Roche pill notches win in early breast cancer

Roche claimed the results make its drug giredestrant the first of its kind, a so-called oral SERD, to show a benefit in the “adjuvant” setting after surgery. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 18, 2025

Merck’s blockbuster-to-be cardiovascular drug scores in another heart study

Winrevair, which Merck has identified as a “growth driver,” significantly improved blood flow through the lungs to the heart in a study of adults with a common form of heart failure.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 18, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 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

J&J adds to pharma’s M&A spree with $3B buyout of startup Halda

The deal gives J&J access to a pipeline of drugs designed to “hold and kill” tumors, led by a prostate cancer medicine that’s shown promise in early-stage testing. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 17, 2025

Bristol Myers, J&J’s new blood thinner fails first big test

Milvexian’s failure in acute coronary syndrome dampens the outlook for other anticoagulants like it and is the latest in a series of clinical setbacks this year for Bristol Myers.

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 14, 2025

Merck stakes $9.2B on Cidara and its long-acting flu drug

The deal, one of two multibillion-dollar buyouts from Merck this year, centers around a drug that could become an alternative to vaccines for flu prevention.

By Ben Fidler • Nov. 14, 2025

Novartis, with study success, to seek approval of new kind of malaria drug

The treatment — which could be the first novel antimalarial in decades — showed the ability in testing to combat drug resistance and slow disease transmission.

By Delilah Alvarado • Nov. 12, 2025

Merck showcases data suggesting PCSK9 pill might rival cholesterol-lowering shots

Merck’s pill, which could be the first oral PCSK9 drug to get to market, displayed similar effects on lipid levels as injectable medicines from Amgen and Regeneron.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Nov. 10, 2025

Pharma’s clinical trial diversity push faces a new threat

Skyrocketing healthcare costs could deliver another blow to the industry’s ongoing quest to boost representation in R&D.

By Meagan Parrish • Nov. 7, 2025

Novo, Lilly cut deal with Trump to lower prices of obesity drugs

The agreement will make Wegovy and Zepbound available to some Medicare enrollees for $245 per month, and starter doses of pill versions, once approved, for $149 monthly.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Nov. 7, 2025

J&J brain drug acquired in $14.6B buyout cleared for broader use

Caplyta, which J&J got in its acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies, netted a clearance in major depressive disorder that’s key to achieving the $5 billion in annualized sales the company expects.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 6, 2025

FTC signals scrutiny of Novo’s bid for Metsera

Without taking a firm position, the antitrust agency said Novo’s two-step deal structure may illegally sidestep requirements for a premerger review. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 5, 2025

Novo narrows sales outlook as GLP-1 price cuts loom

Ahead of a reported White House deal meant to lower the cost of obesity drugs like Wegovy, Novo said “intensifying competition and pricing pressure” led it to lower its yearly sales projections.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 5, 2025

Blackstone pays Merck $700M to buy into ADC drug royalties

The deal hands Blackstone a piece of the potential future sales of an antibody-drug conjugate that could soon challenge marketed medicines from AstraZeneca and Gilead.

By Delilah Alvarado • Nov. 4, 2025

Lilly quietly cuts a pain drug from its pipeline

The drug, which Lilly in-licensed four years ago and is designed to inhibit a protein known as P2X7, did not meet the company’s "high internal bar for success," a spokesperson said.

By Jacob Bell • Oct. 31, 2025

Earnings roundup: Alnylam’s down day, Neurocrine’s head scratch and Biogen’s ‘low quality’ win

Alnylam and Neurocrine shares tumbled despite upbeat sales reports. Elsewhere, Biogen is dealing with what one analyst called “lackluster” appeal and Bristol Myers’ prized schizophrenia drug again underwhelmed.

By Jacob Bell , Ben Fidler • Oct. 30, 2025

Lilly hikes revenue forecasts on booming obesity drug sales

Tirzepatide, which Lilly sells as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity, topped $10 billion in the third quarter, officially becoming the world’s best-selling drug. 

By Kristin Jensen • Oct. 30, 2025

Novo tops Pfizer with $6.5B bid for Metsera

The offer sparked a bidding war between the two large pharmas over the obesity drug specialist, with Pfizer alleging Novo’s offer is “illusory” and “structured in a way to circumvent antitrust laws.”

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Oct. 30, 2025

Merck kidney cancer drug succeeds in two large trials

The results could help expand use of Welireg, one of the medicines Merck is counting on to drive revenue growth when its top-selling immunotherapy Keytruda loses patent protection. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Oct. 28, 2025

Novartis’ $12B Avidity deal shows a willingness to take big swings in neuroscience

A 46% premium paid for RNA candidates reflects what the pharma giant has sought to do for the last few years: aim at technology that fits into its own expertise.

By Michael Gibney • Oct. 28, 2025

Bayer receives FDA approval for non-hormonal menopause therapy

Clearance of Lynkuet provides a new alternative to hormone-based treatment for hot flashes and sets up a market battle with Astellas Pharma’s Veozah.

By Delilah Alvarado • Oct. 27, 2025

Community pharmacies and BioPharma: Advancing whole-patient care together

As healthcare grows more complex, community pharmacies can help simplify and coordinate patient care. 

Oct. 27, 2025

Novartis to acquire Avidity in $12B bet on RNA drugs for neuromuscular disease

The deal, which Novartis expects can “unlock multibillion-dollar opportunities” in the years ahead, hands the company a group of medicines for multiple forms of muscular dystrophy.

By Ben Fidler • Oct. 26, 2025

Sanofi says ‘soft’ start to fall immunizations slowed vaccine sales

The French pharma’s overall vaccine sales declined 8% in the quarter, with a key driver being slower-than-usual uptake of flu shots in the U.S.

By Delilah Alvarado • Oct. 24, 2025

FDA clears return of GSK’s once-withdrawn multiple myeloma drug

The new approval completes a surprise turnaround for Blenrep, which was initially cleared in 2020 but pulled from the market only two years later.

By Ben Fidler • Oct. 23, 2025

Sanofi drug acquired in buyout succeeds in rare disease trial

The drug’s success in a Phase 2 study in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency “validates” Sanofi’s 2024 acquisition of Inhibrx, according to one analyst.

By Delilah Alvarado • Oct. 22, 2025