Sanofi reaches consumer health deal; Supernus antidepressant fails study

The pharma signed an agreement handing PE firm CD&R a 50% stake in its Capella unit. Elsewhere, Ultragenyx secured a PDUFA date for its Sanfilippo gene therapy.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Feb. 19, 2025

FTC retains stricter merger guidelines under Trump

Agency chair Andrew Ferguson sent a memo to staff on Tuesday clarifying that Biden-era guidelines will remain in place — for now.

By Rebecca Pifer • Feb. 19, 2025

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

GSK’s 5-in-1 meningococcal shot wins FDA approval

Penmenvy, which protects against five common types of disease-causing bacteria, is cleared for use in people aged 10 through 25 years old.

By Delilah Alvarado • Updated Feb. 18, 2025

Neumora shakes up its C-suite; Biogen cuts early-stage pipeline

Henry Gosebruch, Neumora’s CEO since 2023, will depart. Elsewhere, Biogen dropped two antisense drugs in a pipeline cull and Voyager hit a setback for its ALS gene therapy.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Feb. 13, 2025

RFK Jr. confirmed by Senate as health secretary

All but one Senate Republican voted for Kennedy, a controversial vaccine critic whose embrace of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement helped him win one of the most powerful jobs in Washington.

By Delilah Alvarado , Emily Olsen • Feb. 13, 2025

New study offers hints of GLP-1 drugs’ potential in curbing alcohol cravings

A small semaglutide trial suggests the medicine's suppression of appetite may extend to alcohol, but larger tests are needed to establish a conclusive benefit.

By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 12, 2025

Merck KGaA pursuing Springworks; BridgeBio wins EU drug OK

The German drugmaker confirmed acquisition talks, but cautioned a deal may not materialize. Elsewhere, Biohaven got priority review on a key drug and Third Harmonic restructured.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Feb. 11, 2025

Novartis pays $925M to reel in a startup it helped launch

The acquisition of Anthos Therapeutics could be worth up to $3.1 billion and returns to Novartis a blood thinner it licensed to the Blackstone-backed startup six years ago.

By Ben Fidler • Feb. 11, 2025

The role of diagnostics in advancing antibody-drug conjugates

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are revolutionizing oncology, but success requires precision diagnostics.

By Thomas P. Salvin, MD, MBA, Chief Clinical Officer, Molecular Diagnostics, Quest Diagnostics • Feb. 10, 2025

Bain buys Mitsubishi pharma unit; Bausch + Lomb deal talks come up empty

The investment firm is acquiring Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma in a deal valued at $3.3 billion. Elsewhere, Bausch + Lomb hasn’t yet found a suitor and a pair of biotechs cut staff.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Feb. 7, 2025

Bristol Myers, bracing for key patent losses, deepens cost-cutting plan

The pharmaceutical company plans to cut $2 billion in annual expenses by the end of 2027 through “operational efficiencies across multiple areas of the business,” its CFO told analysts on a conference call. 

By Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 6, 2025

Eli Lilly’s earnings, shares lifted by obesity drug sales

The drugmaker’s financial forecasts topped Wall Street’s expectations, reassuring investors after it overestimated demand for its weight loss medicines in January.

By Kristin Jensen • Feb. 6, 2025

Bristol Myers gives first peek at closely watched launch of schizophrenia drug

Cobenfy, the main asset acquired through Bristol Myers’ $14 billion purchase of Karuna, had $10 million in sales in the fourth quarter and around 1,000 prescriptions weekly by late January.

By Jacob Bell • Feb. 6, 2025

Pfizer taps former Novartis exec to lead cancer drug push

The pharmaceutical giant named Jeffrey Legos the head of a division it is counting on to overcome investor pressure and grow sales in the years ahead. 

By Ben Fidler • Feb. 6, 2025

GSK, Pfizer sales of RSV shots slow as vaccination rates ebb

Revenue for Arexvy and Abrysvo fell sharply year over year in the fourth quarter due to narrower U.S. guidelines for their use.

By Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 5, 2025

Novo outlines new late-stage study of obesity drug CagriSema

CagriSema, which underperformed expectations in its first Phase 3 test, will be studied at different doses and for longer duration in the new trial.

By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 5, 2025

Amgen obesity drug on hold; Regeneron sets first dividend

Elsewhere, cell therapy developer Turnstone Biologics announced a second round of layoffs and plans to explore “strategic alternatives.”  

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 5, 2025

Merck shares tumble as company pauses Gardasil shipments to China

Executives pulled back on a 2030 sales target of $11 billion as demand for the HPV shot shrinks amid China market turmoil.

By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 4, 2025

Pfizer drug acquired in $11B buyout confirms benefit in colon cancer

The results could sway U.S. regulators to convert Braftovi’s accelerated clearance in colorectal tumors into a full approval — boosting an oncology portfolio Pfizer is looking to for revenue growth.

By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 3, 2025

Novartis sets ‘ambitious’ target; Skyrizi, Rinvoq sales climb

Novartis issued stronger guidance than Wall Street expected. Elsewhere, Eisai and Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug will get a closer look in Europe and Daiichi Sankyo is switching CEOs.

By BioPharma Dive staff • Jan. 31, 2025

Christophe Weber, veteran Takeda CEO, to retire next year

Julie Kim, currently Takeda’s U.S. head, will replace Weber in June 2026 and become one of the few female CEOs of a top drugmaker.

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 30, 2025

Trump administration affirms drug price talks, but will seek input to ‘improve’ program

Democrats sought answers from RFK Jr. on how the Trump administration would handle Medicare price negotiations after a short CMS statement didn’t clear things up.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Jan. 30, 2025

FDA clears use of Ozempic to protect kidney health

The approval adds a new indication for GLP-1 drugs and gives Novo an advantage over Lilly’s rival diabetes drug Mounjaro, which hasn’t yet proven it can improve outcomes in kidney disease. 

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 29, 2025

BioAge drops obesity drug; Akero, 89bio cash in on MASH data

BioAge scrapped the drug at the center of its $198 million initial public offering last year. Elsewhere, Akero and 89bio raised $600 million combined and Allakos laid off staff. 

By BioPharma Dive staff • Jan. 29, 2025

FDA clears monthly dosing of Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi

The approval is the first to come from the FDA since the Trump administration paused external communication by health agencies last week.

By Delilah Alvarado • Jan. 27, 2025