Pharma

  • A photo of Takeda president of R&D Andy Plump.
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    Andy Plump, architect of Takeda’s R&D overhaul, to retire next year

    Plump joined Takeda during a turbulent period, pushed the company to work more closely with young biotechs and will leave it with what CEO Julie Kim called a “lasting foundation.”

    By Kristin Jensen • Sept. 10, 2026
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    Novartis RNA drug falls short in rare muscle disease study

    The failure of “del-desiran,” which Novartis got through a $12 billion acquisition, could raise questions about the company’s business development acumen, according to one analyst.

    By • Sept. 8, 2026
  • An illustration of beta amyloid plaques and tau in the brain Explore the Trendline➔
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    National Institute on Aging. (2017). "Beta-Amyloid Plaques and Tau in the Brain" [Image]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Trendline

    Alzheimer's disease

    Many companies hope to follow in the footsteps of Biogen, Eisai and Eli Lilly by developing new therapies for the debilitating disease, which affects tens of millions of people and costs healthcare systems hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

    By BioPharma Dive staff
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    Alamy
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    Trailing rivals, AbbVie scores win with dual-acting myeloma drug

    The drugmaker is leaning on a better side effect profile compared to drugs from J&J, Pfizer and Regeneron as it pushes etentamig toward FDA submission.

    By • Sept. 4, 2026
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    This week in charts: China deals, stock flatlines and Lilly’s M&A spree

    Deals with Chinese drugmakers are continuing at a steady pace, while two mid-cap biotechs' stock prices took a tumble this week. Meanwhile, Lilly has outpaced other pharmas in dealmaking this year.

    By • Sept. 4, 2026
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    China competition

    GSK wagers up to $1.3B on a different kind of cancer drug

    With its latest foray into China, GSK acquired rights from Hutchmed to an “antibody-targeted therapy conjugate” impacting two well-known cancer drivers, EGFR and KRAS.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • An illustration of two immune checkpoint proteins binding
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    Akeso, Summit cancer drug confirms lung cancer survival benefit

    A new data cut of a trial pitting ivonescimab, a bispecific antibody, against Merck’s Keytruda showed the new drug helped people live longer.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
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    Trump administration

    Mid-cap biotechs join Trump’s latest round of drug pricing deals

    Focused on Medicaid, the new pacts now involve more than just large pharmaceutical companies, but still aren’t expected to meaningfully impact drugmaker profits.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
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    AstraZeneca, Ionis data spark debate about RNA drugs’ impact on deadly heart disease

    Results published in NEJM raised questions about the benefits “silencer” medications provide on top of standard therapies for TTR cardiomyopathy and amplified investor pressure on Alnylam.

    By • Aug. 28, 2026
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    This week in charts: Biotech’s rebound is undeniable

    Not only is the XBI continuing to hover around a historic high, but drug companies can’t seem to get enough of both large IPOs and big-ticket M&A.

    By • Aug. 28, 2026
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    Alamy
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    New data could widen use of AstraZeneca, Amgen immune disease drug

    Tezspire succeeded in a study in eosinophilic esophagitis, which could become the drug’s third approved indication and unlock what’s viewed as a blockbuster opportunity.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026
  • An illustration of beta amyloid plaques and tau in the brain
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    National Institute on Aging. (2017). "Beta-Amyloid Plaques and Tau in the Brain" [Image]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Roche, Eli Lilly get FDA nod for new Alzheimer’s blood test

    Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics both plan to offer the test, which secured CE mark certification earlier this year.

    By Susan Kelly • Aug. 25, 2026
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    Obesity drugs

    Roche commits to lean-mass preservation with Hanmi obesity deal

    For $190 million up front and as much as $2.3 billion overall, the Swiss drugmaker is building its portfolio with a shot that aims to spur weight loss but spare muscle tissue.

    By • Aug. 24, 2026
  • Promotional graphic for Season 2 of The Progress Profile: Alzheimer’s Research in Focus, featuring the Pearson and BioPharma Dive logos on a dark blue background with abstract glowing blue wave patterns on the right.
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    William Walker/BioPharma Dive
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    Sponsored by Pearson

    [Podcast] (Season 2) The Progress Profile: Alzheimer’s Research in Focus

    This podcast explores how leading Alzheimer’s experts are working to bridge the gap between clinical trial design and frontline care.

