Bristol-Myers spinning off its entire HIV pipeline to Glaxo for $1.5 billion

The deal is technically two separate agreements: one for Bristol-Myers' late stage HIV assets, and a second for a number of preclinical HIV drugs. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 18, 2015

Shire-Baxalta takeover drama barreling towards its final act

Baxalta rejected Shire's initial $30.6 billion offer six months ago, and has spurned further attempts twice since then. But the end may be in sight.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 18, 2015

University of California invests $250 million in biotech venture fund

The fund will be run by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Vivek Ranadivé. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 18, 2015

Gilead snags 15% stake in Galapagos 3 months after AbbVie backs out

Under the deal, the firms will work together to develop and commercialize filogotinib for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 18, 2015

With eye on the future, AstraZeneca to beef up manufacturing, R&D presence in China

Investing directly in manufacturing and R&D capabilities in the country is seen as critical for future drug approvals in the market. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 17, 2015

Amgen to snatch 3 drugs back from Glaxo in key int'l markets

The company will reacquire the sales rights to the drugs in 48 countries.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 16, 2015

Boehringer, Sanofi prepping complex asset swap of consumer, animal health units

The $20 billion deal is expected to close in Q4 2016. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 15, 2015

Akebia strikes $350 million deal with Mitsubishi Tanabe for next-gen anemia pill

Vadadustat is in phase 3 trials for treatment of non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD). 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 15, 2015

FTC wants even more info from Walgreens & Rite Aid on proposed merger

In October, Walgreens agreed to buy Rite Aid for $9.4 billion. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 14, 2015

UPDATE: AstraZeneca buys 55% stake in Acerta for $4 billion

The real target is Acerta Pharma's blood cancer drug acalabrutinib, which AZ believes could earn over $5 billion a year. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 14, 2015

It's official: FDA shoots past 2014's new drugs record with Roche lung cancer med nod

The approval for Alecensa (alectinib), an expected blockbuster, makes 2015 a second consecutive banner year for new therapies.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 14, 2015

A lead researcher and a Boehringer SVP on the drumbeat of innovation in oral anticoagulants

We spoke with the two experts to better understand how innovation can thrive even when things seem to be headed south. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 11, 2015

Hillary Clinton to unveil 'exit tax' plan to combat inversion mergers like Pfizer/Allergan

Clinton referred to inversion deals as a way of 'gaming the tax system.'

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 8, 2015

Medtronic's inversion deal has already saved it more than $9 billion

Since the company completed acquisition of Covidien and moved headquarters to Dublin, it's freed up $9.3 billion. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 4, 2015

Inside the bold new fight for an HIV cure: An exclusive interview with amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost

Seven years ago, Frost faced calls for his resignation over his suggestion that an HIV cure was an attainable goal. This week, his group announced the establishment of a research institute which he compares to NASA and the Manhattan Project that is 100% focused on this precise mission.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 4, 2015

Can Rich Heyman score a buyout hat-trick with prostate cancer drug startup ORIC?

Heyman was a co-founder of Aragon Pharmaceuticals and Seragon Pharmaceuticals, both which were sold profitably. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 3, 2015

Adaptimmune heats up the immuno-oncology race & stares down Cellectis with Universal Cells deal

The deal, which focuses on the development of off-the-shelf T-cell immunotherapies, could be worth up to $41 million. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 2, 2015

Influential GOP lawmaker calls for tax overhaul in wake of Pfizer-Allergan inversion deal

Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) said the U.S. tax code and high corporate tax rates have driven the recent inversion frenzy. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 2, 2015

As Theranos deal fizzles, Safeway brings in Sonora Quest Labs for diagnostic tests

Last week, Sonora Quest announced an agreement to open patient service centers in select Safeway stores in Arizona. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 2, 2015

Express Scripts banishes Turing from formulary, turns to compounder for generic Daraprim

The largest pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) in the U.S. is partnering with Imprimis for a $1-per-pill Daraprim (pyrimethamine) option. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 2, 2015

Roche severs 'superbug' antibiotic R&D pact with Polyphor

But the company insists that it isn't backing out of antibiotic development efforts in an era of rising drug resistance.

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 30, 2015

Allergan beefs up its CNS portfolio ahead of Pfizer merger

New acquisitions include early-stage treatments for autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). 

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 30, 2015

After Pfizer-Allergan, few large inversion deal options for cash-rich companies

Smaller companies may find it easier to invert than large companies.

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 24, 2015

The 'Pfallergan' fallout: Reactions to—and questions for—the biggest healthcare deal of all time

Lawmakers, presidential contenders, and regulators are already preparing to step up the pressure on Pfizer and Allergan, while investors and industry observers still have plenty of questions about how the combined entity will ultimately be structured.

By Sy Mukherjee • Nov. 24, 2015

How biopharma companies can thrive in the era of megamergers and shrinking budgets

We spoke with James Crowley at Accenture Life Sciences about what it takes to not only survive, but to shine, in a hyper-competitive market.

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 24, 2015