Shire deal done, Takeda turns to task of forging top pharma

"Shire accelerates us by five years," Andy Plump, head of R&D at Takeda, said in an interview detailing the impact of the now complete $62 billion deal. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 9, 2019

AbbVie takes $4B impairment charge on Stemcentrx

The pharma's $5.6 billion purchase in 2016 has soured with clinical setbacks on a leading asset, resulting in a multi-billion write-down.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Jan. 7, 2019

Lilly to buy Loxo Oncology for $8B

On the heels of the Bristol-Celgene mega-deal, Lilly will dive deeper into genetic-based cancer therapies with its buy of the Connecticut-based startup.

By Andrew Dunn • Jan. 7, 2019

Biogen stock trends up on neurology disease deals

The biotech started the year by doubling down on brain disease drug discovery, with two platform deals with small biotechs together worth up to $1.5 billion.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Jan. 7, 2019

Pharmas spending too much on buybacks, not enough on big deals: report

Bristol-Myers-Celgene and Takeda-Shire aside, drugmakers have tended to focus on pruning pipelines through bolt-on deals and collaborations.

By Jacob Bell • Jan. 7, 2019

How Bristol-Myers' big buy could spur ripples for pharma M&A

History suggests the deal itself won't spur big-ticket M&A. But the trends behind it — including a need for scale among cancer drugmakers — just might.

By Jacob Bell • Jan. 4, 2019

Bristol-Myers' gamble on Celgene pipeline prospects

Five Celgene drugs could launch in the next few years, a key factor in attracting the big pharma. But predictions of more than $15 billion in peak sales may prove rosy.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 4, 2019

AbbVie puts up $105M for Tizona's preclinical I/O drug

Tizona's lead therapy inhibits an enzyme called CD39, a lesser-known target thought to play a role in immune regulation within the tumor microenviornment.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Jan. 4, 2019

Merck licenses diabetes, NASH treatment from NGM

It's the latest example of pharma's growing interest in NASH, a condition expected to soon become a leading cause for liver transplants in the U.S.

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 3, 2019

Seeking edge in oncology, Bristol-Myers bets big on blood cancer, cell therapies

Buying Celgene will marry Bristol-Myers' strong position in solid tumors with the biotech's leading blood cancer business. 

By Jacob Bell • Jan. 3, 2019

Sarepta inks deal to bolster gene therapy manufacturing

An agreement with Aldevron may help the biotech avoid setbacks like the short-lived clinical hold it received on a gene therapy candidate last year. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • Jan. 3, 2019

Bristol-Myers to buy Celgene in industry-shaking $74B deal

In one of the largest pharma deals ever, Bristol-Myers will acquire Celgene after a year-long share slide that raised questions about the biotech's future.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Andrew Dunn • Jan. 3, 2019

Sanofi ends heart drug collaboration with MyoKardia

MyoKardia executives said Sanofi's decision was not related to clinical data or safety concerns, but rather over a difference in views on expanding the deal. 

By Andrew Dunn • Jan. 2, 2019

Merck KGaA trades rights for equity in amended CAR-T pact

New deal terms signal that German Merck has lost interest in developing Intrexon's technology in-house. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • Dec. 21, 2018

Gilead deepens immuno-oncology push with Agenus deal

Linking up with Agenus is another step Gilead has taken to fill out its oncology ambitions. Whether the biotech succeeds will be up to Daniel O'Day, who will soon take over as CEO.

By Andrew Dunn • Dec. 20, 2018

DBV pulls peanut allergy treatment application, sinking shares

Regulators knocked DBV Technologies' application on a lack of detail regarding manufacturing and quality control, spurring the company to withdraw it. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • Dec. 20, 2018

Eyeing NASH, Gilead wagers $1.5B on preclinical fibrosis drugs

With skepticism surrounding some of Gilead's more advanced NASH drugs, analysts noted its deal with Scholar Rock makes sense given the "potential for both monotherapy and combo therapies."

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 19, 2018

Pfizer taps Seattle-based Kineta in immunotherapy deal

The pharma, which trails other rivals in immuno-oncology, aims to uncover new ways of boosting anti-tumor immune responses through the partnership.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Dec. 18, 2018

Clovis dips as Tesaro reveals more details of its acquisition

Tesaro received just one takeover bid which, while at a large premium, may have unnerved Clovis investors hoping there remains a variety of PARP-focused suitors.

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 17, 2018

Merck shelling out $3.7B on digital solutions for animal health

Through a new acquisition, the big pharma is going full speed into what it calls the "fastest growing part of the animal health industry."

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 14, 2018

Biogen backs away from AGTC after gene therapy failure

The smaller biotech lost a main revenue source and about half its market cap as one of its candidates proved safe but ineffective in a rare eye disorder.

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 13, 2018

Bausch bids $200M for Synergy gut drug, eyeing turnaround opportunity

Synergy thought its IBS drug Trulance would find success in a growing market. Two years since approval, the company's filed for bankruptcy and put its assets up for sale.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 12, 2018

Lilly bets on AC Immune's tech to target Alzheimer's

The companies' focus will be on small molecules that inhibit aggregation of a protein many believe to be integral in Alzheimer's development.

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 12, 2018

Masthercell doubles capacity in production build-out

With the expansion, the CDMO aims to better support its cell therapy-focused clients as they advance candidates through testing. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • Dec. 6, 2018

AbbVie nets 7th Humira biosimilar deal, pushing Pfizer entry to 2023

The settlement allows Pfizer to launch its copy in the U.S. at the end of 2023; a European launch can go ahead as soon as approval comes through.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Dec. 5, 2018