After a flurry, NASH deals put on pause

After several years of dealmaking in the liver disease space, the industry waits for the next wave of assets to mature. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 21, 2018

Prescribed Reading: FDA, CMS take aim at drug pricing

Government agencies announced moves to bring down high drug prices, though the market doesn't seem worried just yet.

By Lisa LaMotta • May 18, 2018

Profectus and MediSun launch Asian joint venture

The new Hong Kong company will focus on preventive and therapeutic vaccines for Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 18, 2018

Merck, Eiger expand drug licensing deal to include rare disease indication

Eiger can now develop lonafarnib for the uncommon and fatal genetic disease Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. 

By Jacob Bell • May 16, 2018

TapImmune and Marker Therapeutics merge to create new I/O company

Set to be based in Texas, the combined company aims to develop a new approach in the red-hot field of immuno-oncology.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 15, 2018

Lilly drops $110M to bring cancer compound back in house

Acquiring AurKa Pharma gives Lilly renewed access to a first-in-class oncology asset in early-stage testing against multiple solid tumor types.

By Jacob Bell • May 14, 2018

Macrogenics taps AGC Biologics for commercial manufacturing

The CDMO will prepare to commercially supply Macrogenics' cancer drug margetuximab, which is making its way through Phase 3 study. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 14, 2018

La Jolla inks royalty deal to support Giapreza launch

The biotech is tapping HealthCare Royalty Partners for $125 million in near-term cash in exchange for royalty payments later. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 14, 2018

Prescribed Reading: ShiTake a go; Novartis in hot water

Takeda finally secured its takeover of Shire. Elsewhere, Novartis came under fire for payments it made to Trump's lawyer. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 11, 2018

Lilly adds I/O biotech Armo with $1.6B deal

By adding Armo's late-stage asset to its pipeline, the big pharma aims to bolster its position in immuno-oncology. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 10, 2018

Ritter taps Medpace as CRO for Phase 3 microbiome study

Bringing on board a CRO moves Ritter a step closer to beginning pivotal trials for its microbiome booster.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 9, 2018

Digging up the dirt: Roche and Lodo ink soil-based discovery deal

If all milestones are hit, the heavily back-ended deal could eventually be worth almost $1 billion for startup Lodo Therapeutics.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 9, 2018

Takeda secures Shire takeover with $62B deal

Combined, the companies become a top 10 drugmaker by sales, vaulting over industry giants like AstraZeneca, AbbVie and Gilead.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated May 8, 2018

AstraZeneca sells off foreign rights to Seroquel

Chinese pharma Luye will buy the rights to the antipsychotic in 11 countries around the world.

By Lisa LaMotta • May 7, 2018

Sarepta inks muscular dystrophy deal with Myonexus

In exchange for paying $60 million upfront, Sarepta gains rights to five DMD gene therapies including three clinical-stage candidates. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 7, 2018

Prescribed Reading: Small deals mark tail end of Q1 earnings

First quarter earnings have largely wrapped up, with no major M&A announced. Several smaller deals, however, sparked investor interest. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 3, 2018

J&J snaps up oncolytic virus company BeneVir

The buyout strengthens the pharma's foothold in immuno-oncology research, potentially giving it a platform to target solid tumors.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 3, 2018

Flailing obesity drug company Vivus tries a new tack

Can a new deal, funding and CEO turn around Vivus as its efforts in the obesity market flounder?

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 3, 2018

Biogen rejiggers Alzheimer's drug deal

In a vote of confidence for aducanumab, Biogen has paid $50 million to reduce future royalty rates.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 2, 2018

Post split talk, Ironwood fights off Denner addition to board

Under pressure to boost profitability, the biotech plans to spin out several pipeline programs and other research into a new, publicly traded company. 

By Lisa LaMotta • Updated May 2, 2018

Q1 earnings preview: Novo, Celgene still to come

A final wave of biopharma earnings is on tap, with updates on pipeline misses and new drug hopes expected.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Lisa LaMotta , Jacob Bell , Randi Hernandez • May 1, 2018

Spark sells regulatory fast pass to Jazz for $110M

Priority review vouchers are still hard to come by, spurring some drugmakers to shell out hundreds of millions to get their hands on one.

By Jacob Bell • April 30, 2018

United Therapeutics nabs competing PAH drug with $216M SteadyMed buy

To curb competition, the specialty pharma is picking up Trevyent in anticipation of its approval some time over the next year.

By Lisa LaMotta • April 30, 2018

M&A volume slumped in Q1, but value spiked from Q4

Four big deals drove a 141% boost in total value from the fourth to first quarter.

By Suzanne Elvidge • April 27, 2018

Shire, Takeda get closer to hammering out a deal

For the first time, the Irish pharma is leaving the door open for a bid from Japan's Takeda.

By Lisa LaMotta • April 25, 2018