Boehringer/AbbVie reportedly in cancer-collaboration talks

Separately, Boehringer Ingelheim received a positive opinion from the EMA for an expanded label of its lung cancer med Giotrif. 

By Nicole Gray • March 1, 2016

Report: Pfizer attempting to dodge $35 billion in taxes through merger with Allergan

The group Americans for Tax Fairness published a report criticizing the company for raising prescription drug prices while attempting to lower its tax bill to the US. 

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 29, 2016

AZ's deal for Acerta already showing promise as cancer drug wins orphan nod

AstraZeneca paid $4 billion for 55% of the private Acerta Pharma in mid-December 2015, believing in the promise of Acerta's lead cancer candidate. 

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 25, 2016

Startup lines up $75M to pursue promising immuno-oncology research

The work of Stanford scientists led a group of venture capitalists, including a firm associated with Google, to line up money to launch the startup.

By Randy Lilleston • Feb. 25, 2016

IBM buys Truven for $2.6 billion, continues to build its big data focus in healthcare

With this acquisition, IBM continues the aggressive build out of its Watson Health unit. It has invested more than $4 billion in health data-related ends since April 2015. 

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 24, 2016

Alzheimer's startup Chase plots $70M in 2016 funding

Headed by former Allergan president Douglas Ingram, the company is currently in Phase 2 trials for its Alzheimer's drug and expects to begin Phase 3 by the end of this year. 

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 23, 2016

UPDATE: Teva to hawk $1 billion in assets to clear massive Allergan generics deal

Regulators in the E.U. and the U.S. have been examining Teva's $40.5 billion acquisition of Allergan's generics portfolio for antitrust concerns. And the former firm has now agreed to concessions to allay those fears.

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 19, 2016

Celgene hitches wagon to Bluebird, doles out $10M as biotech launches 1st CAR-T trial

Celgene has decided to opt in as Bluebird Bio moves its CAR-T therapy into human multiple myeloma studies.

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 19, 2016

After multi-year M&A binge, Shire hits pause button on acquisitions

The drugmaker will focus on integrating recent acquisitions and paying down debt, says CEO Flemming Ornskov.

By Randy Lilleston • Feb. 12, 2016

Biopharma giants Biogen & Sanofi buy into round A for Tony Coles' Yumanity

The former Onyx CEO is raising $45 million in Round A funding for his neurodegeneration-focused venture. 

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 11, 2016

J&J, Viacyte team up on a potential stem cell therapy 'cure' for type 1 diabetes

A small group of patients is already being tested by Viacyte, with positive results to date. 

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 10, 2016

BIO CEO 2016: Purdue pursues deals, boosting the NIH, Schumer slams Shkreli, & more

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made a surprise appearance at the event, arguing for greater NIH funding while supporting the industry's role in job creation. And other panels tackled issues ranging from "patent trolls" to declining markets.

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 9, 2016

OncoGenex slashes workforce after phase 3 cancer med setbacks

The biotech will cut 27% of its payroll while it waits for data from two phase 3 trials. 

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 7, 2016

A bankrupt KaloBios may still buy Chagas drug that Shkreli wanted to acquire-and-hike

Under the brief leadership of Martin Shkreli, KaloBios had sought to purchase the rights to the drug at the end of last year. Discussions appear to continue despite the turmoil caused by Shkreli's arrest and KaloBios' subsequent bankruptcy.

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 5, 2016

Glaxo, Adaptimmune ratchet up cancer collab in $500 million deal

The companies' expanded partnership aims to accelerate the development of Adaptimmune's lead T-cell therapy NY-ESO. 

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 4, 2016

Express Scripts ditches Valeant diabetes med as part of 2016 formulary shakeup

The benefits manager is excluding roughly 80 drugs, including Glumetza, from its list of covered medicines for 2016.

By Nicole Gray • Feb. 1, 2016

Catalent still in strategic acquisition mode after a slew of big deals

The CDMO giant will look toward acquiring delivery technologies and specialized logistics in 2016, according to its marketing and strategy VP.  

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 28, 2016

Editas Medicine prepping for IPO even as biotech market struggles

The Cambridge, MA-based biotech hopes to raise up to $122 million through an IPO. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 28, 2016

Specialty injectables maker Sagent considering buyout with Cipla, Dr. Reddy's, others

The U.S.-based injectables maker is reportedly being pursued by several major Indian drugmakers.

By Sy Mukherjee • Jan. 28, 2016

Oxford Pharmascience hunting for a big pharma partner for painkiller marketing

The firm has created reformulated versions of Ibuprofen and Naproxen.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 26, 2016

Reviewing Gilead's formidable 2015: A year marked by higher sales and new criticism

The biotech giant's sales continued to chug along in the midst of an industry-wide controversy over high drug prices. We examined the company's performance last year—and what it tells us about what to expect in 2016.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 22, 2016

Glaxo, Qualcomm reportedly mulling med tech joint venture

The partnership between the two companies could be worth up to $1 billion for the development of medical technology, according to reports from Bloomberg and FT.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 21, 2016

Express Scripts shares rocked by antitrust suit, Anthem breakup threat

The PBM giant has been on a downward slide since Anthem's CEO's statements at the JPMorgan Healthcare conference last week. And now, it's being sued by six compounding pharmacies.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 20, 2016

Biotech Acorda buys Finnish firm Biotie & its Parkinson's candidates for $363M

The acquisition gives Acorda Therapeutics access to two drugs for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, one of which is in a Phase 3 trial. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 19, 2016

Analysts skeptical about Shire's Baxalta 'growth play' strategy

There are concerns the $500 million in cost-savings projected by Shire from its Baxalta buyout is too low. But CEO Flemming Ornskov says his company can beat the odds with strong portfolios.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 14, 2016