BioTech News and Headlines

Animal Muscles Inspire Biomaterial Design for Agriculture, Fabrics and Medicine
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Animal Muscles Inspire Biomaterial Design for Agriculture, Fabrics and Medicine

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have engineered muscle‑inspired protein fibers using synthetic biology, creating filamin‑based threads that combine high tensile strength, toughness, damping and shape‑memory. By growing genetically modified microbes in bioreactors, they achieved higher protein yields and...

By Phys.org – Biotechnology
Accelerating Next Generation Medicine with New Drug Delivery Platform
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Accelerating Next Generation Medicine with New Drug Delivery Platform

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have unveiled a modular materials platform that self‑assembles with RNA to form nanoscale delivery particles. The system uses reversible host‑guest linkages, allowing rapid tuning of stability and behavior for diverse therapeutic needs. In pre‑clinical...

By Phys.org – Nanotechnology
Electrochemical Signals Can Reshape Bacterial Protein Patterns, Boosting Electron Transfer
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Electrochemical Signals Can Reshape Bacterial Protein Patterns, Boosting Electron Transfer

Cornell researchers discovered that the inner‑membrane protein CymA in Shewanella oneidensis can self‑assemble into a biomolecular condensate, a behavior previously unseen in electroactive bacteria. By applying an external electrochemical signal, they induced the condensate, reorganizing CymA and its electron‑transfer partners...

By Phys.org – Biotechnology
Merck Reorganizes Human Health Work Into Two New Units
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Merck Reorganizes Human Health Work Into Two New Units

Merck is reorganizing its Human Health division into two distinct units—Oncology and Specialty, Pharma & Infectious Diseases—to sharpen focus as its flagship immuno‑oncology drug Keytruda approaches patent expiry. Jannie Oosthuizen, formerly head of U.S. Human Health, will lead the Oncology...

By BioSpace
FDA Unveils Pathway for Ultra-Rare Disease Therapies
NewsFeb 23, 2026

FDA Unveils Pathway for Ultra-Rare Disease Therapies

The FDA released draft guidance introducing the Plausible Mechanism Framework, a new approval pathway for individualized therapies targeting ultra‑rare diseases. The framework permits sponsors to seek clearance for gene‑editing and RNA‑based treatments when traditional randomized trials are infeasible due to...

By Becker’s Hospital Review
Bringing Quantum Ideas to the Messy World of Disordered Proteins
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Bringing Quantum Ideas to the Messy World of Disordered Proteins

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDRs) make up roughly 79 % of human cancer‑associated proteins and defy traditional structure‑based drug design. Akshay Uttarkar’s team introduced QuPepFold, a Python package that translates short peptide sequences onto a tetrahedral lattice and uses a CVaR‑optimized...

By Phys.org – Biotechnology
What the FDA’s Priority Voucher Decision Means for Psychedelic Drug Development
NewsFeb 23, 2026

What the FDA’s Priority Voucher Decision Means for Psychedelic Drug Development

The FDA’s Commissioner’s National Priority Review Voucher (CNPV) pilot compresses review timelines to one‑to‑two months for qualifying drugs, but its criteria favor applications with mature data packages. Compass Pathways’ synthetic psilocybin (COMP360) was listed as eligible yet did not receive...

By GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News)
Reading the Enemy: How Genome Science Is Reshaping the Fight Against Wheat Stem Rust
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Reading the Enemy: How Genome Science Is Reshaping the Fight Against Wheat Stem Rust

Researchers used long‑read DNA sequencing to assemble chromosome‑level genomes of two wheat stem‑rust strains that caused recent outbreaks in Ethiopia and Italy. The study showed these strains are unrelated to the notorious Ug99 lineage and each harbors distinct avirulence‑gene mutations...

By Phys.org – Biotechnology
SGLT2s Linked to Lower Cardiorenal, Hepatic Risks in Type 2 Diabetes
NewsFeb 23, 2026

SGLT2s Linked to Lower Cardiorenal, Hepatic Risks in Type 2 Diabetes

A Taiwanese retrospective cohort of 24,259 adults with type 2 diabetes and liver cirrhosis found that initiating sodium‑glucose cotransporter‑2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) markedly reduced the risk of end‑stage kidney disease, acute kidney injury, major adverse cardiovascular events, all‑cause mortality, and hepatic decompensation...

By AJMC (The American Journal of Managed Care)
New Targeted Base-Editing Tool Corrects Genetic Brain Disorder in Mice
NewsFeb 23, 2026

New Targeted Base-Editing Tool Corrects Genetic Brain Disorder in Mice

Researchers unveiled a TadA‑embedded adenine base editor (TeABE) that precisely corrects the pathogenic A‑T to G‑C mutation in the CHD3 gene of a mouse model of Snijders Blok‑Campeau syndrome. Delivered via a dual‑AAV viral system, the editor restored normal CHD3 protein...

By Medical Xpress
FDA Approves New Biotronik Pacing Lead for LBBAP
NewsFeb 23, 2026

FDA Approves New Biotronik Pacing Lead for LBBAP

Biotronik received FDA clearance for its Solia CSP S pacing lead, a device engineered specifically for left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP). The lead combines a stylet‑driven platform with a novel fixed‑helix screw, addressing procedural simplicity and electrical performance. Approval relied on...

By Cardiovascular Business
Silencing Ghrelin The Hunger Hormone
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Silencing Ghrelin The Hunger Hormone

Recent research reveals that several snake lineages have completely lost the hunger hormone ghrelin and its activating enzyme, yet maintain normal energy balance. Modern anti‑obesity drugs, such as GLP‑1 receptor agonists, achieve weight loss by amplifying satiety signals rather than...

