Latest Pharma and Biotech News
Pharmaceutical
6 November 2025 Arena BioWorks, a privately funded biomedical research institute that aimed to overhaul the traditional drug discovery model, has closed its doors less than two years after its $500 million launch. The decision follows what its founding investor group called “dramatic changes” in biotech market conditions, with no clear recovery in sight.
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Pharmaceutical
US anti-virals giant Gilead Sciences late yesterday announced its third quarter 2025 results of operations, reporting total revenues increased 3% to $7.8 billion compared to the same period in 2024, but missed consensus estimates by -1%. 31 October 2025
Biotechnology
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) has begun in-house manufacturing and clinical use of CAR-T cell therapy, a move chief executive Dr Majid Alfayyadh says signals Saudi Arabia’s readiness to lead the next era of biotechnology. 31 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
German family-owned pharma major Boehringer Ingelheim has licensed a pre-clinical program from Japan’s Kyowa Kirin to develop a potential first-in-class, small molecule for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. 31 October 2025
Biotechnology
US biotech 4D Molecular Therapeutics has granted Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical exclusive rights to develop and commercialize its gene therapy 4D-150 in Asia-Pacific markets, securing $85 million upfront to help fund its Phase III program for wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. 31 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
The US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has approved nine drugs for a pilot testing a new rebate model under the federal 340B drug discount program: a move that follows years of friction between hospitals and drugmakers over pricing practices. 31 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
China’s R&D and manufacturing services provider WuXi AppTec has reached agreement for Hillhouse Investment Management to acquire WuXi AppTec’s China-based clinical research services business, including WuXi Clinical, a Clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO), and WuXi MedKey, a Site Management Organization (SMO). 31 October 2025
Biotechnology
Swiss pharma major Roche has entered a global exclusive licensing agreement with China’s Qyuns Therapeutics for QX031N, a preclinical bispecific antibody targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and interleukin-33 (IL-33). The deal, disclosed in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing, grants Roche worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the candidate. 31 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
The top 20 global biopharmaceutical companies saw their combined market capitalization rise 4% in the third quarter of 2025 to $3.8 trillion, according to GlobalData. The growth reflected mixed performances, with strong pipeline progress lifting several players while others faced pricing and policy headwinds. 31 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
Merck & Co posted third-quarter revenue 2025 of $17.3 billion, up 4% year over year, while adjusted earnings rose to $2.58 per share, an increase of 64%. Net income climbed to $6.4 billion from $4 billion a year earlier, driven by strength in oncology and cardiovascular drugs. 31 October 2025
Biotechnology
Germany-based biotech Tubulis today announced a second and final closing of its Series C round totaling 344 million euros ($401million). 30 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
Japan’s largest drugmaker Takeda today announced earnings results for the first half of fiscal year 2025 (six months ended September 30, 2025) and updated its full-year outlook. 30 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
US pharma major Eli Lilly today announced its financial results for the third-quarter of 2025, exceeding expectations and pushing its share price up 7% in pre-market activity. 30 October 2025
Biotechnology
Swiss pharma giant Novartis today presented new ianalumab data in Sjögren’s disease, the second most prevalent rheumatic autoimmune disease, at a late-breaker presentation during the American College of Rheumatology Convergence congress. 30 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
US biotech Biogen reported third-quarter 2025 revenue of $2.5 billion, up 3%, with GAAP diluted EPS of $3.17, up 19%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $4.81, up 18%. Management revised 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance to $14.50–$15.00, citing expected fourth-quarter charges from business development transactions. 30 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) reported third-quarter 2025 revenue of $12.2 billion, up 3% year-on-year, with non-GAAP earnings per share of $1.63. Growth was driven by the company’s newer products, which rose 18% to $6.9 billion, offsetting continued declines in its legacy portfolio. GAAP EPS climbed to $1.08 from $0.60. 30 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
Austrian biotech VALANX Biotech has appointed Klaus Orlinger as chief scientific officer, reinforcing its leadership as the company advances its first antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), VLX-ADC-001, toward candidate selection. The move signals VALANX’s shift from technology development to therapeutic application of its GoldenSite platform. 30 October 2025
Biotechnology
South Korea-based Samsung Life Science Fund, created jointly between Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis, and Samsung C&T , and managed by Samsung Ventures, today announced an equity investment in Arbor Biotechnologies, a US clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing the next generation of in vivo genetic medicines. 30 October 2025
Pharmaceutical
Danish pharma major Novo Nordisk today confirmed that it submitted an unsolicited proposal to acquire Metsera, aiming to outbid US pharma giant Pfizer, which just last month announced its own offer to acquire Metsera. 30 October 2025
Biotechnology
Swiss drug developer Oculis Holding today announced the pricing of offerings of an aggregate of 5,432,098 of its ordinary shares, 0.01 francs nominal value per share, at a price of $20.25 per share for total gross proceeds of $110 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. 30 October 2025
