Biotech - Today Stories

Sanofi is advancing its innovation strategy through a series of strategic investments aimed at enhancing its pipeline in immune and oncology areas. The French global pharma leader has made a strategic equity investment in InduPro Therapeutics, supporting a collaboration to develop a novel bispecific PD-1 agonist for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The deal gives Sanofi funding support and rights to negotiate further on the program as it moves toward clinical development.  In another move, Sanofi invested around €300 million in Orano Med, gaining a significant minority stake in the radioligand therapy developer focused on lead-212 based treatments for hard-to-treat rare cancers and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. This investment strengthens Sanofi’s presence in innovati…

Mirum Pharmaceuticals has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Bluejay Therapeutics, a private biotech firm specialising in viral and liver diseases. The transaction brings into Mirum’s portfolio worldwide rights to brelovitug (BJT-778) — a fully human monoclonal antibody being developed for chronic Hepatitis D virus infection (HDV), the most severe form of viral hepatitis, currently without approved therapies.  Under the terms of the deal, Mirum will pay US$250 million in cash and US$370 million in stock upfront. Bluejay’s shareholders may receive an additional up to US$200 million in sales-based milestones, bringing total deal value to as much as US$820 million. The acquisition adds a potentially transformative late-stage asset to Mirum’s rare-disease pipeline and leverages Bluejay’…

Global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has struck an exclusive licensing deal with Chinese company YaoPharma to develop and commercialise a new oral weight-management drug, YP05002, belonging to the GLP-1 agonist class. The compound is currently in early (Phase 1) clinical testing. Under the agreement, YaoPharma will complete the existing trial, then grant Pfizer worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and market the treatment. As part of the deal YaoPharma will receive a US$150 million upfront payment and could earn up to US$1.94 billion in milestone payments plus royalties if the drug reaches the market. The collaboration marks a strategic return to the obesity drug field for Pfizer after the company discontinued internal GLP-1 programmes — including lotiglipron in 2023 and danuglipron ear…

The Swiss pharma group Novartis has entered a multi-program strategic collaboration with London-based biotech Relation Therapeutics to discover and develop novel treatments for atopic diseases such as eczema, asthma and allergies. Relation brings its AI-powered “Lab-in-the-Loop” platform, which integrates patient-derived genetics, single-cell multi-omics and functional assays to identify and validate disease targets. Novartis contributes its immuno-dermatology expertise and global development and commercial capabilities. Relation will receive US$55 million upfront — including equity investment and R&D funding — plus the potential for up to US$1.7 billion in milestone payments and royalties, should the programmes succeed. By combining cutting-edge AI with real human disease data and Nov…

The Publishing group behind the science magazine New Scientist, has closed its dedicated job portal New Scientist Jobs. The site, once a key place for employers to post science and research-oriented vacancies is no longer operating. This however cements PharmiWeb.jobs position as the primary dedicated job board for Life Sciences in Europe. Recruiters and Hiring Managers   Any organisations looking to promote their vacancies with the broadest reach to Life Science professionals across Europe, the USA and Australasia can reach out to PharmiWeb here - https://phrmwb.com/exnewscientistjobs  Job Seekers If you're a job seekers looking for your next Life Science role, PharmiWeb.jobs remains the best place to look - So if if you've not already, register and upload your CV for the best roles. www.…

The Swiss drugmaker Novartis has secured U.S. regulatory approval for Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve), a gene replacement therapy for individuals aged two years and older with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and a confirmed SMN1 mutation. Itvisma represents the first one-time gene therapy available for a broader SMA population beyond infants. The treatment delivers a functional copy of the SMN1 gene via an injection into the spinal fluid, eliminating the need for weight-based dosing. Clinical trials demonstrated statistically significant improvements in motor function and stabilization of disease progression. Novartis emphasises that this approval could reduce or even eliminate the requirement for chronic therapy in older patients. With this milestone, Itvisma becomes a major extensi…

Gilead Sciences has struck a deal with Sprint Bioscience to license a pre-clinical oncology programme targeting TREX1. Under the agreement, Gilead will pay an initial fee of US$14 million and up to US$400 million more if the programme meets defined milestones. The deal gives Gilead access to potential first-in-class small-molecule TREX1 inhibitors developed by Sprint. TREX1 is a DNA exonuclease that degrades DNA fragments in the cell cytoplasm, helping cancer cells avoid detection by the immune system. Scientific studies have shown that inhibiting TREX1 can provoke strong innate immune responses: DNA accumulating in cancer cells triggers the cGAS–STING pathway, resulting in production of type I interferons, recruitment of T cells and natural killer cells, and enhanced tumour-cell killing.…

