives claimed to be “differentiating.”

Slate starts up with $130M and a headache drug from China

The biotech is developing a drug aimed at a protein called PACAP, which has emerged as a potentially new way to prevent the onset of migraines.

FDA fleshes out new roadmap for testing personalized therapies

At an event on Monday, the agency officially unveiled long-awaited draft guidance meant to help speed the development of bespoke treatments for extremely rare diseases.

Merck to split cancer, specialty drug businesses in leadership shakeup

Ahead of the looming loss of Keytruda’s exclusivity, the company is creating a standalone, cancer-focused unit and a second business housing its other drugs and vaccines.

Gilead to buy Arcellx in $7.8B wager on multiple myeloma cell therapy

The acquisition bolsters Gilead’s sputtering cell therapy business with a medication the company expects to become a “foundational treatment” for the blood cancer, its CEO said.

Vir climbs on Astellas deal, study results for ‘masked’ T cell engager

According to one analyst, the alliance and early data “validate” the oncology work of Vir, which was once purely an infectious disease specialist before changing course.

Novo to cut GLP-1 drug prices; Palvella soars on study data

Wegovy and Ozempic’s list prices will be reduced by as much as 50% effective next year. Elsewhere, Palvella’s market value surged past $1 billion while Pfizer nabbed rights to another obesity drug.

FDA leaders say one pivotal trial, not two, should be ‘default’ for drug approvals

In a NEJM article, Commissioner Martin Makary and top deputy Vinay Prasad argued that the new policy should lower development costs and speed development without compromising agency standards.

Novo’s next-gen obesity shot fails to match Lilly drug in head-to-head study

Shares fell by more than 15% on results showing study participants receiving Novo’s CagriSema lost less weight than those who took Lilly’s Zepbound.

Trump sets fresh 10% global tariff — and plans to increase further

The new duties will go into effect Feb. 24, although the president has since signaled he will raise the rate to 15%.

Updated Feb. 21, 2026

AI is slashing jobs across industries. Will pharma be next?

Despite a wave of AI-fueled layoffs, the pharma and biotech industries could be spared from massive cutbacks for now.

Roche gets FDA decision date on closely watched breast cancer drug

The agency could by late December approve a therapy that Roche sees as potentially becoming a new treatment standard for certain breast tumors. 

Madrigal sees a stock sell-off; ex-Novartis exec heads to Daiichi

Madrigal shares fell 11% despite again topping consensus sales numbers. Elsewhere, Daiichi Sankyo named a new research chief and J&J halted recruitment in an Alzheimer’s trial. 

Grail’s multi-cancer early detection test misses study goal

Shares in the company lost about half their value in Friday trading after use of the test wasn’t associated with a statistically significant reduction in late-stage cancer diagnoses.

Altesa, run by former Trump official, raises $75M for well-traveled lung drug

Led by Brett Giroir and GSK’s ex-chief medical officer, Altesa is advancing a medicine that’s changed hands multiple times and once failed a study in asthma.  

Updated Feb. 20, 2026

FDA reverses course on Moderna’s flu vaccine

In response to a query from BioPharma Dive, an HHS spokesperson said the FDA will “maintain its high standards during drug review and potential licensure stages.”

Updated Feb. 19, 2026

Psychedelics stocks rise as Compass’ psilocybin drug heads to FDA

Shares of at least four other developers were up by mid-single digits to low-double digits at certain points on Tuesday.

An Alzheimer’s startup emerges with $175M in venture backing

Backed by Wellington, Sanofi Ventures and a division of J.P. Morgan, Korsana Therapeutics is studying a treatment originally developed by hub-and-spoke biotech Paragon Therapeutics.

Compass, with Phase 3 hits, ready to take psilocybin to the FDA

The company plans to meet with the FDA to discuss a rolling approval application for “COMP360,” a synthetic form of psilocybin that could become the first “classic” psychedelic cleared for the U.S. market.