Pharma
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Generic drugmakers gain key victory in ‘skinny label’ patent case
The Supreme Court ruled that a knockoff version of Amarin’s Vascepa didn’t infringe on patents — a decision with far-reaching implications for the availability of generics.
By Jonathan Gardner • June 5, 2026 -
Pharma is betting big on PD-1/VEGF bispecifics. But are companies chasing the wrong target?
While many drugmakers are focused on lung cancer, evidence shows the liver may be a better bet.
By Kelly Bilodeau • June 5, 2026 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Brian Tucker / BioPharma Dive/BioPharma Dive
TrendlineTop 5 stories from BioPharma Dive
Looming patent expiries this decade and intensifying competition from China are forcing drugmakers to adapt, while new opportunities open up in oncology and in neuroscience.
By BioPharma Dive staff -
News roundup
Otsuka showcases kidney drug data; Pfizer cuts an AI deal
Voyxact helped preserve kidney function, but left an opening for competing IgAN drugs from Vera and Vertex. Elsewhere, Takeda’s alliance with Innovent paid early dividends and Axsome warded off generic competitors.
By BioPharma Dive staff • June 4, 2026 -
Eli Lilly issues data sharing ultimatum to 340B hospitals
Select hospitals have refused to share data to prove they’re not double-dipping drug discounts, Lilly said. Hospitals, which have until Monday to comply, are urging the government to intervene.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 2, 2026 -
At ASCO, Merck makes case for a ‘cornerstone’ cancer drug
Study results accrued so far are giving Merck greater conviction that the therapy, licensed from a China-based biotech, was worth placing into a sprawling Phase 3 program.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 29, 2026 -
Bristol Myers unveils data for one of its next-gen blood cancer drugs
Called mezigdomide, the drug is one of two protein-degrading medicines Bristol Myers hopes to soon position as successors to its lucrative Revlimid franchise.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 29, 2026 -
China competition
Pfizer, Innovent strike $10B cancer drug deal
Involving up to 12 antibody drugs, the alliance is the latest broad partnership between Chinese biotech and a multinational pharmaceutical company.
By Ben Fidler • May 29, 2026 -
GSK, Ionis unveil data for hepatitis B drug touted as ‘functional cure’
The findings supporting bepirovirsen were deemed a “historic moment” by physicians and validate a drug that has “clear blockbuster potential,” according to one analyst.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 28, 2026 -
Obesity drugs
CVS obesity drug deal puts Lilly on equal footing with Novo
The agreement includes Lilly’s new pill Foundayo and restores coverage for Zepbound, erasing what had been a commercial edge for rival Novo Nordisk.
By Kristin Jensen • May 28, 2026 -
"Eli Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA" by Momoneymoproblemz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Gene editingEarly data for heart drug affirm Lilly’s billion-dollar bet on Verve
The base editing medicine lowered “bad” cholesterol levels along with a key protein, clearing the way for a Phase 2 study.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 26, 2026 -
Vaccines
Lilly dives into vaccine research with 3 biotech buyouts
Worth close to $4 billion combined, the acquisitions of Curevo, LimmaTech and Vaccine Co. signal plans by Lilly to build an infectious disease portfolio.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 26, 2026 -
Obesity drugs
Lilly’s triple-acting obesity drug hits goal in Phase 3 trial
Participants who stayed on the drug lost around one-quarter of their body weight, potentially setting a new benchmark for rivals like Novo Nordisk.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 21, 2026 -
Q&A // Brain drug revival
In Alzheimer’s, Bristol Myers sees big promise beyond amyloid
Bristol Myers' neuroscience heads are trying to make a name in brain drugs for a company best known for its cancer and cell therapy work.
By Jacob Bell • May 21, 2026 -
Bristol Myers deepens AI investment with Anthropic deal
The collaboration marks an “evolution” in the pharmaceutical giant’s use of AI and adds to a series of broad deals its peers have used to adopt the technology across many day-to-day activities.
By Kristin Jensen • May 20, 2026 -
News roundup
Immunovant’s potential autoimmune ‘blockbuster’; Wave’s RNA editing update
Immunovant shares climbed on results an analyst deemed “compelling” in tough-to-treat arthritis. Elsewhere, Wave’s pioneering rare disease program advanced and Takeda lost an antitrust suit.
By BioPharma Dive staff • May 20, 2026 -
FDA approves AstraZeneca’s new kind of hypertension drug
Baxfendy inhibits a blood-pressure-raising enzyme and, according to AstraZeneca executives, is poised to be a “big product” that should ultimately generate $5 billion or more in annual sales.
By Jacob Bell • May 18, 2026 -
China competition
Merck ADC, licensed from China, hits mark in first big global trial
The endometrial cancer trial is the first of 17 late-stage studies Merck is running for a therapy that’s important to its ambitions of hitting $70 billion in annual sales next decade.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 18, 2026 -
Trump administration
Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill by mail
The ruling maintains access to the drug while litigation continues. Mifepristone can still be prescribed at pharmacies or by mail without requiring in-person visits.
By Sydney Halleman • May 15, 2026 -
India’s pharma industry is going global. But can it catch up to China?
A record Sun Pharma acquisition signals global ambitions. But infrastructure, capital and policy gaps could stand in the way of India becoming an R&D powerhouse.
By Kelly Bilodeau • May 15, 2026 -
Sponsored by McKesson
[Podcast] Closing the Distance in Cancer Care
This podcast episode explores the critical role community oncology plays in the U.S. healthcare system and why supporting its growth and autonomy matters for patients and providers.
May 13, 2026 -
Arvinas, Pfizer find new partner for ‘Protac’ breast cancer drug
A deal with Rigel Pharmaceuticals ends months of uncertainty about the future of Veppanu, a first-of-its-kind, newly approved medicine with a murky financial outlook.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 12, 2026 -
China competition
Bristol Myers, Hengrui join forces in drugmaking alliance worth up to $15.2 billion
The wide-ranging pact involves as many as 13 drugs and marks the latest example of the growing relationship between Chinese pharmaceutical firms and their U.S. and Europe-based counterparts.
By Ben Fidler • May 12, 2026 -
China competition
GSK cuts deal with Sino to broaden reach of hepatitis B drug
The marketing deal is the latest in a series of recent pacts between GSK and China-based drug companies, and could speed access to a therapy called bepirovirsen that’s important to its future.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 11, 2026 -
Biotech layoffs are easing, but is the worst over?
BioNTech is one of the most recent companies to announce cuts, but the pace of job losses is slowing.
By Kelly Bilodeau • May 11, 2026 -
Sponsored by Middlesex County
The capacity crunch in biopharma is a location problem
Cell and gene therapies aren’t limited by ideas—they’re limited by where they’re built. See how “ready-now” locations change the math on scaling.
May 11, 2026