Merck snags access to alternative Alzheimer's approach

As interest in the beta amyloid theory lags after a number of failures, Merck & Co. is betting cash on anti-tau.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 26, 2017

ImmunoGen sells off ADC to Debiopharm

Debiopharm moves into antibody-drug conjugates as it buys ImmunoGen’s IMGN529 in a $55 million deal.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 24, 2017

Bioverativ buys True North, and may forge ahead with more rare disease M&A

The Biogen spinoff is paying $400 million upfront for the target, which has a drug in early-stage testing for multiple uncommon conditions.

By Jacob Bell • May 23, 2017

AstraZeneca offloads more non-core assets

The British drugmaker has worked to trim its portfolio, selling off older drugs to help offset revenue declines from key products.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 23, 2017

Takeda inks sweet I/O deal with Nektar

The collaboration is reflective of the Japanese drugmaker's renewed focus on oncology, which has resulted in a flurry of small deals along with a takeover of Ariad.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 23, 2017

Prescribed Reading: ASCO dominates, Icahn BMS interest just a rumor

The abstracts have arrived! Carl Icahn's first quarter holdings are released and J&J gets a black box warning. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 19, 2017

Lilly, United extend Adcirca licensing pact

The revamped agreement will keep revenue from the pulmonary hypertension drug flowing to United Therapeutics at least through 2020.

By Jacob Bell • May 19, 2017

Thermo Fisher to buy Patheon in $7.2B deal, accelerating CDMO consolidation

The merger comes only a week after InVentiv and INC Research agreed to combine, and follows other large M&A in the contract services space. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 18, 2017

Otsuka buys Japanese license to Teva's migraine drug

Otsuka is dropping $50 million in a lump sum payment for access to fremanezumab, which is in Phase 3 testing for various headache conditions.

By Jacob Bell • May 17, 2017

Synlogic goes public through merger with failed Mirna

The private, pre-clinical drugmaker is slated to own about 83% of the new, public company, which will trade on the NASDAQ.

By Jacob Bell • May 16, 2017

Biogen buys stroke drug Cirara, further diversifying neuro pipeline

The big biotech is paying $120 million upfront for Remedy Pharmaceuticals' late-stage candidate, which aims to treat large hemispheric infarctions.

By Jacob Bell • May 15, 2017

Can value-based deals work if patients don't take the drug?

Drugmakers and payers are experimenting with how to align a drug's price with its value. Ensuring patient adherence is the first step to making sure the innovative deals get off the ground.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 15, 2017

Horizon dives into eye treatments with River Visions acquisition

The deal expands the company's pipeline for rare illnesses with teprotumumab, an investigational treatment for thyroid eye disease.

By Jacob Bell • May 12, 2017

Prescribed Reading: Checkpoint inhibitors change cancer

Approvals and failures of checkpoint inhibitors have dramatically changed the cancer landscape, and could even have an impact on how the FDA approaches approvals. Elsewhere, Pfizer's getting into genes and Advair avoids competition.

By Lisa LaMotta • May 12, 2017

Adamas swaps royalties for cash at a high price

The company has snagged up to $100 million in cash in return for future royalties on ADS-5102 and Namzaric.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 12, 2017

InVentiv Health, INC Research merger creates top 3 CRO

The newly formed company carries a $7.4 billion valuation, and will employ more than 22,000 people worldwide.

By Jacob Bell • May 11, 2017

Pfizer taps Sangamo for hemophilia gene therapy

The deal validates Sangamo's gene therapy technology and provides Pfizer with another gene therapy in the hemophilia space. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 11, 2017

New partnership will advance novel platform for I/O

Takeda and GammaDelta Therapeutics will collaborate to develop a T-cell platform for use in cancer and auto-inflammatory disease treatments.    

By Barbara Boughton • May 10, 2017

Allergan defends threatened franchises, but says 'no large M&A'

The company is banking on a handful of mid- and late-stage candidates, as well as continued M&A, to be a safeguard against threats to legacy products.

By Jacob Bell • May 9, 2017

Novartis pushes further into pain with Durect deal

The massive medicines maker continued to flesh out its pain drug pipeline on Monday, inking a new agreement that could be worth around $300 million.

By Jacob Bell • May 8, 2017

Prescribed Reading: Deals to come, but when?

Pfizer and Gilead could be in a deal-making mood, while the FDA continues to approved drugs at a rapid clip and clinical failures keep coming. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 5, 2017

Novartis picks up option for Conatus NASH drug

Just five months after inking the original deal, Novartis has signed on the dotted line to move forward with Conatus' emricasan.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 5, 2017

Gilead finally ready to make a deal?

The big biotech may finally be able to make some deals that could help its declining hepatitis C sales.

By Lisa LaMotta • May 3, 2017

Pieris teams up with AstraZeneca on respiratory drug development

The collaboration with the British pharma is Pieris' second alliance signed this year, part of a push to accelerate development of the biotech's platform technology.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 3, 2017

Pfizer hints a Bristol deal is on the table

Focus was squarely on the big pharma's business development strategy, despite somewhat disappointing earnings in the first quarter.

By Lisa LaMotta • May 2, 2017