Vertex’s non-opioid pain drug gets FDA approval in milestone for company and research

Despite high demand for an option like Journavx, doctors fear the drug’s price could be a hangup for insurers and limit patients’ ability to access it.

By Jacob Bell • Updated Jan. 30, 2025

23andMe considers a sale as cash runs low

The testing company ended last year with $79 million and told investors it will need to raise money to fund its operations and financial commitments.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 30, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Emerging biotech

New biotechs continue to emerge despite a challenging market environment that has forced venture firms to build their drug startups more cautiously.

By BioPharma Dive staff

Cargo to drop lead CAR-T therapy, lay off staff after study setback

Safety concerns and disappointing results led Cargo to stop testing the treatment, cut 50% of its workforce and evaluate strategic alternatives.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Jan. 30, 2025

BioAge drops obesity drug; Akero, 89bio cash in on MASH data

BioAge scrapped the drug at the center of its $198 million initial public offering last year. Elsewhere, Akero and 89bio raised $600 million combined and Allakos laid off staff. 

By BioPharma Dive staff • Jan. 29, 2025

Atalanta banks $97M to send RNAi drugs into the brain

The startup says its specially constructed RNAi therapies can get deep into brain tissue, yielding new ways to treat conditions like Huntington’s.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Jan. 28, 2025

Versant invests again in obesity, this time backing Helicore Biopharma

Helicore, which is developing a GIP-blocking antibody, is the fourth obesity drug developer to receive funding from Versant in recent months.

By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 28, 2025

Sage rebuffs Biogen bid to take it over

Sage’s board of directors said Biogen’s offer “undervalues” the company, but will explore other strategic alternatives to “maximize” shareholder value.

By Delilah Alvarado • Jan. 27, 2025

The biopharma industry outlook on 2025: Uncertainty and change

The Trump administration is bringing new instability to a sector already grappling with a shaky market as well as threats like competition from China.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 24, 2025

Mixed results for Keytruda; AbbVie to work with Neomorph

Merck and Eisai reported new data for a drug regimen of Keytruda and Lenvima. Elsewhere, AstraZeneca expanded in Canada and the FDA delayed a decision on Stealth’s Barth treatment.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Jan. 24, 2025

Ascentage prices first biotech IPO of 2025, raising $126M

The China-based drug developer’s offering will fund testing of medicines for several blood malignancies — one of which is part of an alliance with Takeda.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Jan. 23, 2025

AI in medtech is taking off. Here are 4 trends to watch in 2025.

New documents clarify how the FDA plans to regulate AI-enabled devices, experts say, but several important questions remain around insurance coverage and generative AI.

By Elise Reuter • Jan. 23, 2025

BridgeBio’s Neil Kumar on an underdog drug launch and wooing deal-hungry investors

In an interview, the CEO discussed trying to gain support from investors hyper-focused on M&A, and competing with Pfizer and Alnylam.

By Ben Fidler • Jan. 23, 2025

Intellia makes progress on HAE study; 2 more China drug deals

The biotech said it has dosed the first participant in a Phase 3 study of its in vivo gene editing treatment. Elsewhere, the FDA imposed a hold on Atara and lifted another on Amylyx.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Jan. 22, 2025

Moderna gets $590M from US government for bird flu vaccine

Moderna has been testing an mRNA candidate for influenza viruses like the H5 and H7 strains that are seen as pandemic threats. Others, including GSK and Pfizer, are also at work on similar shots.

By Delilah Alvarado • Jan. 21, 2025

Sionna, Odyssey join queue of biotechs testing investors’ IPO interest

The startups are the fourth and fifth drugmakers to file for initial stock sales since late December — the most IPO activity in more than three months.

By Ben Fidler • Jan. 21, 2025

Novo shares high-dose Wegovy results; Amgen, AstraZeneca drugs get expanded OKs

A high-dose form of Novo’s obesity drug led to 20% weight loss over 72 weeks. Meanwhile, Atara got a complete response letter and Boehringer reported a Phase 3 failure.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Jan. 17, 2025

‘The bar has risen’: China’s biotech gains push US companies to adapt

Pharma dealmaking for drugs invented in China is putting pressure on U.S. biotechs to compete harder, according to investors and executives interviewed by BioPharma Dive earlier this year.

By Ben Fidler • Jan. 16, 2025

JPM25: The FDA’s future, AbbVie’s second thoughts and Lilly’s lesson

AbbVie's CEO hinted his company may be less willing to invest in psychiatry, while Lilly explained what it got wrong forecasting GLP-1 drug demand.

By Gwendolyn Wu , Jonathan Gardner , Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 16, 2025

At JPM, Biogen CEO tries to take down the deal temperature

While Biogen has made an opportunistic bid for partner Sage, its top executive seemed to play down the urgency for his company to go after larger deals.

By Jacob Bell • Jan. 15, 2025

J&J files a potential blockbuster; Lykos shakes up its board

The pharma began submitting its TAR-200 bladder cancer treatment to the FDA. Elsewhere, Sarepta and Madrigal reported strong revenue numbers, while Bausch + Lomb made an acquisition.

By BioPharma Dive team • Jan. 15, 2025

JPM25: Amgen’s defense, Merck’s patent ‘hill’ and Viking’s long-term planning

Executives at Amgen made the case for MariTide's differentiation, while Merck's CEO contended Keytruda's coming loss of exclusivity can be managed.

By Ben Fidler , Gwendolyn Wu , Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 14, 2025

Regenxbio licenses gene therapies to Japan’s Nippon Shinyaku

Nippon Shinyaku will pay Regenxbio $110 million upfront for U.S. and Asia rights to treatments for Hunter and Hurler syndromes.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 14, 2025

5 questions facing emerging biotech in 2025

Young drugmakers confront several harsh realities this year, among them a contracting sector and competition from China.

By Ben Fidler , Gwendolyn Wu , Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 14, 2025

JPM25: Deals, Summit’s bravado and gene therapy headwinds

Drug executives talked M&A and the incoming administration, but also weighed the outlook for cell and gene therapy developers after a difficult year. 

By Ben Fidler , Delilah Alvarado , Gwendolyn Wu • Updated Jan. 14, 2025

Biogen’s ‘cold and calculated’ offer to buy Sage receives a mixed reaction on Wall Street

Analysts say the deal, which would give Biogen full control over the drug Zurzuvae, could be a smart financial move. Yet it's also unlikely to appease broader investor concerns.

By Jacob Bell • Jan. 13, 2025