Healthcare - Today Stories

GlaxoSmithKline announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its twice-annual asthma therapy Exdensur, offering a new option for patients aged 12 and older with severe eosinophilic asthma inadequately controlled by standard treatment. Exdensur, known by its active ingredient depemokimab, is designed as an add-on maintenance treatment that can be administered just twice a year, potentially improving convenience and adherence for patients living with persistent symptoms. The decision follows positive clinical evidence showing significant reductions in asthma exacerbations and hospital visits when added to existing therapies, underscoring its potential impact on this patient population. GSK expects Exdensur to complement current biologics and become an important part of its…

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 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 United Kingdom has struck a landmark agreement with the United States under which U.K.-origin medicines, pharmaceutical ingredients and medical technologies will be exempt from U.S. tariffs for the foreseeable future. In return the U.K. has committed to raise the prices paid by the National Health Service (NHS) for new and innovative drugs. Under the deal the threshold used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to judge cost-effectiveness will increase by around 25 per cent, making it easier for high-cost treatments (including cutting-edge cancer or rare disease therapies) to be approved for NHS funding. At the same time the rebate scheme applied to branded medicines will be relaxed, reducing the clawback from drug companies. This shift follows pressure from t…

Responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:   "NHS leaders across the UK understand the pressure on public finances and that's why they are reforming local services to deliver higher quality and more efficient care.   "To go further, they need more capital investment to create new facilities and fix the NHS' crumbling estate. That's why the decision the Chancellor has made in the Budget to allow private capital to be used to build new neighbourhood health centres in the English NHS is so important. Using private capital to build new facilities not only increases overall investment in the NHS but frees up public funding to tackle the £16 billion estates maintenance backlog.   "This is a first step to bringing vital investmen…

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…

The UK is pioneering a new frontier in cancer care by recycling used nuclear fuel to produce life-saving precision medicines. Backed by £9.9m from the Innovate UK Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme and £8.9m from industry, a new initiative led by the UK National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) and Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) will harness lead-212 – a radionuclide derived from nuclear waste – to develop Targeted Alpha Therapies. These radiopharmaceuticals selectively destroy cancer cells with minimal damage to healthy tissue, offering new hope for patients with previously untreatable cancers. UKNNL’s innovative process extracts minute quantities of lead-212 from recycled material, creating a sustainable supply to support large-scale clinical use. With the UK’s signif…

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…

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…

President Donald Trump is poised to unveil a new direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical platform called TrumpRx, designed to let Americans purchase prescription drugs online from manufacturers at government-negotiated discounts. The initiative would bypass some traditional intermediaries and aim to reduce costs for patients. In parallel, Trump announced a deal with Pfizer under which the company will lower the prices of its drugs sold through Medicaid and commit to a $70 billion investment in domestic research, manufacturing, and development. Through TrumpRx, Pfizer is expected to sell certain products directly to consumers at prices aligned with the administration’s “most favored nation” pricing policy. While supporters argue the move will increase pricing transparency and help shift market dy…

Recent comments from President Donald Trump have reignited debate about autism and possible contributing factors. The administration linked acetaminophen use in pregnancy to autism risk and promoted leucovorin as a new autism treatment. However, scientists stress that the evidence is far from conclusive. Large population studies in Europe and the United States have found little to no causal link between maternal acetaminophen use and autism once family factors are considered. Reviews note associations in some observational research, but major health bodies including ACOG and the NHS continue to recommend acetaminophen as the safest option for pain and fever during pregnancy when used at the lowest effective dose. The FDA has also approved leucovorin for symptoms of cerebral folate deficien…

President Donald Trump’s administration has introduced controversial health guidance connecting use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy with an increased risk of autism in children. At a White House event alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump urged expectant mothers to avoid acetaminophen unless absolutely necessary. Experts immediately pushed back noting that current scientific evidence does not confirm a causal link between the drug and autism. In the same announcement the administration said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will approve leucovorin, a folinic acid drug, as a therapy for a specific subgroup of autism where cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) is present. Leucovorin is not being promoted as a cure for autism overall, but as a treatment for sympto…

