Merck gets FDA decision date for new pneumococcal vaccine

The company’s shot targets 21 strains of pneumococcal bacteria and, if approved, would compete with Pfizer’s Prevnar 20.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 19, 2023

Foundation behind Novo Nordisk to invest $260M in vaccine R&D

The newly established initiative, which consists of a research center and an accelerator, will focus on developing vaccines for tuberculosis, influenza and group A streptococcus.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 18, 2023

Explore the 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

Amgen finds a new top scientist in Novartis veteran Bradner

Jay Bradner, a well-known physician-scientist who left Novartis last year amid an organizational shakeup, will now serve a Amgen’s chief scientific officer and head of R&D.

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 15, 2023

Supreme Court to rule on abortion pill access

The court's decision on mifepristone, expected by June, could have far-reaching implications for the FDA as well as the biotechnology industry. 

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 13, 2023

Pfizer to deepen cost cuts as latest sales forecasts miss expectations

The company is now expecting to save $4 billion by the end of 2024, with a majority of the spending cuts coming from drug research and development.

By Jonathan Gardner • Dec. 13, 2023

AstraZeneca to acquire vaccine maker Icosavax for up to $1.1B

The deal signals the pharma company’s continuing interest in vaccine development and hands it a combination shot aimed at two respiratory viruses. 

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 12, 2023

Bristol Myers pays SystImmune $800M and adds to pharma’s ‘ADC’ deal spree

The lucrative alliance, potentially worth more than $8 billion, continues a run of dealmaking for a class of cancer drugs that’s surged in popularity in recent years. 

By Ben Fidler • Dec. 12, 2023

Life sciences leaders invest in process mining to accelerate digital transformation

Research from Everest Group shows how life sciences leaders are investing in process mining to speed time-to-market, improve regulatory compliance and drive innovation.

By Rachel Stolba • Dec. 11, 2023

Pfizer marks progress for successor sickle cell drug at ASH

While new gene therapies for the blood disease grabbed headlines at ASH, Pfizer presented fresh data for an oral drug meant to build on its marketed therapy Oxbryta.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Dec. 10, 2023

German Merck’s MS drug falls short in pair of Phase 3 tests

The results dim the outlook of BTK inhibitors as potential autoimmune disease treatments and could have ramifications for Roche, Sanofi and Novartis. 

By Kristin Jensen • Dec. 6, 2023

Novartis gets FDA approval of closely watched rare disease drug

The pharma is developing Fabhalta, now cleared for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, for several other rare, complement-driven diseases.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 6, 2023

Pfizer, after delay, completes enrollment in Lyme vaccine trial

The announcement ends a lengthy setback that began when the company and partner Valneva accused a clinical trial site operator of study misconduct.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 5, 2023

J&J pitches investors on sales growth from cancer, immune disease drugs

The company expects its pharmaceutical division to deliver 20 new medicines through the end of the decade, including several it believes could earn peak annual sales of more than $5 billion.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 5, 2023

Roche joins obesity drug chase with $2.7B deal for startup Carmot

The acquisition of Carmot, which had been planning an IPO, will hand Roche three weight loss medicines in early clinical testing.

By Ben Fidler • Dec. 4, 2023

Pfizer plans for oral obesity drug hit new setback

The company won’t continue development of a twice-daily dose of its experimental weight loss medicine danuglipron after study data showed high rates of side effects.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 1, 2023

Gilead to lay off staff at cell therapy unit Kite

The cuts will impact 7% of the cancer drug division’s employees, although about 90 new roles will be created around “areas of growth.”

By Delilah Alvarado • Nov. 29, 2023

Novartis sees brighter sales future as R&D revamp continues

The pharma has overhauled its pipeline this year, cutting R&D programs outside of its four main therapeutic areas.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 28, 2023

Pharma benefited from basing business overseas. An international tax effort could spur a rethink.

U.S. tax law changes six years ago slashed large pharma companies' rates and saved them billions. Now, a push for an international floor could disrupt their R&D accounting.

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 28, 2023

Novo to expand French plant in GLP-1 production push

The planned $2.3 billion investment follows an earlier $6 billion commitment to expand manufacturing for drugs like its in-demand medicine Wegovy.

By Delilah Alvarado • Nov. 27, 2023

Merck to buy private biotech Caraway in neuroscience deal

In a deal worth up to $610 million, Merck will gain a pipeline of neuroscience and rare disease programs from a startup it previously backed.

By Delilah Alvarado • Nov. 21, 2023

Bayer ends large blood thinner trial for ‘inferior efficacy’

Company shares fell after study monitors called for halting a planned 18,000-person trial because Bayer’s drug wasn’t working as well as Eliquis.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Nov. 20, 2023

Bristol Myers faces FDA delay on cancer cell therapy decision

The regulator plans to convene an advisory panel to discuss an expanded indication for Abecma, presenting another hurdle for Bristol Myers and partner 2seventy bio.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 20, 2023

AstraZeneca creates digital health unit, with big-name partnerships already in place

Called Evinova, the unit will operate as a separate business within AstraZeneca, which sees digital health solutions as a market primed for growth.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 20, 2023

Lilly plans new $2.5B manufacturing plant as obesity drug demand ramps up

Following the approval of Zepbound, Lilly is adding capacity to avert shortages and restricted access.

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 17, 2023

Paper details Astellas gene therapy study that led to patient deaths

The company, which is working with regulators to lift a clinical hold, said the treatment could still help people with X-linked myotubular myopathy.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 16, 2023