The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to May 15, 2026

17 May 2026

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Significant deal-making news last week included US pharma Rigel acquiring rights to Arvinas and Pfizer’s breast cancer drug Veppanu for up to $405 million, and Hengrui Pharma entered into a deal with Bristol Myers Squibb licensing 13 early-stage oncology and hematology programs to the US major for up to $15.2 billion. In other news, Biogen released mixed Phase II trial results for its investigational cancer drug diranersen, under development with Ionis, and China’s BeOne Medicines gained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Beqalzi in mantle cell lymphoma.

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