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

Roche outbid competing biopharma to secure Spark deal

Spark reached out to three companies, including Roche, about possibly collaborating on its hemophilia A programs. The Swiss pharma, however, was more interested in an acquisition.

By Jacob Bell • March 7, 2019

Celgene checks regulatory box for key drug in Bristol-Myers deal

Recent shareholder opposition to the $74 billion buyout has pressured the companies, putting the buyer's rationale for the deal under a microscope.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 5, 2019

Biogen avoids heavy manufacturing lift in latest gene therapy deal

Nightstar's therapies target the eye, which means delivery of the DNA-based treatments is less onerous than it would be in other tissues, Biogen argues.

By Jacob Bell • March 5, 2019

Biogen buys Nightstar in search of more eye gene therapies

Shelling out roughly $800 million, the big biotech will get its hands on two mid- to late-stage treatments that it claims could launch in the next few years.

By Jacob Bell • March 4, 2019

Bristol-Myers hits a bump on road to Celgene takeover

Wellington Management, the largest institutional holder of Bristol-Myers, said it doesn't support the mega-deal, a position that could unnerve other investors.

By Jacob Bell • Feb. 28, 2019

Novartis moves forward on CV drug, paying $150M to Ionis, Akcea

The Swiss pharma will now take the lead on a Phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes study after mulling over Phase 2 data from November.

By Andrew Dunn • Feb. 26, 2019

Pharmacquired: What would a Clovis takeout look like?

Wall Street analysts suspect a potential suitor would be a large pharma with a presence in oncology but no access to a PARP inhibitor.

By Jacob Bell • Feb. 26, 2019

GE selling off biopharma business in $21.4B deal

Danaher's massive buy bolsters its life sciences unit. GE, meanwhile, plans to strengthen its balance sheet with the cash infusion and is reportedly pausing IPO plans for GE Healthcare.

By Andrew Dunn • Feb. 25, 2019

Roche acquires Spark in $4.8B gene therapy play

It's the latest evidence of pharma's growing appetite to expand in a field where Spark has been a leader with development of its approved treatment Luxturna.

By Jacob Bell • Feb. 25, 2019

AbbVie returns to Voyager, searching for Parkinson's gene therapy

The R&D deal puts more than $1 billion on the table in milestone payments, as the companies hunt for a one-time treatment for Parkinson's disease.

By Andrew Dunn • Feb. 22, 2019

J&J invests in integrin therapies via Morphic deal

Biotech Morphic has landed another big pharma partner just a few months after reaching a development deal with AbbVie.

By Andrew Dunn • Feb. 21, 2019

Merck takes a shot on Immune Design

The big pharma put up around $300 million to acquire the immunotherapy company and strengthen its cancer vaccine capabilities.

By Jacob Bell • Feb. 21, 2019

As Lilly deal closes, Bayer secures full rights to Loxo's Vitrakvi

With the targeted cancer drug now exclusively held by Bayer, Lilly's buyout of Loxo becomes an $8 billion bet on the promise of the biotech's RET inhibitor.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 15, 2019

Charles River Labs snaps up early-stage CRO for $510M

Acquiring Citoxlab will build out the contract research organization's footprint into Eastern Europe.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Feb. 14, 2019

Jazz set to lose rights to Erwinaze after partner cancels deal

While the lost rights would be a hit to Jazz's revenues, the company has a recombinant version of drug that analysts believe could cushion the blow. 

By Kristin Jensen • Feb. 13, 2019

Lilly lowers 2019 revenue hopes, citing Lartruvo failure

Lartruvo's clinical failure, pricing pressure and an $8 billion acquisition have caused Lilly to shift business expectations for 2019.

By Andrew Dunn • Feb. 6, 2019

Xencor inks $120M deal with Roche for preclinical bispecific

The deal puts a notably high valuation on Xencor's preclinical candidate — reflective of Roche's apparent interest in expanding its bispecifics pipeline.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Feb. 6, 2019

GSK bets billions more on oncology

The U.K. drugmaker put nearly 4 billion euros on the table to jointly develop and commercialize one of Merck KGaA's investigational immunotherapies.

By Jacob Bell • Feb. 5, 2019

'Strategic fit' with Bristol-Myers kept Celgene from casting wider net in deal negotiations

Celgene reached out to only one other company about a potential deal during negotiations with Bristol-Myers over what became a $74 billion buyout.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 1, 2019

J&J inks deal with MeiraGTx for retinal disease gene therapies

The early-stage deal is a sign of growing interest from pharma in advancing gene therapy development, analysts said.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Feb. 1, 2019