The UK government has announced a sweeping package of reforms and investment designed to put artificial intelligence at the centre of the country’s economic renewal. The measures include billions of pounds in additional funding and new initiatives aimed at supporting UK businesses, researchers and workers. Key elements of the plan include the creation of new “AI Growth Zones” such as one in South Wales which is expected to bring in more than 5 000 jobs over the next decade, including roles from construction to long-term AI research. Free access to computing resources will be expanded so British researchers and start-ups can train new AI models and deliver breakthroughs in science and industry. A dedicated “Sovereign AI Unit” will be backed with nearly £500 million to support high-potential…

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has unveiled its new initiative named Rise, an open-innovation platform designed to partner with startups and technology firms to tackle pressing challenges in drug development, manufacturing, supply-chain and digital health. The company says Rise will focus on areas such as using artificial intelligence to model clinical-trial outcomes, replacing animal models with human-derived platforms, and developing smart devices to monitor patients on long-acting injectable therapies. Teva plans to invest tens of millions of dollars into global collaborations with innovative firms through Rise. The platform marks a strategic push by Teva to embrace digital transformation and strengthen its innovation pipeline at a time when the pharma industry is rapidly evolving.…

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced that it will acquire Halda Therapeutics for approximately US$3.05 billion in cash. The acquisition brings Halda’s novel drug‐discovery platform and pipeline into J&J’s expansive oncology franchise. Halda specialises in a new class of small-molecule therapies called RIPTAC™ (Regulated Induced Proximity Targeting Chimeras) that selectively kill cancer cells by forging a harmful interaction between a tumour‐specific protein and an “essential” survival protein in the cancer cell. Early clinical data for Halda’s lead candidate HLD-0915, targeting metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), showed encouraging signs of antitumour activity and a favourable therapeutic index. Through this deal, J&J aims to enhance its solid tumour p…

GSK (GSK) and LTZ Therapeutics have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at developing novel myeloid-cell engager (MCE) therapies in oncology, leveraging LTZ’s proprietary Myeloid Engager Platform. LTZ’s platform is designed to harness the innate immune system by activating myeloid cells to phagocytose tumour cells, reprogram the tumour-microenvironment, enhance antigen presentation and engage adaptive immune responses. The approach offers potential advantages over T-cell engagers by tapping into the abundance of macrophages and other myeloid cells in many solid tumours and possibly reducing cytokine release risks. LTZ’s platform emphasises activation of innate cells with minimal pro-inflammatory cytokine release, enabling potent tumour cell killing with a more controlled immune-react…

Global life sciences company Bayer has unveiled its new “Science Delivers” campaign, designed to highlight how science shapes everyday life and fosters progress across society. Launched on World Science Day, the initiative includes a wide-reaching advertising push, a public “Declaration on Science,” and interactive experiences that invite people to share personal stories of how science has made a difference in their lives. A central video montage showcases individuals in diverse settings while a voiceover narrates how scientific discovery powers medical breakthroughs, cleaner water, sustainable agriculture, and better energy solutions. The message is clear: for every community and for every tomorrow, science truly delivers. The campaign also features installations and a digital hub where p…

Global pharmaceutical leader Eli Lilly and Company has entered into a major research and licensing collaboration with clinical-stage biotech SanegeneBio. The deal is focused on advancing RNA interference (RNAi) drug candidates targeting metabolic disorders by leveraging SanegeneBio’s proprietary Ligand and Enhancer Assisted Delivery (LEAD™) platform, which is designed to enable tissue-specific silencing of disease genes. Under the agreement, SanegeneBio will discover and optimise LEAD-based RNAi molecules across undisclosed metabolic disease targets, while Lilly will take responsibility for IND-enabling studies, clinical development and worldwide commercialization. The agreement includes an upfront payment and equity investment, and stretches to potential milestone payments of up to US$1.2…