Generics
Swiss generics and biosimilars drugmaker Sandoz today presented its net-sales performance for the nine months and third quarter ended September 30, 2025. Sandoz does not present profit figures for the odd-numbered quarters. 30 October 2025
All news
Biotechnology
Research news last week featured US CRIPR genome-editing company Caribou Biosciences announcing positive early data on its Hodgkin lymphoma candidate vispacabtagene regedleucel (vispa-cell). US biotech start-up Braveheart Bio raised $185 million to support development of its cardiomyopathy candidate BHB-1893. Eli Lilly last week said it would move its obesity candidate eloralintide into Phase III following positive Phase II results. Lilly also inked a deal with the US government to reduce patient costs for obesity drugs including Zepbound and orforglipron. 9 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
The last week or so has seen an escalation of the bidding war for US obesity-focused Metsera, with counter bids and law suits galore, but now that battle is over. 8 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Pfizer’s extension to the licence of the Abrysvo (respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (bivalent, recombinant) to include the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in individuals 18-59 years of age who are at increased risk for lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV. 8 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
Biopharma company Pelthos Therapeutics has acquired the US commercialization rights to Xepi (ozenoxacin) Cream, 1%, from Biofrontera and Ferrer Internacional. 7 November 2025
Biotechnology
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex Faspro (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) as a single agent treatment for adult patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (HR-SMM). 7 November 2025
Biotechnology
Danish biotech Genmab reported a 25% rise in its total revenue to $1.02 billion during the third quarter of 2025, ahead of analysts’ expectations for $966 million. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
German pharma major Bayer announced new Phase III investigational data from the pivotal FINE-ONE trial showing that Kerendia (finerenone) significantly reduced urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) from baseline over six months by 25% compared to placebo in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were receiving standard of care (95% CI=0.75 [0.65; 0.87]; p=0.0001). 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
US pharma major Eli Lilly has partnered with chipmaker NVIDIA to develop an AI supercomputer for pharmaceutical research, a collaboration that GlobalData says could transform how medicines are discovered and developed. The project will accelerate molecular simulations, protein analysis, and large-scale AI model training to shorten the R&D cycle. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Caplyta (lumateperone) as an adjunctive therapy with antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
US pharma major Eli Lilly has announced an agreement with the US government to expand access to its obesity medicines and reduce patient costs. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
Danish pharma major Novo Nordisk has presented new post-hoc analyses from the Phase III REDEFINE 1 trial evaluating CagriSema (cagrilintide/semaglutide), an investigational injectable combination treatment for overweight or obese adults, and effects on well-known cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, including hypertension and systemic inflammation. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
Danish diabetes and obesity drug giant Novo Nordisk has agreed with the US Administration to lower drug prices beginning in 2026 and expand patient access and affordability for its GLP-1 semaglutide medicines, including Wegovy and Ozempic, in the USA. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
The global endometrial cancer market is on course for steady expansion, projected to reach nearly $39 billion by 2030. Growth is being fueled by rising incidence rates linked to aging populations, obesity, and metabolic conditions, alongside expanding use of targeted and immuno-oncology therapies in key regions, particularly the USA. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
The USA’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is tackling high drug prices and protecting the American taxpayers through a landmark Innovation Center initiative designed to lower prescription drug spending in Medicaid, improve health outcomes by increasing access to critical medications, and strengthen the Medicaid program overall. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
Belgian biopharma company UCB has announced a leadership reshuffle, effective January 1, 2026, as part of a plan to reinforce cross-functional collaboration and sustain growth. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
The Russian government has proposed a new mechanism for subsidization of works for development of new drugs, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
Eli Lilly is preparing to start Phase III trials of its experimental obesity therapy eloralintide by year-end, following Phase II results that showed weight reductions of up to 20% over 48 weeks. The once-weekly injection was well-tolerated, strengthening confidence in Lilly’s expanding obesity portfolio. 7 November 2025
Pharmaceutical
Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca closed Thursday’s trading 3% higher, as investors digested its third quarter financial results. 6 November 2025
Biosimilars
South Korea’s Samsung Bioepis. has signed a settlement and license agreement with Johnson & Johnson concerning the commercialization of Pyzchiva, a biosimilar to J&J’s Stelara (ustekinumab), in Europe. The terms of the agreement remain confidential. 6 November 2025
Biotechnology
US biopharma company Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical today announced the sale, for $400 million, of an additional 25% of the company’s royalty interest from Kyowa Kirin on the future sales of Crysvita (burosumab) in the USA and Canada to OMERS, one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans. 6 November 2025
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