The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to October 17

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell

M&A activity last week saw BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announce it will acquire fellow USA-based Astria Therapeutics along with its navenibart for the treatment of hereditary angioedema, boosting its own HAE portfolio for around $700 million. US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson was the first out of the big pharma block reporting third-quarter financial results, which were better than expected. On the regulatory front, Disc Medicine received a priority review voucher from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its bitopertin, a potential treatment for erythropoietic protophyria. Also of note, Sino American biotech I-Mab Biopharma announced a wide-ranging strategic overhaul, including a rebranding.

HAE continues to be a hotbed of M&A