Biotech - Today Stories

Novartis has agreed to acquire Avidity Biosciences in an all-cash deal valued at approximately US$12 billion. The transaction will give Novartis full ownership of Avidity’s RNA-based antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate platform and three advanced programmes targeting neuromuscular disorders, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. The purchase, one of the largest biotech acquisitions of the year, underscores Novartis’s strategy to expand into rare and genetic diseases as it faces increasing competition for some of its established medicines. Avidity’s innovative platform enables precise delivery of RNA therapeutics to muscle tissue, a capability that has generated strong industry interest. As part of the agreement, Avidity…

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has struck a deal to acquire exclusive rights to develop and commercialise an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) from Syndivia targeting metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The agreement is reported to be worth up to £268 million, reflecting GSK’s push to broaden its oncology pipeline. Syndivia, a France-based biotech firm specialising in next-generation ADCs through its proprietary platform, has shown this candidate delivered enhanced tumour reduction in preclinical studies while maintaining an encouraging safety profile. GSK noted the therapy addresses a significant unmet need given the limited targeted treatment options for this advanced form of prostate cancer. Under the terms of the transaction, Syndivia will receive an upfront payment, followed by additi…

Owkin has launched K Pro, its new agentic AI “co-pilot” tailored for the biopharma sector. The tool is designed to support decision-making throughout drug research and development by linking deep biological reasoning with pipeline strategy. K Pro builds on Owkin’s existing platform of multimodal patient data and AI modeling to deliver insight, de-risk key steps, and accelerate alignment across teams. The platform allows users to explore hypotheses, evaluate biomarkers, and assess competitive landscapes through a natural language interface, translating biological complexity into clear, actionable insights. K Pro’s architecture rests on “agentic spaces” — modular agents that analyze, activate, and amplify insights for trial design and biology translation. Behind it all is a curated networ…

Bristol Myers Squibb has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Orbital Therapeutics in a transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion. Orbital is a privately held biotechnology company focused on RNA medicines that reprogram the immune system in vivo. Central to the acquisition is Orbital’s lead experimental candidate, OTX201, a next generation CAR T approach being developed for autoimmune diseases. Unlike traditional CAR T therapies that rely on modifying cells outside the body, OTX201 delivers RNA instructions inside the body to reprogram immune cells directly. Bristol Myers Squibb believes this in vivo approach could simplify treatment and expand access to cell therapy. The acquisition also includes Orbital’s RNA engineering platform, which combines circular and linear RNA desig…

Mission Therapeutics has announced a new financing round of $13.3 million to accelerate its lead Parkinson’s-disease drug candidate, MTX325, into clinical development. The fresh capital is earmarked for advancing safety, dosing, and brain-penetration studies as the company transitions from preclinical to human trials. MTX325 is designed to modulate mitophagy, the cellular process for clearing dysfunctional mitochondria, via inhibition of the deubiquitylating enzyme USP30. Dysfunctional mitochondria are increasingly implicated in Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis, and targeting USP30 may help protect dopamine-producing neurons from degeneration. Earlier, Mission began dosing healthy volunteers in a Phase I trial of MTX325, assessing safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and central nervous…

Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent, has announced the launch of a new specialist sixth form for science-focused students aged 16 to 18. Named Carbon 6 Academy of Science, the school will open in September 2026 and will deliver a dedicated STEM curriculum. Located within the Discovery Park innovation campus, Carbon 6 will give students direct access to professional laboratories and real-world scientific environments. The academy will offer A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, with options for Further Maths and an Extended Project Qualification. Students will benefit from close connections to the science and pharmaceutical companies based at Discovery Park, gaining opportunities for mentoring, guest lectures, and research placements. The programme is designed to prepare lea…

The UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) and Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen ties between the UK and Japanese biotech ecosystems. The agreement, formalised at BioJapan 2025 in Yokohama, aims to accelerate medical innovation and the commercialisation of engineering biology. Both countries are recognised as major global biotech hubs, with governments prioritising life sciences to drive economic growth. The MOU outlines plans to foster collaboration through delegations, joint events, and information sharing, and to align on global policy impacting the sector. This partnership builds on a longstanding relationship, furthered by recent UK Government visits to Japan. The agreement was signed by JBA’s CEO Mr Tetsuya Tanaka and BIA’s Di…

