Roche's takeout of Spark not working like a Swiss watch

Antitrust review drags on, forcing the two parties to withdraw and refile paperwork and extend the tender offer by another month.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 26, 2019

Biogen points to M&A power as Wall Street presses for less risky programs

Executives suggested Biogen may find external opportunities in the areas of immunology and rare disease, but cautioned that the company was likely to continue its subtle spending strategy.

By Jacob Bell • April 24, 2019

Lilly selling antibiotic rights, manufacturing plant in China

As with other big pharmas, antibiotics have become less of a priority for Lilly despite global concerns over the need for new treatments.

By Jacob Bell • April 23, 2019

Lilly bets bigger on RNA drugs, with latest deal targeting immunology

For $35 million, Lilly gains access to a California biotech's technology platform that combines monoclonal antibodies with oligonucleotide-based therapies.

By Jacob Bell • April 22, 2019

$300M loan boosts launch of TherapeuticsMD hot flash pill

Bijuva marketing is beginning thanks to an immediate $200 million cash infusion, with the remainder released on regulatory and sales milestones.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 18, 2019

Gilead taps into machine learning to find new NASH drugs

A three-year research deal between Gilead and California-based Insitro aims to create disease models and discover targets for the fatty liver disease.

By Jacob Bell • April 16, 2019

Catalent to buy Paragon for $1.2B as gene therapy demand grows

The deal follows close on the heels of Thermo Fisher's buy of Brammer Bio, a peer of Paragon in making the viral vectors needed for gene therapy. 

By Jacob Bell • April 15, 2019

Gilead and Novo Nordisk pair up to take on NASH

Combinations are seen as the best way to combat the disorder, which is believed to be growing in prevalence thanks to rising obesity rates.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 12, 2019

Bristol-Myers wins shareholder backing for Celgene buyout

Opposition from Starboard Value and Wellington had lent some drama to the vote, which makes the roughly $74 billion tie-up between the two companies an all but done deal.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 12, 2019

GSK, AstraZeneca explore continuous manufacturing in partnership with CPI

The companies are establishing a continuous wet granulation plant for small-scale development of oral solid dosage pharmaceuticals.

By Suzanne Elvidge • April 11, 2019

Alnylam inks broad R&D deal with Regeneron

Regeneron will commit $800 million upfront to combine its genetics and antibody know-how with Alnylam's RNAi expertise in a deal focused on neurological and eye diseases. 

By Andrew Dunn • April 8, 2019

Roche must ask Spark shareholders once again to sell

The Swiss pharma has extended its tender offer for its $4.8 billion buy of the gene therapy pioneer after failing to secure a majority of shares by a deadline. 

By Jonathan Gardner • April 3, 2019

Novartis bets $1.6B on a biotech's anti-inflammatory drugs

The deal hands Novartis a small collection of drugs that inhibit an immune-regulating protein, with potential uses across a wide range of diseases.

By Jacob Bell • April 1, 2019

Atlas Venture caps 'superb venture return' on Arteaus with $260M royalty sale

Arteaus Therapeutics sold its global royalty on Eli Lilly's Emgality to Royalty Pharma, adding a profitable endnote to the biotech's brief history.

By Andrew Dunn • April 1, 2019

Looking to boost cancer drug trials, Bristol-Myers sees promise in AI

A partnership with Concerto HealthAI could help Bristol-Myers design better studies. Yet details are sparse and AI's use in medicine remains emergent.

By Emily Mullin • March 29, 2019

Top Wall Street advisory firms back Bristol-Celgene deal, boosting prospects

While some Bristol-Myers institutional investors have opposed the deal, top proxy advisory firms recommended Friday that shareholders vote for it.

By Andrew Dunn • March 29, 2019

AstraZeneca inks ambitious $6.9B deal for Daiichi cancer therapy

The deal gives the British pharma access to an antibody-drug conjugate that the companies view as a challenger to several on-market cancer drugs. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 29, 2019

Thermo Fisher to buy Brammer Bio for $1.7B, expanding gene therapy offerings

The life sciences giant grows its ambitions in the pharma CDMO space with another acquisition, this time focused on viral vector production.

By Andrew Dunn • March 25, 2019

Pharmacquired: Biogen could use a big deal. Too bad it doesn't do those

Failure of aducanumab puts Biogen in a tight spot. A major buy could help, but finding the right target will be a challenge.

By Jacob Bell • March 22, 2019

Merck, NGM Bio extend research deal through 2022

Tucked in that announcement, however, was news Merck has handed back to NGM rights to two candidates for the treatment of obesity.

By Suzanne Elvidge • March 21, 2019

Alexion adds to pipeline with 2 early-stage R&D deals

Research collaborations with Affibody and Zealand are the latest examples of Alexion's push to prepare for a future beyond its blockbuster drug Soliris.

By Kristin Jensen • March 20, 2019

Pfizer makes sure it won't get left out of the gene therapy deal boom

The big pharma now holds an exclusive option to acquire all shares of a privately held gene therapy biotech based in France.

By Jacob Bell • March 20, 2019

Gene therapy progress spurs competition in biotech buyouts

Nightstar Therapeutics, the latest gene therapy biotech bought, fielded interest from four drugmakers before agreeing to an $800 million offer from Biogen.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 19, 2019

Biohaven pays $105M for GW Pharma's priority review voucher

The purchase speeds up the regulatory timeline for Biohaven's oral CGRP drug — and could help it leapfrog Allergan's rival therapy, currently under review.

By Andrew Dunn • March 19, 2019

AstraZeneca inks microbiome deal with Seres

The three-year research collaboration will explore whether the microbiome could predict which patients respond to cancer immunotherapies.

By Suzanne Elvidge • March 12, 2019