Today Stories

Global neuroscience-focused pharmaceutical company H. Lundbeck A/S has entered into a strategic collaboration with OpenAI to deploy enterprise-grade AI tools across its operations. The agreement enables Lundbeck to harness open-artificial intelligence platforms to support its mission of transforming brain health research and therapy development. Under the collaboration Lundbeck will leverage OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise platform to empower teams from discovery of molecules to delivery of treatments. The company expects the AI-driven tools to enhance decision-making, accelerate innovation and streamline processes across research and development and global operations. With brain- and central nervous system-related disorders remaining difficult to treat, the integration of advanced AI capabili…

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…

Novartis has announced that its oral complement-factor B inhibitor Fabhalta® (iptacopan) has met the primary endpoint of the Phase III APPLAUSE‑IgAN study in adults with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). In the final analysis of the trial, patients receiving Fabhalta showed a statistically significant improvement in the annualised slope of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline compared with placebo over two years, indicating slowed kidney-function deterioration. According to Novartis, Fabhalta is the first and only approved complement inhibitor for adult IgAN and the new data support its potential to delay disease progression. The study included adults with biopsy-confirmed primary IgAN who had proteinuria and were on maximally tolerated renin-angiotensin system inhibitors with or with…

LGC Group has officially opened a new purpose-built “National Laboratories” facility in Guildford, reinforcing the UK’s leadership in measurement science. The £20 million investment brings together three pivotal national science functions under one roof for the first time: the National Measurement Laboratory (NML), the Office of the Government Chemist (GC) and the chemical laboratories of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). These teams will deliver trusted measurement science that supports public health, product safety and innovation across medicines, food, environment and manufacturing. Located in The Priestley Building at Surrey Research Park, the facility is designed to connect national capability with academia, industry and the health-service ecosystem in a…

Chemify, a Glasgow-based deep-tech company revolutionising molecular design and synthesis, has raised over $50 million in an oversubscribed Series B round co-led by Wing Venture Capital and Insight Partners. The funding will support global expansion of its Chemputation platform and Chemifarm facilities—fully automated labs integrating AI, robotics, and a vast library of validated chemical reactions. Chemify’s vision is to become the digital backbone of chemistry, enabling rapid, on-demand molecule creation for pharmaceuticals, biotech, and advanced materials. The investment will accelerate the rollout of digital chemistry hubs worldwide, including a new Silicon Valley facility led by CTO Mike Bell. Founded in 2022, Chemify combines automation, computation, and AI to transform chemical synt…

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…

Innovative technology platform reshapes how sponsors, CRO, and clinical sites manage complex clinical trials at scale   Almac Group has today announced a $48 million investment in eClinical technologies that includes the launch of Almac Trial Coordinator™ – a first-in-class interoperable clinical trial technology platform, enhancements to its eClinical ecosystem capabilities, and creation of over 100 advanced technology roles globally. This investment addresses the top technology challenges facing sponsors, CROs, and clinical sites through the solution’s market-disrupting and interoperable approach to integration, enabling high-quality, efficient trials with full visibility, reduced risk, and enhanced patient engagement.   Almac Trial Coordinator™ is purpose-built to unify operational proc…

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…

Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) has been named as a new Innovate UK Knowledge Base in the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme, strengthening the UK’s life sciences innovation ecosystem. MDC will now act as a partner in KTPs — working with businesses and embedding KTP Associates into projects (12 to 36 months) to transfer advanced knowledge in drug discovery and commercialisation.  As a Knowledge Base, MDC offers access to its extensive laboratory infrastructure, technical skills, and translational capabilities. This gives participating firms a path to validate new ideas, reduce development risks, and accelerate bringing therapies to patients.  KTPs combine public and private resources: Innovate UK co-funds projects alongside partner companies. Since 2010, KTP projects have ad…

AI-native biotech startup expands to Oxford to develop predictive models for safer, faster drug discovery Fukuoka, Japan – October 3, 2025 – Tres Alchemix, a cutting-edge biotechnology company applying artificial intelligence (AI) to drug discovery, has closed a $4.4 million Series A funding round (approx. ¥650 million JPY), led by DNX Ventures, with support from Waseda University Ventures. The funding will fuel the development of Tres Alchemix’s human in silico drug-design platform, a technology that integrates multi-omic datasets, quantum-chemical calculations, and AI modeling to simulate drug interactions in the human body. This enables direct predictions of both therapeutic effects and potential adverse reactions, dramatically improving the speed and safety of early drug discovery. The…

A new industry and academic consortium has been formed to advance OpenFold3, the latest version of the open-source AI model for molecular structure prediction. The AI Structural Biology consortium brings together leading pharmaceutical companies and research institutions with the goal of improving predictions of protein and small molecule interactions, a critical challenge in drug discovery. OpenFold3 builds on previous versions of the model by integrating broader datasets and advanced cloud computing capabilities. It is designed to expand beyond protein structure prediction and achieve industrial-level accuracy for modeling how drugs interact with their molecular targets. A key feature of the consortium is its federated learning approach. Instead of sharing sensitive data directly, pharma…

Oxford North, a landmark £1.2 billion innovation district, has been officially opened by Lord Hague of Richmond, Chancellor of the University of Oxford. Developed through a joint venture between St John’s College’s Thomas White Oxford, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and Stanhope, the project aims to transform the UK’s science, technology, and AI infrastructure. Phase 1A has delivered 158,500 sq ft of new workspace, including two lab buildings and The Red Hall, a 33,000 sq ft innovation centre. Units range from 2,000 to 56,000 sq ft, with a further 13,500 sq ft undergoing fit-out by December. Billed as Oxford’s first seven-day science and technology community, the district offers 25,000 sqm of amenities, including a café, town hall, coworking spaces, a public square, and Fallaize Park, whi…

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…

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…

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…