Mesoblast gets access to China through deal with Tasly

Through a $65 million deal, Mesoblast will expand into the Chinese market, while Tasly moves beyond its focus on traditional Chinese medicines.

By Suzanne Elvidge • July 18, 2018

J&J taps German Merck to market Invokana in China

Diabetes became a major health issue in China over last few decades. Though that offers a big market opportunity, commercializing products remains tricky.

By Suzanne Elvidge • July 13, 2018

WuXi adds to its dealmaking hot streak

A new manufacturing agreement with Immune Therapeutics tasks WuXi with supplying the biotech's lead antibody.

By Suzanne Elvidge • July 12, 2018

BioCryst nixes merger, sending Idera stock down

Both companies are trying to find a path forward after plans to join were dropped. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • July 12, 2018

Otsuka drops $430M to beef up antibody drug development

An acquisition deal for Visterra hands the Japanese pharma a slate of preclinical candidates and access to the target's Hierotope technology.

By Jacob Bell • July 11, 2018

Pfizer rejiggers business units

After moving around some puzzle pieces, the big pharma will have three distinct units operating independently. 

By Lisa LaMotta • July 11, 2018

Genevant inks development deal with BioNTech

The "Vant" focused on RNA therapeutics has agreed to co-develop mRNA drugs for rare diseases.

By Lisa LaMotta • July 10, 2018

Healthcare startups raise $15B through first half of 2018

Funding was spread over fewer companies than last year, however, according to a Pitchbook analysis for Forbes.

By Meg Bryant • July 10, 2018

Axovant parades new preclinical therapy, much to investor delight

A licensing deal with Benitec Biopharma provides Axovant a much-needed pipeline expansion, as well as underscores its interest in gene therapy.

By Jacob Bell • July 9, 2018

Novartis backs out of Aveo deal, but dispute continues

The Swiss pharma cited changes in management and strategy for the move, yet Aveo has some unfinished business. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • July 5, 2018

Catalent expands with $133M deal for Juniper

Acquiring the Boston-based company will hand Catalent a clinical development and manufacturing center in the U.K.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 3, 2018

Novartis set to threaten Mylan's EpiPen franchise

The Swiss pharma will provide commercial might for a competing epinephrine autoinjector. 

By Lisa LaMotta • July 2, 2018

Novartis to spin out Alcon into standalone device company

After months of weighing its options, the Swiss pharma is focusing in on therapeutics and shedding its ophthalmology device business. 

By Lisa LaMotta • June 29, 2018

Biogen pays $700M to up stake in Samsung Bioepis

But the investment might not be for the long term. Biogen has signaled it might seek to trade or otherwise exit the joint venture down the road. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 29, 2018

Valeant's Salix strikes deal to promote opioid withdrawal drug

The pact for the first non-opioid to support opioid withdrawal could speed Lucemyra to U.S. patients.

By Suzanne Elvidge • June 29, 2018

Akebia, Keryx to merge, creating $1B kidney disease company

The union may help the two better compete with bigger renal market rivals such as Amgen, Fibrogen and GlaxoSmithKline.

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 28, 2018

GE to spin off healthcare unit in latest restructuring

Moody's and investors applauded the move, which comes amid a reboot of the health division.

By Meg Bryant • June 27, 2018

Roche buys out Foundation Med in $2.4B bet on targeted cancer treatment

Over the past half year, Roche has spent $6 billion on investments aimed at building a lead in the industry's shift toward more personalized medicine.

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 19, 2018

AMAG divests Cord Blood Registry for $530M

The sell-off of the stem cell firm will tighten AMAG's focus on pharmaceuticals and help pay down debt.

By Suzanne Elvidge • June 18, 2018

Prescribed Reading: J&J sells off units; another Alzheimer's defeat

Big pharma extended its string of divestitures and portfolio streamlining this week. Meanwhile, manufacturers can't seem to beat Alzheimer's disease.

By Lisa LaMotta • June 15, 2018

Sage licenses out depression drug in Asia, adding to cash warchest

Inking a deal with Shionogi for rights to SAGE-217, the biotech will earn $90 million upfront just as it preps for a potential market launch of brexanolone. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 14, 2018

BridgeBio launches another biotech, focused on gene disorders

CoA Therapeutics, the second subsidiary BridgeBio has rolled out this month, aims to create drugs for diseases linked to coenzyme-A deficiencies.

By Suzanne Elvidge • June 14, 2018

BridgeBio launches new biotech to develop Alexion drug

The biotech parent company took a well-worn route in creating its latest subsidiary, back-stopping it with cash and building it around an acquired asset for an ultra-rare disease. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • June 12, 2018

Axovant stock rockets up on Oxford gene therapy deal

A new addition to its pipeline signals the biotech is still forging ahead despite a recent Alzheimer's trial blowup.

By Suzanne Elvidge • June 7, 2018

BIO18: Pfizer (sort of) inches back to neuro; Building ties with FDA

Day Three of the BIO International convention shined a light on the neuroscience space and its evolution.

By Lisa LaMotta • June 6, 2018