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The Latest Biotech & Pharma Updates
Biotech & Pharma Updates | November 5 - 6, 2025
🧬 Novo Nordisk raises Metsera bid again after Pfizer matches $10B offer in obesity drug acquisition battle, FDA approves Johnson & Johnson's Darzalex Faspro (daratumumab) for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma following Ph3 trial, AstraZeneca acquires obesity startup SixPeaks Bio for $170M - targeting muscle-preserving weight loss drugs, Axsome acquires AstraZeneca epilepsy candidate AXS-17 through Baergic Bio acquisition (Avenue Therapeutics subsidiary) in up to $83M deal, Cencora allocates $1B over five years to expand US drug distribution with new facilities, Accipiter Biosciences launches with $12.7M Seed - developing de novo protein therapies for complex diseases, Renasant Bio launches with $54.5M seed funding to develop ADPKD small molecule treatments, Forbion closes €200M ($229.9M) BioEconomy Fund I - investing in sustainable biotechnologies
Biotech & Pharma Updates | November 4 - 5, 2025
🧬 Braveheart Bio launches with $185M to take on Bristol Myers Squibb’s heart drug in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Eli Lilly + XtalPi expand AI partnership to bispecific antibodies in up to $345M deal, Novo Nordisk presents Ph3 data showing oral Wegovy (semaglutide) reduces cardiovascular risk factors in obesity, FTC warns Novo Nordisk's Metsera acquisition bid may circumvent required antitrust premarket review process, AstraZeneca invests additional $136M in Chinese inhalants plant - bringing total Qingdao investment to $886M, Evommune raises $150M IPO to develop drugs for immune conditions like hives and dermatitis, Kelonia Therapeutics + Johnson & Johnson collaborate on in vivo CAR-T therapies using iGPS platform
Biotech & Pharma Updates | November 3 - 4, 2025
🧬 Novo Nordisk raises Metsera buyout bid to $10B - beating Pfizer's revised $8.1B offer, Azalea Therapeutics launches from Doudna origins with $82M and in vivo CAR-T therapy ambitions (via genome editing delivery tech), Neok Bio debuts with $75M Series A to advance bispecific ADCs targeting dual cancer markers, Hengrui Pharma + Kailera Therapeutics report positive Ph3 data for HRS9531 dual GLP-1/GIP agonist in obesity treatment, Blackstone Life Sciences signs royalty deal with Merck & Co. - paying $700M upfront in exchange for portion of sacituzumab tirumotecan future sales, Meitheal Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for CONTEPO (fosfomycin) targeting complicated urinary tract infections including acute pyelonephritis, Compass Pathways accelerates COMP360 commercial timeline for treatment-resistant depression following positive FDA meeting
Biotech & Pharma Updates | November 2 - 3, 2025
🧬 Eli Lilly invests $3B in Netherlands oral medicines plant + plans 500 hires for GLP-1 manufacturing expansion, AAVantgarde raises $141M Series B to advance retinal gene therapies for inherited diseases, Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics' Casgevy shows efficacy in younger children with sickle cell disease in Ph3 trials, Roche's Gazyva (obinutuzumab) hits Ph3 primary endpoint for systemic lupus erythematosus, Neurocrine in-licenses TransThera NLRP3 inhibitors for multiple diseases for up to $881.5M, Roche + Manifold Bio partner on blood-brain barrier shuttle development - $55M upfront + $2B milestones, UCB's Kygevvi (doxecitine and doxribtimine) wins FDA approval as first therapy for thymidine kinase 2 deficiency
Biotech & Pharma Updates | October 30 - November 2, 2025
🧬 Pfizer sues Metsera + Novo Nordisk to enforce buyout deal amid obesity drug developer bidding war, Gilead seeks deals across liver + oncology + virology after $4.3B CymaBay acquisition success with Livdelzi, Maxvax Biotechnology raises $58M Series D to advance shingles and RSV vaccine trials, Arcus Biosciences raises $250M public offering for cancer/inflammatory disease drug development, Genentech's Gazyva (obinutuzumab) meets Ph3 endpoints targeting CD20 for systemic lupus erythematosus treatment, Nanobiotix receives $71M lifeline in non-dilutive capital from Healthcare Royalty, Lepu Biopharma's Vebecotamab wins Chinese NMPA approval for recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Biotech & Pharma Updates | October 29 - 30, 2025
🧬 Novo Nordisk drops $6.5B bid for obesity drug-maker Metsera - sparking bidding war with original acquirer Pfizer, Evommune raises $159M IPO to fuel inflammation-targeting therapeutics against chronic urticaria, Eli Lilly raises revenue forecasts as obesity drug tirzepatide becomes world's best-selling medication, AstraZeneca's gefurulimab (ALXN1720) meets Ph3 endpoints for generalized myasthenia gravis, Boehringer Ingelheim in-licenses Kyowa Kirin preclinical autoimmune small molecule for up to €640M ($743M), Roche in-licenses Qyuns Therapeutics respiratory disease bispecific QX031N for $75M upfront + $995M biobucks