Braveheart Bio has officially launched with a mission to transform cardiovascular medicine through advanced small-molecule therapies. The new biotech, led by CEO Travis Murdoch, is backed by leading investors including Forbion and OrbiMed, and debuts with a high-value licensing agreement with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. Under the deal, Braveheart Bio gains exclusive global rights, excluding China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, to develop, manufacture and commercialise the cardiac myosin inhibitor HRS-1893. The agreement includes an upfront payment of 65 million USD, split evenly between cash and shares, with additional potential milestones worth over 1 billion USD and royalties on future sales. HRS-1893 is currently in Phase III trials in China for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopat…

Eli Lilly and Company has announced a landmark collaboration with NVIDIA to build what they describe as the most powerful artificial intelligence supercomputer ever operated by a pharmaceutical company. The new infrastructure, based on NVIDIA’s DGX SuperPOD design and powered by over one thousand B300 GPUs, will form the backbone of Lilly’s new AI factory. This supercomputer will accelerate the discovery and delivery of medicines by training models on millions of experiments, exploring vast chemical and biological spaces, and optimising production and manufacturing processes. It will also enhance medical imaging, support digital twins for manufacturing sites, and power enterprise-wide AI assistants. Lilly emphasises that artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool but a scientific col…

UK-based specialty pharmaceutical company CNX Therapeutics has agreed to acquire the global rights to Sativex (nabiximols) from global biopharma firm Jazz Pharmaceuticals. The deal transfers the worldwide business of the cannabinoid-based medicine, which is approved in many markets for symptoms of moderate to severe spasticity in adult patients, from Jazz to CNX. The acquisition deepens CNX’s focus on central nervous system (CNS) therapies and strengthens its specialty medicines platform across Europe and beyond. For Jazz, the move streamlines its portfolio by handing over an established asset to a partner with a targeted commercial infrastructure. According to one report the acquisition was announced just recently. With Sativex already licensed across multiple countries, CNX aims to lever…

Novo Nordisk has launched an unsolicited acquisition offer for Metsera Inc., greatly exceeding a prior agreement between Pfizer Inc. and Metsera. Novo’s bid values Metsera at as much as US$9 billion, offering US$56.50 per share plus contingent value rights (CVRs) tied to clinical and regulatory milestones. This is up from Pfizer’s earlier bid of US$47.50 per share plus US$22.50 in CVRs, valued at around US$7.3 billion. Metsera is developing next-generation obesity treatments, including its lead candidate MET-097i (a GLP-1 analogue) and MET-233i (an amylin analog), both designed for monthly dosing and aimed at the fast-growing obesity market. Novo’s aggressive move appears to reflect pressure on its position in the category as competitors close in. Pfizer responded by alleging Novo’s bid mi…

Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) has secured an exclusive, worldwide licence from Kyowa Kirin for a pre-clinical, first-in-class small molecule targeting fibro-inflammatory diseases, an area that includes many autoimmune conditions. The deal is valued at up to €410 million in upfront, development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus royalties on future sales.  The programme will join BI’s immunology and respiratory research portfolio, supporting its ambition to develop breakthrough therapies in areas of high unmet need. The licence will enable BI to progress the compound globally, building on Kyowa Kirin’s discovery expertise and BI’s clinical development and commercialisation strengths. Meanwhile, Kyowa Kirin retains potential upside via milestone and royalty payments.  Fibro-infl…

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has announced a strategic collaboration with ModeX Therapeutics, a subsidiary of OPKO Health, to develop multispecific antibody treatments designed to target multiple disease pathways within a single molecule. The agreement includes an upfront payment to ModeX of around seven million dollars, with potential milestone payments exceeding two hundred million dollars per program and a total deal value that could surpass one billion dollars if multiple products reach development milestones. ModeX contributes its proprietary MSTAR platform, which enables the creation of antibodies with up to six binding sites in one construct. This technology is designed to address complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases that involve multiple biolog…

Novartis has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Avidity Biosciences in an all-cash transaction valued at around US$12 billion. Avidity shareholders will receive US$72 per share, representing a premium of approximately 46 percent to its recent closing price. The acquisition reinforces Novartis’ strategy to expand its leadership in RNA-based medicines and strengthens its late-stage neuroscience and neuromuscular disease portfolio. Avidity Biosciences is known for its Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates, or AOCs, which deliver RNA therapeutics directly to muscle tissue. The company has multiple clinical programs in development for rare neuromuscular disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy type 1, and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Under the terms of…