    By BioPharma Dive's studioID • Aug. 24, 2026
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    hirun via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by PharmaForceIQ

    Pharma marketers need a share-of-answer strategy before AI spend

    AI is changing how HCPs seek answers. Pharma marketers need a new strategy.

    Aug. 24, 2026
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    News roundup

    Shareholder pressures Capricor; Lilly dives deeper into vaccines

    Kaos Capital wants a “governance reset” to alter the Duchenne cell therapy maker’s strategic course. Elsewhere, Bristol Myers furthered efforts to build an “AI-powered” discovery engine.

    By BioPharma Dive staff • Aug. 21, 2026
  • Illustration of GLP-1 weight loss drugs with an injection pen, vial, syringe and cost and weight-management icons.
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    Obesity drugs

    How cost and perception could reshape the GLP-1 market

    As Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk race for share, surveys show affordability and prescribing preferences may help decide the winners.

    By Kelly Bilodeau • Aug. 21, 2026
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    News roundup

    AstraZeneca scores in lung cancer; Sandoz inks a China deal

    A combination of AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso and Hutchmed’s Orpathys extended survival for some lung cancer patients. Elsewhere, MapLight floated the idea of partnering on its autism drug.

    By BioPharma Dive staff • Aug. 18, 2026
  • A sign reads "AstraZeneca" with the company logo on an all-glass-grided building facade.
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    Alamy
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    AstraZeneca scraps Phase 3 trial of new bispecific in lung cancer

    An interim data check revealed that survival goals were likely to be missed by volrustomig, one in a list of new drugs the U.K. company is leaning on to meet an $80 billion sales goal.

    By • Aug. 17, 2026
  • A white building entrance sign reads "Bristol Myers Squibb," with a barbed fence behind it surrounded by flowers.
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    Alamy
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    Bristol Myers wins ‘milestone’ FDA approval of myeloma drug acquired from Celgene

    The clearance of Zenbexus is the first for a group of protein-degrading “CELMoD” medicines that could help Bristol Myers rejuvenate a key drug franchise.

    By • Aug. 14, 2026
  • A photo depicting a vial of Eli Lilly's obesity drug retatrutide and a syringe.
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    Obesity drugs

    Lilly files six lawsuits in bid to shut down ‘black market’ for retatrutide

    Ahead of an approval filing, the drugmaker is amping up a fight against sellers who claim to offer versions of its highly anticipated “triple-G” weight loss medicine.

    By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 12, 2026
  • Europe's JUPITER supercomputer. Big pharma companies are racing to use AI and supercomputing in drug R&D
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    Why Big Pharma is chasing the industry’s most-powerful supercomputer

    Bristol Myers Squibb is the latest major drugmaker to tap Nvidia for more computing power, betting that larger models and AI agents can speed drug discovery.

    By Alexandra Pecci • Aug. 7, 2026
  • A sign for the Food And Drug Administration is seen outside of the headquarters on July 20, 2020 in White Oak, Maryland.
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    Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
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    Takeda approval ushers in new wave of sleep drugs

    An FDA nod mostly clears the way for Orzeyful to enter, by Wall Street estimates, a multibillion-dollar market for drugs that boost “orexin” proteins.

    By • Aug. 6, 2026
  • Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1, 7-36) molecule The glucagon like peptide-1 receptor has a strong effect on the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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    Obesity drugs

    Lilly climbs, Novo falls as obesity drug battle intensifies

    A research disappointment and a miss on Wegovy pill sales hurt Novo, while Lilly’s injectable franchise once again surpassed analyst expectations.

    By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 5, 2026
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Earnings roundup: Gilead’s ‘uncertain’ future, Pfizer’s crossroads and Merck’s PCSK9 launch

    Some analysts see warning signs in crucial drug launches from Gilead and Merck, while an important trial readout could change Pfizer’s growth trajectory.

    By , • Aug. 5, 2026
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    Pfizer expands multibillion-dollar cost-cutting plan

    Hatched three years ago, the restructuring is now expected to deliver $1 billion in new cost reductions and save Pfizer another $1.5 billion by streamlining drug production.

    By • Aug. 4, 2026