Concept Life Sciences has officially opened its expanded integrated drug discovery facilities in Chapel-en-le-Frith, creating one of the UK’s largest drug discovery research sites. The opening was marked by local MP Jonathan Pearce, who praised the investment for bringing high-skilled jobs to the High Peak region and strengthening the UK’s role in global life sciences. The site now brings together chemistry, ADMET and screening biology expertise under one roof, with 130 scientists based on site. The expansion is designed to accelerate early-stage drug discovery by streamlining workflows and providing clients with tailored, solution-oriented services. Jonathan Critchley, Chief Financial Officer at Concept Life Sciences, highlighted the company’s ability to turn breakthrough science into via…

Moderna has opened its Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre at the Harwell Science Campus in Oxfordshire, the first facility of its kind in the UK dedicated to mRNA vaccine manufacturing and research. The centre is part of a 10 year strategic partnership with the UK Government, involving more than one billion pounds of investment. The site has the capacity to produce up to 100 million mRNA vaccine doses each year, with potential to scale to 250 million in a pandemic scenario. It will support NHS vaccination programmes and allow rapid adaptation of vaccines for emerging viral threats. In addition to respiratory illnesses, the centre will focus on research into cancer, rare diseases and immune disorders. It has also secured a manufacturing licence from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare p…

Sanofi has announced a new commitment of $625 million to Sanofi Ventures, its corporate venture capital division, in a multi year allocation aimed at accelerating investments in biotech and digital health innovation. This infusion expands the fund’s assets under management to more than $1.4 billion. The capital will support emerging companies working in Sanofi’s strategic focus areas including immunology, rare diseases, neurology and vaccines. The company has also signalled an interest in new domains such as ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry and pain biology. Since its founding in 2012, Sanofi Ventures has invested more than $800 million across over 70 companies. Its structure is evergreen, meaning that returns from exits are reinvested to fuel future deals and maintain long term impact. Sano…

Pfizer has announced plans to acquire Metsera, a biotech firm developing next generation obesity medicines, in a deal that could reach up to 7.3 billion US dollars. The deal structure includes an upfront cash payment of 47.50 dollars per share, plus potential additional payments tied to future performance milestones. Metsera, founded in 2022, has no marketed products yet but is advancing a pipeline of injectable and oral therapies targeting obesity and metabolic disease. Its lead asset, MET 097i, is a long acting GLP 1 agonist that in mid stage trials achieved average weight loss of about 11.3 percent over 12 weeks. The company also recently disclosed positive Phase 1 results for an amylin analog candidate, MET 233i, which demonstrated up to 8.4 percent placebo subtracted weight loss at Da…

Eli Lilly has unveiled TuneLab, an innovative AI and machine learning platform that gives smaller biotechnology companies access to powerful drug discovery models built on over a billion dollars of Lilly’s research data. Engineered to level the playing field, the platform connects biotech startups to advanced capabilities previously limited to large pharmaceutical firms. Participants such as Insitro, Circle Pharma, Firefly Bio, and Superluminal Medicines can deploy Lilly’s models via a secure, federated system that protects proprietary data while enabling Lilly to refine and enhance those models using contributed insights. As part of its broader Catalyze360 program, Lilly integrates TuneLab alongside initiatives including venture investment, lab access, and R&D support. This combined s…

Highly experienced Chief Financial Officer set to drive corporate and strategic goals of Resolution. Accomplished Chief Business Officer will drive business development and partnering deals. Appointments follow the announcement of the first patient dosed and safety cleared in its Phase I/II EMERALD study. Edinburgh and London, UK, 10 September 2025 – Resolution Therapeutics (“Resolution” or “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on pioneering novel regenerative macrophage therapies to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, today announces the appointment of Lucy Singah as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Daniel Kennedy as Chief Business Officer (CBO). Dr. Amir Hefni, Chief Executive Officer of Resolution Therapeutics, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lucy…

Novartis announced it will acquire Tourmaline Bio for approximately $1.4 billion, offering $48 per share, a significant premium over recent stock prices. The acquisition will provide Novartis access to pacibekitug, a promising anti-inflammatory drug candidate nearing Phase III trials for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Both companies’ boards have approved the deal, and Novartis will initiate a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, after which Tourmaline will become an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis. The move bolsters Novartis’ growing cardiovascular disease portfolio and aligns with its broader strategic focus. Analysts see the timing as logical, given recent strong Phase 2 data for pacibek…

Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with U.S.-based Braveheart Bio for its novel small-molecule cardiac myosin inhibitor, HRS-1893, currently in Phase III trials for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). Under the agreement, Hengrui grants Braveheart Bio rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialise the drug globally, excluding Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The deal includes an upfront payment of USD 65 million – half in cash and half in Braveheart Bio equity – plus a near-term USD 10 million milestone upon completion of technology transfer, making an initial total of USD 75 million. Hengrui is also eligible for up to USD 1.013 billion in further development and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties o…

Lundbeck is advancing bexicaserin - an oral 5‑HT₂C receptor agonist initially developed by Longboard Pharmaceuticals - for the treatment of severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), including Dravet syndrome and Lennox–Gastaut syndrome. Lundbeck acquired the asset through a ~$2.6 billion takeover of Longboard in late 2024. In a 12‑month open‑label extension (OLE) of the Phase 1b/2a PACIFIC trial, bexicaserin delivered a sustained and clinically meaningful reduction in motor seizures—median decrease of 59.3% from baseline. Participants who had been on bexicaserin from the trial start achieved a 60.4% reduction; those switching from placebo saw a 58.2% decrease. The safety profile remained favourable, with most participants completing the year-long study and common adverse…

AbbVie has agreed to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals’ lead investigational therapy for major depressive disorder, bretisilocin, in a deal valued at up to $1.2 billion. Bretisilocin is a novel serotonin 5‑HT2A receptor agonist and serotonin releaser that delivers shorter psychoactive effects while offering enduring therapeutic benefits. This acquisition extends AbbVie’s reach in psychiatric treatment development following a phase failure in schizophrenia—part of the company’s broader strategy to revitalize its neuroscience portfolio amid biosimilar pressures on its blockbuster Humira. Gilgamesh will spin off its remaining programs—including NMDA antagonist, ibogaine analog, and M1/M4 agonist pipelines—into a new company, Gilgamesh Pharma Inc. This definitive agreement builds on an earlier…

Kite Pharma, a Gilead Sciences subsidiary, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Interius BioTherapeutics—a privately held biotechnology firm—for $350 million in cash. The strategic acquisition brings to Kite an innovative in vivo CAR‑T platform capable of creating CAR T‑cells directly within patients via a single intravenous infusion. This eliminates the need for the complicated and costly process of harvesting and engineering cells outside the body and may enhance treatment durability by integrating DNA into the patient’s genome. The deal is anticipated to lower Gilead’s GAAP and non‑GAAP earnings per share for 2025 by about $0.23 to $0.25. Upon closing - subject to antitrust clearance under the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Act and other standard conditions—Interius’s operations and perso…

Royalty Pharma has struck a landmark agreement to purchase a royalty interest in Amgen’s lung cancer therapy Imdelltra for up to $950 million. The pharmaceutical financier will pay $885 million upfront to BeOne Medicines—which retains the drug’s commercial rights in China—and may acquire additional royalty rights worth $65 million within twelve months. Under the deal, Royalty Pharma will receive roughly 7 percent of global net sales of Imdelltra, excluding the Chinese market. Imdelltra, approved in the U.S. in 2024 for small cell lung cancer patients whose disease progressed after platinum‑based chemotherapy, has already shown remarkable clinical results. A Phase 3 trial demonstrated a 40 percent reduction in risk of death and a median overall survival of 13.6 months compared to 8.3 months…

Tiziana Life Sciences has reached a key milestone in its Phase 2a clinical trial of intranasal Foralumab for non‑active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (na‑SPMS). Patient dosing has now commenced at Yale’s Multiple Sclerosis Center, expanding the study’s reach beyond its initial sites and underscoring progress in the multicentre, randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled investigation. Launched in late 2023, the trial explores two dosing regimens of Foralumab against placebo, assessing effects on microglial activation via PET imaging, alongside standard measures of disability, cognition, fatigue, and quality of life. The inclusion of Yale adds to a network of major US research centres (including Johns Hopkins, UMass, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and more) enhancing the study’s…