Biotech startup funding dried up in second quarter, HSBC finds

Overall venture funding, as well as “first financing” rounds, fell significantly in the second quarter, reversing 2025’s fast start, according to HSBC.

By Gwendolyn Wu • July 17, 2025

Sarepta to lay off about 500 employees after Duchenne gene therapy setbacks

On a conference call, CEO Doug Ingram said the decision to cut 36% of the company's staff and halt several drug programs was essential to ensuring Sarepta's "long-term viability."

By Ben Fidler • Updated July 16, 2025

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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

Hengrui, Kailera say dual-acting obesity shot succeeds in China study

The results position Hengrui to seek approval of the Zepbound-like drug in China, and Kailera, a well-funded startup, to begin global late-stage testing.

By Ben Fidler • July 15, 2025

Vertex secures Alyftrek coverage in England; Merck starts Phase 3 trials of HIV drug

NHS England agreed to reimburse Vertex's newest cystic fibrosis medicine. Meanwhile, Merck advanced a once-monthly PrEP pill into late-stage trials.

By BioPharma Dive staff • July 15, 2025

FDA rejects Ultragenyx gene therapy over manufacturing concerns

While the CRL derails a near-term clearance, one analyst described the rejection as more of “a speed bump to approval, rather than a roadblock.”

By Delilah Alvarado • July 14, 2025

Jazz names new CEO; Ultragenyx, Mereo shares slide on trial update

Current operations chief Renee Gala will succeed Bruce Cozadd at Jazz. Meanwhile, Nuclidium raised about $99 million to develop radiopharmaceuticals that involve copper isotopes.

By BioPharma Dive staff • July 11, 2025

Renasant Bio, chasing drugs for ADPKD, raises $55M in seed funding

The biotech is taking inspiration from cystic fibrosis treatment and applying a similar approach to developing "corrector" and "potentiator" medicines for the kidney disease.

By Gwendolyn Wu • July 10, 2025

Gilead signs lenacapavir access deal; Arvinas CEO to step down

The drugmaker will provide, at no profit, doses to treat up to 2 million people in resource-limited countries. Meanwhile, Arvinas' John Houston is retiring from his role leading the biotech.

By BioPharma Dive staff • July 9, 2025

Actithera draws new investors to radiopharma drug pitch

The four-year-old biotech raised about $75 million in a Series A round that involved nine venture capital firms.

By Gwendolyn Wu • July 9, 2025

Cargo agrees to Concentra buyout after trial setback, layoffs

The cell therapy developer, which raised nearly $500 million in 2023 on the promise of its CAR-T work, has floundered since a safety setback forced it to scrap its lead candidate.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 8, 2025

Protein degraders: chasing undruggable targets

Some two dozen biotech developers of PROTACs, molecular glues and other types of protein-degrading drugs have sprung up over the past two decades.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Updated July 9, 2025

After delay, Kalvista wins FDA OK for drug to treat rare swelling disorder

The company had blamed FDA "resource constraints" for the delay, while a rival drug for hereditary angioedema received an on-time approval.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 7, 2025

Study results boost Cogent’s case for rare disease drug

One analyst described Cogent’s data as a “home run scenario” for bezuclastinib, which the company is positioning as a competitor to Blueprint Medicines’ Ayvakit.

By Gwendolyn Wu • July 7, 2025

[Podcast] Trial Trailblazers: Behind clinical breakthroughs

Explore how innovative clinical trials are transforming treatments for children with rare diseases in this compelling podcast.

By BioPharma Dive's studioID • July 7, 2025

Regeneron bispecific approved for myeloma; Concentra to buy IGM

Lynozyfic is one of two bispecific antibodies Regeneron hopes will lift its oncology business. Meanwhile, IGM is the latest struggling biotech to agree to a buyout deal from Concentra.

By BioPharma Dive staff • July 2, 2025

Acadia CEO sets sights on ‘much more assertive’ deals to invigorate pipeline

Industry veteran Catherine Owen Adams expects external innovation will be key to getting the brain-focused drug developer to “the next level.”

By Jacob Bell • July 2, 2025

Sodium channel blockers for pain: New opportunities after Vertex’s ‘watershed’ moment

The success of Vertex's opioid alternative Journavx could aid a group of biotechs that aim to take a similar path with NaV1.8 and NaV1.7 inhibitors.

By Jacob Bell • July 1, 2025

Sage to lay off most staff amid Supernus buyout

The biotech, which agreed to be bought by Supernus after clinical and commercial struggles, plans to lay off 338 employees by late August.

By Gwendolyn Wu • June 30, 2025

Moderna flu shot outperforms marketed vaccines in large late-stage trial

The mRNA drug developer said it will begin discussing approval with the FDA, which has adopted stricter vaccine review standards.

By Jonathan Gardner • June 30, 2025

AbbVie to buy CAR-T developer Capstan in deal worth up to $2.1B

The acquisition will expand AbbVie's exploration of in vivo CAR-T therapy, an ambitious approach that could sidestep some of the difficulties presented by current cell treatments.

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 30, 2025

Biocryst sells Europe business; Peter Marks criticizes new FDA vaccine rules

Biocryst is offloading part of its business for $250 million. Meanwhile, the former FDA leader took issue with a new policy for COVID-19 shots.

By BioPharma Dive staff • June 27, 2025

Vor, with new CEO, changes course to target autoimmune disease

The biotech, which earlier this year laid off nearly all of its staff, also announced a PIPE that will hand it $175 million in new funding.

By Gwendolyn Wu • June 26, 2025

Acadia’s ‘very bullish’ sales forecast restores some confidence on Wall Street

The brain drug developer is now saying that its two marketed products could ultimately bring in $2 billion annually, and its pipeline may one day add another $12 billion in sales each year.

By Jacob Bell • June 26, 2025

Kymera adds Gilead as research partner, while advancing new candidate with Sanofi

The biotech will work on molecular glue degraders with Gilead in a new deal. Existing partner Sanofi changed its focus to a new drug prospect, meanwhile.

By Gwendolyn Wu • June 25, 2025

FDA investigating Elevidys safety; Nektar shares spike on eczema data

The agency said it will evaluate whether regulatory action is needed after investigating the deaths of two patients treated with Sarepta's therapy.

By BioPharma Dive staff • June 24, 2025