Pharmaco - 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
GSK announced that its chief executive, Dame Emma Walmsley, will step down at the end of 2025, marking the close of an eight year tenure. She will be succeeded by Luke Miels, currently the company’s chief commercial officer, who is set to take over on 1 January 2026.
Walmsley became the first woman to lead a major pharmaceutical company when she took on the role in 2017. During her leadership she oversaw a major transformation of GSK, including the 2022 spin off of its consumer health business Haleon, and sharpened the company’s focus on specialty medicines, vaccines and research investment.
While her time as CEO drew some criticism over share performance, she guided the company through a significant period of change and positioned it for future growth. The GSK board praised her leadership…
Novo Nordisk is embarking on a sweeping global restructuring program that will eliminate 9,000 jobs; approximately 11–11.5 percent of its 78,400-strong workforce. Around 5,000 of these reductions will take place in Denmark. The move is intended to simplify the organisation and hasten decision-making as the company contends with mounting competitive pressures, particularly in obesity treatments from rivals such as Eli Lilly, and slowing growth in key markets. The firm has already imposed a hiring freeze for roles deemed non-critical.
This restructuring is expected to yield annual savings of nearly 8 billion Danish kroner (about $1.25 billion) by 2026, although it will incur one-off costs of around 9 billion kroner (~$1.26 billion) in the third quarter. Novo has revised its operating profit…
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…
Pfizer and Astellas announced encouraging interim results from a late stage trial combining its antibody drug conjugate Padcev with Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. The combination, administered before and after surgery, delivered significant improvements in both event‑free survival (how long patients remained recurrence‑free) and overall survival compared to surgery alone. Johanna Bendell, Pfizer’s oncology chief development officer, emphasised the potential for this treatment to reshape standard care for this aggressive cancer, which accounts for around 25 percent of new bladder cancer cases. Padcev, approved in 2019 for metastatic urothelial cancer, generated $1.59 billion in sales last year. Pfizer and Astellas now plans to engage with glo…
Novo Nordisk is confronting intensifying challenges surrounding its blockbuster weight‑loss therapy Wegovy (semaglutide). The company has slashed its 2025 sales growth forecast to 8–14% from an earlier projection of 13–21%, triggering an estimated €60–70 billion drop in market value across stock markets. Rising competition from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro, coupled with the widespread availability of unbranded compounded versions of Wegovy in the U.S., have significantly dented its market share.
Novo Nordisk has also ended its partnership with telehealth firm Hims & Hers following concerns over the sale of cheaper compounded semaglutide that undercut branded products. New CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar, a long‑time company insider and first non‑Danish leader, is expected to refocus comm…
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has struck a major licensing agreement with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals granting GSK exclusive global rights—outside Greater China—to Hengrui’s clinical‑stage COPD drug HRS‑9821 along with 11 additional early‑stage programmes across respiratory, immunology, inflammation and oncology. The deal involves a $500 million upfront payment, with total potential milestone and royalty payments of up to $12 billion if all development and commercial targets are met. HRS‑9821 is a PDE3/4 inhibitor being developed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, intended to address persistent shortness of breath and provide maintenance therapy regardless of background treatment. Hengrui will lead early development of the 11 other programmes up to completion of phase I trials, while G…
Thermo Fisher Scientific has reached an agreement to acquire Sanofi’s sterile drug product manufacturing facility in Ridgefield, New Jersey. The site, specializing in fill‑finish and packaging of aseptic injectable medications, currently employs over 200 staff who will transfer to Thermo Fisher upon deal completion. The acquisition is expected to close in late 2025 and aligns with both companies’ strategic initiatives to bolster U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Sanofi is ramping up investments in U.S. manufacturing and research, targeting at least $20 billion by 2030. Thermo Fisher, which is committing roughly $2 billion to enhance its domestic production capacity, views the Ridgefield location as a key asset. CEO Marc Casper highlighted that the acquisition strengthens Thermo Fisher’s 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…
LEO Pharma has struck a major deal to acquire exclusive global commercial rights for Spevigo (spesolimab) from Boehringer Ingelheim for US $105 million upfront, with milestone payments and royalties expected later. Spevigo is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the IL‑36 receptor, approved for generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP)—a rare, potentially life‑threatening skin disease characterized by painful pustular flares. Boehringer has already launched the therapy in more than 40 countries, including the US, Japan, China, and Europe.
Under the agreement, LEO Pharma will lead global commercialization and further development of Spevigo, leveraging its deep expertise in dermatology. Both companies will explore expanding the therapy into other IL‑36–mediated skin conditions such as palmop…
