Novartis expands its immuno-oncology portfolio via M&A, partnerships

Novartis has acquired Admune Therapeutics and entered into two cancer immunotherapy-related licensing agreements.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 22, 2015

Actelion: We're interested in ZS Pharma, but not dependent on M&A

The company, flush with cash from its successful pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) drug, is looking at "seven or eight" potential targets for a buyout. 

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 21, 2015

US, Saudia Arabia may collaborate on MERS vaccine

The World Health Organization is spearheading an effort to prepare for the next Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak. 

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 21, 2015

Shire's case for a Baxalta takeover dims as FDA spurns lead eye drug

Lifitegrast, which is intended to treat chronic dry eye disease, has long been considered one of the strongest candidates in Shire's pipeline. The company says it will refile the therapy in Q1 2016.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 19, 2015

Bristol-Myers, Five Prime forge $1.75B immuno-oncology development deal

The deal hinges on use of Five Prime's antibody-based compounds.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 15, 2015

Lilly to collaborate with ImaginAB on T-cell therapies for cancer

IAB22M2C is a PET-based imaging agent that flags cytotoxic T-cells in a patient's body. 

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 14, 2015

Big pharmas to meet police chief who published CEOs' numbers over opioid crisis

As co-founder of the Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (PAARI), Leonard Campanello, the police chief in Gloucester, MA, has pushed pharma companies to help address the opioid epidemic. 

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 13, 2015

Novartis pours another $15M into Israeli stem cell company

The pharma giant now owns 17.5% of Gamida Cell.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 12, 2015

TPP trade deal reached, BIO & PhRMA unhappy with drug patent compromise

The landmark trade liberalization deal, which involves 12 countries and covers 40% of the world economy, still has to be ratified by Congress and approved by lawmakers in the other countries. But biopharma did not win the 12-year biologics exclusivity it wanted.

By Nicole Gray , Sy Mukherjee • Oct. 5, 2015

Private artificial intelligence firm to help data mine for UK genomics project

Boston-based, privately held Berg uses artificial intelligence (AI) to discover new drugs and devices.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 1, 2015

10 top trends driving the biopharma industry today

From pricing controversies to the continued deluge of M&As, to put-up-or-shut-up moments for hotly anticipated drug candidates, here are 10 of the most important industry trends that biopharma professionals need to understand.

By Sy Mukherjee • Oct. 1, 2015

Nestlé partners with AC Immune to expand into Alzheimer's diagnostics

The diagnostic-in-development is based on an antibody technology developed by Prometheus, which was acquired by Nestlé in 2011.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 24, 2015

A 'reverse Turing?' Nonprofit reacquires TB drug, rolls back massive price hike

The cost of a 30-day supply of the drug initially increased from $500 to $10,800.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 23, 2015

AZ using crowdsourcing to find effective cancer drug combos

The pharma giant is releasing preclinical data on more than 50 of its cancer drugs, including 10,000 tested combinations.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 23, 2015

AstraZeneca forges partnership with BARDA to develop powerful antibiotics

The goal of the public-private partnership is to develop multiple drugs to combat bioterrorism threats and multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 17, 2015

Perrigo gets personal, urges shareholders to reject Mylan hostile bid & keep shares

The company gave its shareholders a laundry list of reasons not to tender their shares and took some sharp swipes at Mylan. Will they listen?  

By Sy Mukherjee • Sept. 17, 2015

Amgen snaps up Dutch biotech Dezima for $1.55 billion

Dezima Pharma, which is located in the Netherlands, develops treatments for dyslipidemia. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 16, 2015

Shire may be upping the ante in pursuit of Baxalta—with faster cash

Baxalta has continually rejected Shire's all-stock offers.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 15, 2015

Acacia planning $232 million IPO in London market

The company is raising money to fund the development of four medications, which are intended to treat post-surgical and post-chemotherapy nausea.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 15, 2015

UPDATE: Mylan officially takes $27B hostile bid to Perrigo shareholders

Perrigo shareholders will need to make a decision by November 13, when the offer expires. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 15, 2015

Another biotech M&A? Actelion, ZS Pharma in 'strategic transaction' talks

ZS Pharma's stock closed up 28.4% on Thursday on news of a potential acquisition by Actelion. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 11, 2015

Gilead raises $10 billion, stoking fresh rumors of a monster acquisition

The company certainly isn't doing anything to downplay rumors of a big move this year. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 11, 2015

Russia's Putin reiterates commitment to 90% domestic drug-making by 2020

Pharma 2020 was launched in 2011 by Vladimir Putin in order to intensify domestic investment in the national pharmaceutical industry. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 10, 2015

Africa's largest generic drug maker is on the hunt for acquisitions

Aspen Pharmacare's sales have ballooned 22% in the first half of 2015.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 10, 2015

Biogen strikes $544M deal with Mitsubishi Tanabe for late-stage autoimmune drug

MT-1303 is an oral SIP modulator being developed for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). And the deal will pit Biogen against another biotech titan: Celgene.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 10, 2015