Biotech & Pharma Updates | October 28 - 29, 2025
🧬 Thermo Fisher to acquire Clario for $8.9B to strengthen clinical trial data capabilities, Eli Lilly + Walmart partner to expand Zepbound obesity shot access through retail pharmacy pickup, Merck & Co.'s KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) wins European Commission approval for resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Roche exercises option in Recursion deal for brain immune cell genome mapping - triggering $30M payment, Sonoma Biotherapeutics reports positive Ph1 data for SBT-77-7101 CAR-Treg therapy in refractory rheumatoid arthritis, Neutrolis emerges with DNA-enzyme drug targeting immune NETs for autoimmune diseases like arthritis & lupus, Pinetree Therapeutics raises $47M Series B to develop protein degraders for drug-resistant cancers, Samsung Bioepis purchases BYOOVIZ biosimilar commercial rights in Europe from Biogen
Biotech & Pharma Updates | October 27 - 28, 2025
🧬 Eli Lilly + Nvidia partner to build pharma's “most powerful” supercomputer for drug discovery, Novartis Q3 revenue rises 8% to $13.9B as new drugs offset Entresto generic competition, Zag Bio debuts with $80M Series A to develop thymus-targeted autoimmune therapies, Bristol Myers Squibb and Cabaletta Bio's resecabtagene autoleucel CAR-T shows remissions in Ph1/2 systemic lupus erythematosus trial, Merck & Co.'s Welireg belzutifan plus Keytruda shows Ph3 success in clear cell renal cell carcinoma adjuvant treatment, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs + MedChat AI partner on AI agents for online pharmacy customer support
Biotech & Pharma Updates | October 26 - 27, 2025
🧬 Innovent & Eli Lilly's mazdutide GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist outperforms Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide in Ph3 diabetes and obesity trial, MapLight Therapeutics raises $250M IPO to advance Cobenfy competitor for schizophrenia treatment, Hemab Therapeutics raises $157M Series C to advance blood clotting disorder treatments, Dyne Therapeutics shares surge 38% pre-market as Novartis' $12B Avidity buyout validates antisense space, WuXi AppTec + Hillhouse sign definitive agreement for latter's acquisition of WuXi's China-based clinical research services business, OpenAI + Thermo Fisher Scientific + Lundbeck partner on AI-powered drug development and clinical research operations, GSK + Syndivia partner on preclinical prostate cancer ADC in up to $357M deal
Biotech & Pharma Updates | October 23 - 26, 2025
🧬 Novartis acquires Avidity Biosciences for $12B to strengthen neuromuscular disease pipeline with RNA therapeutics, Eli Lilly acquires gene therapy developer Adverum Biotechnologies for up to $262M, Starna Therapeutics raises $47M Series B to power in-vivo CAR-T ambitions, Incyte touts positive Ph3b results for Opzelura (ruxolitinib) cream targeting JAK pathway in moderate atopic dermatitis, Kura Oncology + Kyowa Kirin collaboration reaches $30 million milestone for ziftomenib AML Phase 3 trials, Biogen, Vanqua Bio license anti-inflammatory C5aR1 antagonist ($70M upfront + $990M milestones) FDA approves Bayer's Lynkuet elinzanetant targeting NK1/NK3 receptors for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause
Biotech & Pharma Updates | October 22 - 23, 2025
🧬 Cambrex's $120M Iowa facility investment (onshoring continues), AGC Biologics + Rarity PBC partner on "Bubble Baby Disease" gene therapy manufacturing, Kure Cells' $10M Pre-Series A for CGT "rapid-manufacturing platforms", Medivir out-licenses topical HDAC inhibitor to Biossil, Quarry Thera launches to develop next-generation molecular glue therapeutics, Harbour Biomed touts positive Ph2 data for porustobart + tislelizumab in colorectal cancer, Ventyx shares nearly double on obesity med's potential cardiovascular benefit
Biotech & Pharma Updates | October 21 - 22, 2025
🧬 Alkermes drops $2.1B on Avadel Pharma acquisition (excessive sleepiness therapeutics), Electra's $183M Series C powering rare inflammatory disease drug development, Flagship Pioneering launches Expedition Medicines with $50M to apply AI and covalent chemistry in cancer and immune diseases drug development, Sanofi's efdoralprin alfa meets Ph2 goals in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Novavax transfers Maryland HQ lease to AstraZeneca for $59.8M, AstraZeneca + Amgen's Tezspire lands EU approval in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, Regeneron settles Eylea patent dispute with Celltrion - clearing biosimilar launch for December 2026