This week in charts: China deals, stock flatlines and Lilly’s M&A spree

Deals with Chinese drugmakers are continuing at a steady pace, while two mid-cap biotechs' stock prices took a tumble this week. Meanwhile, Lilly has outpaced other pharmas in dealmaking this year.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Sept. 4, 2026

Ionis’ rare neurology drug approved; Pfizer inks an ADC deal

Zanvastro is now the first approved medicine for Alexander disease. Elsewhere, an immune system specialist posted positive results and a cell therapy developer turned to layoffs.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Sept. 4, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Cell therapy

The continued emergence of CAR-T therapy has fueled research into next-generation approaches and new applications, such as its use in autoimmune diseases or in reprogramming cells inside the body.

By BioPharma Dive staff

An AI drug specialist zeroes in on rare forms of obesity

Superluminal Medicines banked $60 million in funding to support development of a drug designed to work similarly to — but potentially be more selectively than — Rhythm Pharmaceuticals’ marketed medicine Imcivree.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Sept. 3, 2026

GSK wagers up to $1.3B on a different kind of cancer drug

With its latest foray into China, GSK acquired rights from Hutchmed to an “antibody-targeted therapy conjugate” impacting two well-known cancer drivers, EGFR and KRAS.

By Delilah Alvarado • Sept. 3, 2026

Akeso, Summit cancer drug confirms lung cancer survival benefit

A new data cut of a trial pitting ivonescimab, a bispecific antibody, against Merck’s Keytruda showed the new drug helped people live longer.

By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 3, 2026

Teva claims success in celiac study; BioMarin, Ascendis settle patent dispute

Teva believes the therapy has “pipeline-in-a-product” potential. Elsewhere, a high-stakes trial was paused and GSK advanced a competitor to Moderna’s flu shot.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Sept. 2, 2026

The next frontier: Advancing foundation models with multimodal data

What's possible when AI models can learn from additional health data modalities to create a more complete understanding of human health?

Aug. 31, 2026

Moderna raises $2.6B to support cancer work; FDA clears updated COVID vaccines

Moderna’s upsized note offering quickly followed a big win in a crucial study. Elsewhere, a biotech’s shares tumbled after study data were “inadvertently” published ahead of a medical meeting.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Aug. 28, 2026

AstraZeneca, Ionis data spark debate about RNA drugs’ impact on deadly heart disease

Results published in NEJM raised questions about the benefits “silencer” medications provide on top of standard therapies for TTR cardiomyopathy and amplified investor pressure on Alnylam.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 28, 2026

This week in charts: Biotech’s rebound is undeniable

Not only is the XBI continuing to hover around a historic high, but drug companies can’t seem to get enough of both large IPOs and big-ticket M&A.

By Jacob Bell • Aug. 28, 2026

FDA green lights Priovant drug for rare skin disease

Lisraya’s clearance marks the first approval of a drug the Roivant subsidiary licensed from Pfizer and has since positioned against multiple rare inflammatory conditions.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Updated Aug. 28, 2026

Michael Polansky has a new, skin-focused biotech. Don’t call it a drug company.

Though its data could be useful for pharmaceutical firms, Polansky’s latest entrepreneurial endeavor, Outer Bio, is serious about steering clear of road bumps that slow biotechs.

By Jacob Bell • Aug. 27, 2026

New data could widen use of AstraZeneca, Amgen immune disease drug

Tezspire succeeded in a study in eosinophilic esophagitis, which could become the drug’s third approved indication and unlock what’s viewed as a blockbuster opportunity.

By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 27, 2026

Revolution pancreatic cancer drug should quickly become a blockbuster, analysts say

Rasonque’s $39,800 monthly list price surpassed Wall Street forecasts and led to rosier sales projections ahead of what one analyst described as a “historic” launch.

By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 27, 2026

Revolution drug heralded as a pancreatic cancer breakthrough cleared by FDA

Rasonque’s speedy approval — just a month after a completed submission — represents a paradigm shift for a notoriously deadly cancer and begins what analysts see as a highly lucrative drug launch.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Updated Aug. 27, 2026

Biohaven trades cash for ‘upside’ with $795M epilepsy drug deal

Faced with a dwindling bank account after a series of research setbacks, Biohaven is letting go of its most advanced experimental drug in a deal one analyst viewed as a “surprising” transaction.

By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 26, 2026

Zepbound may cut healthcare costs, study says; Summit, Akeso drug hits in another China trial

A real-world study suggests Zepbound use could reduce the rates of hospital stays and ER visits. Elsewhere, McKesson sprung for a multibillion-dollar deal and J&J nabbed a noteworthy approval.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Aug. 26, 2026

New Jazz cancer drug approval could drive blockbuster sales

Ziihera can now be used as an initial treatment for all HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas, dramatically expanding the drug’s market potential.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 25, 2026

Will a ‘reset’ reignite investment in women’s health startups?

After peaking in 2024, venture investments in startups involved in the space declined last year. But a broader adoption of AI and a widening definition of what constitutes women’s health could spur a rebound, some say.

By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 25, 2026

Young startups miss out on biotech venture funding rebound, MassBio says

A new report found that the sizes of seed rounds and Series A financings for Massachusetts biotech startups are going in opposite directions, as funding slows for young companies with the “riskiest science.”

By Gwendolyn Wu • Aug. 25, 2026

FDA extends review of Capricor cell therapy; Pain drug startup to go public

The agency is now reviewing an updated application for deramiocel with a “refined” indication. Elsewhere, a startup co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy is taking a speedy path to the public markets.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 24, 2026

Cellares, a cell therapy manufacturing specialist, to lay off 100 employees

The restructuring comes after an unnamed "large pharmaceutical customer" terminated a contract with the company, Cellares CEO Fabian Gerlinghaus posted on LinkedIn.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Aug. 24, 2026

Roche commits to lean-mass preservation with Hanmi obesity deal

For $190 million up front and as much as $2.3 billion overall, the Swiss drugmaker is building its portfolio with a shot that aims to spur weight loss but spare muscle tissue.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 24, 2026

Pharma marketers need a share-of-answer strategy before AI spend

AI is changing how HCPs seek answers. Pharma marketers need a new strategy.

Aug. 24, 2026

Shareholder pressures Capricor; Lilly dives deeper into vaccines

Kaos Capital wants a “governance reset” to alter the Duchenne cell therapy maker’s strategic course. Elsewhere, Bristol Myers furthered efforts to build an “AI-powered” discovery engine.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Aug. 21, 2026