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…

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has approved a novel first‑line treatment for adults with unresectable or metastatic urothelial cancer who are eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy. The regimen combines enfortumab vedotin (Padcev) with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and is now available on the NHS in England and Wales. Clinical trials revealed that the new combination nearly doubled progression‑free survival—from 6.3 to 12.5 months—and extended overall survival dramatically, with median overall survival reaching 33.8 months compared to 15.9 months with chemotherapy alone. Around 30 percent of patients had no detectable cancer after treatment, markedly higher than rates seen with traditional chemotherapy. Oncology experts have hailed the development as a transformational…

Moderna has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its 2025‑2026 COVID‑19 vaccine formulations—namely Spikevax and the new vaccine mNEXSPIKE. These updated vaccines are designed to target the emerging LP.8.1 variant of SARS‑CoV‑2. Spikevax is authorised for individuals aged six months through 64 years with at least one underlying high‑risk condition, as well as all adults aged 65 years and older. mNEXSPIKE, a new lower‑dose vaccine, is approved for those aged 12 through 64 with high‑risk conditions and all adults aged 65 and above . mNEXSPIKE offers a significant dosage reduction—about one‑fifth of Spikevax—achieved by refining the vaccine’s immune target. This design supports enhanced efficacy with potentially fewer side effects. Clinical data show that mNEXSPIKE demonstr…

Eli Lilly and Company has joined forces with the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to launch an £85 million programme aimed at developing innovative models of care for obesity. Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the initiative will run a UK-wide competition inviting NHS organisations to propose novel approaches to obesity management, with selected projects receiving pilot funding. The programme seeks to improve support for people living with obesity while aligning with the Government’s vision for an ‘NHS fit for the future’. Funding includes up to £50 million from DSIT and up to £35 million from Lilly, with at least £10 million earmarked for projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Models will be assessed for clinical alignment, resou…

US Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. has authorised the cancellation of 22 federally backed vaccine development programmes worth nearly $500 million, specifically those using mRNA technology to target respiratory viruses such as influenza, COVID‑19 and H5N1. Kennedy asserts that these vaccines “do not protect effectively” against upper‑respiratory infections and prefers investment in broader, whole‑virus platforms he considers safer. The affected contracts involve major players like Pfizer, Moderna, Sanofi Pasteur and CSL Seqirus. While HHS says some late‑stage projects will continue to completion to protect prior taxpayer investment, the shift marks a stark contrast to the mRNA‑focused strategies that were central to the COVID‑19 response. Public health experts, including Mike O…

A new trade framework announced during talks between President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen introduces a 15 % tariff on EU exports to the U.S., including branded pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical companies in Europe have warned that this move may add between $13 billion and $19 billion in annual costs to the industry. The tariffs are contingent on a pending U.S. Section 232 investigation into drug imports and will remain on hold until that probe concludes, expected around August . Generic medicines are reportedly excluded from the duties, though ambiguity remains about which specific products qualify. Industry representatives, including the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), criticised the policy as a blunt instru…

Responding to the British Medical Association (BMA) confirming that resident doctors will go on strike this week, Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, said: “It is bitterly disappointing that the British Medical Association (BMA) has not taken the decision to call off the strikes and that patients and the public now face five days of widespread disruption. This is in spite of efforts by the government and the NHS to avert the strike. "The impact will be felt most acutely by patients. We are talking about vital, life-changing care being disrupted. The needs of every at-risk patient should be put first here but they are not. "NHS leaders and their teams will do all they can to mitigate the risks and to try to ensure that as many essential services as possible are kept up a…

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has launched its novel oral treatment LEQSELVITM (deuruxolitinib) 8 mg tablets in the US for adults with severe alopecia areata. The debut follows an out‑of‑court settlement and licensing agreement with Incyte Corporation, resolving all pending patent disputes and clearing the path for the drug’s US rollout. LEQSELVITM, acquired through Sun Pharma’s $576 million purchase of Concert Pharmaceuticals, is a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor that offers a much‑needed treatment for severe hair loss. In Phase III trials (THRIVE‑AA1/AA2), about one‑third of patients experienced at least 80 % scalp hair regrowth in 24 weeks. Analysts project annual US sales of $400 million by fiscal year 2030, with peak potential of $900 million. Stock market analysts expect the launch and legal cle…