By Forbes – Healthcare
EU Pledges €225m to Develop Next Generation of Flu Vaccines
NewsFeb 23, 2026

EU Pledges €225m to Develop Next Generation of Flu Vaccines

The European Commission has pledged €225 million through a pre‑commercial procurement model to accelerate the development of next‑generation influenza vaccines. Ten entities, including Sanofi and Bavarian Nordic, will receive eight‑year contracts that cover clinical testing through market authorisation. The funding targets...

By Pharmaceutical Technology (GlobalData)
Six RNAi Companies to Keep an Eye on in 2026
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Six RNAi Companies to Keep an Eye on in 2026

RNA interference (RNAi) has moved from a scientific curiosity to a fast‑growing therapeutic platform, with the global market projected to reach $1.97 billion by 2032. Six biotech firms—Aerska, ADARx, Alnylam, Arrowhead, City Therapeutics and SanegeneBio—are leading the next wave of innovation...

By Labiotech.eu
Before AGBT Kicks Off, Ultima Unveils the UG 200
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Before AGBT Kicks Off, Ultima Unveils the UG 200

Ultima Genomics announced the UG 200 series, a second‑generation sequencing platform that includes a single‑wafer UG 200 and a dual‑wafer UG 200 Ultra. Both instruments are half the size of the UG 100, cost less (starting at $850,000), and deliver...

By GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News)
REGENXBIO Secures Legal Win in Gene Therapy Patent Battle Vs. Sarepta
NewsFeb 23, 2026

REGENXBIO Secures Legal Win in Gene Therapy Patent Battle Vs. Sarepta

An appellate court reversed a lower‑court ruling, siding with REGENXBIO in its patent dispute against Sarepta Therapeutics over an adeno‑associated virus (AAV) vector used in Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy. The judge held that the patented composition, as a whole,...

By BioSpace
A New Era in Neuropsychiatry: Dr. Velichka Valcheva on GH Research’s Rapid-Acting Breakthrough, GH001
NewsFeb 23, 2026

A New Era in Neuropsychiatry: Dr. Velichka Valcheva on GH Research’s Rapid-Acting Breakthrough, GH001

GH Research’s inhaled mebufotenin (GH001) demonstrated ultra‑rapid, profound antidepressant effects in a Phase 2b trial for treatment‑resistant depression, with 73% of patients in remission after six months versus ~11% for standard oral therapies. Early‑stage studies in postpartum depression and bipolar disorder...

By PharmaShots
Gilead Shows Belief in Its Partner’s Cancer Treatment with $7.8 Billion Buyout
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Gilead Shows Belief in Its Partner’s Cancer Treatment with $7.8 Billion Buyout

Gilead Sciences agreed to acquire the remaining shares of Arcellx for an equity value of $7.8 billion, paying $115 per share—a 79.4% premium to the prior close. The deal secures full rights to Arcellx’s BCMA‑directed CAR‑T therapy anito‑cel, which is in...

By MarketWatch – Top Stories
Novo’s CagriSema Falls to Lilly’s Zepbound in Daring Head-to-Head Test
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Novo’s CagriSema Falls to Lilly’s Zepbound in Daring Head-to-Head Test

Novo Nordisk’s experimental obesity drug CagriSema delivered a 23% average weight loss in the 84‑week REDEFINE 4 Phase 3 trial, but fell short of Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide (Zepbound) which achieved 25.5%. The head‑to‑head study failed the primary non‑inferiority endpoint, prompting a 15% drop...

By BioSpace
STAT+: Gossamer Lung Disease Drug Fails Late-Stage Study, but Company Will Still Seek FDA Approval
NewsFeb 23, 2026

STAT+: Gossamer Lung Disease Drug Fails Late-Stage Study, but Company Will Still Seek FDA Approval

Gossamer Bio announced that its Phase 3 trial of seralutinib for pulmonary arterial hypertension missed its primary endpoint. Patients on seralutinib walked 13 meters farther than placebo over six minutes, but the difference lacked statistical significance. The trial also reported cough...

By STAT (Biotech)
The BIG Summit Meets at the Intersection of Patient Advocacy and Venture Investment
NewsFeb 23, 2026

The BIG Summit Meets at the Intersection of Patient Advocacy and Venture Investment

At the BIO Investor Growth (BIG) Summit, IBD Ventures’ associate director Nicole Schwerbrock discussed how venture philanthropy and patient advocacy are reshaping investment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research. She explained that patient‑driven funding models complement traditional venture capital by...

By Bio.News
STAT+: Gilead to Buy Arcellx in Nearly $8B Deal
NewsFeb 23, 2026

STAT+: Gilead to Buy Arcellx in Nearly $8B Deal

Gilead Sciences announced a $7.8 billion acquisition of Arcellx, pricing the deal at $115 per share—a 79% premium to the prior close. The agreement includes an additional $5 per share contingent on future sales milestones. Central to the transaction is anito‑cel,...

By STAT (Biotech)
Partner Therapeutics Reports P-II (eNRGy) Post-Hoc Results on Zenocutuzumab for NRG1+ NSCLC
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Partner Therapeutics Reports P-II (eNRGy) Post-Hoc Results on Zenocutuzumab for NRG1+ NSCLC

Partner Therapeutics presented post‑hoc data from its Phase II eNRGy study of zenocutuzumab (Bizengri) in 27 patients with advanced NRG1‑positive non‑small cell lung cancer who received at least three doses beyond radiographic progression. Eight patients stayed on therapy for six months...

By PharmaShots
STAT+: Novo Nordisk’s Next-Gen Obesity Drug Stumbles in Comparison Study
NewsFeb 23, 2026

STAT+: Novo Nordisk’s Next-Gen Obesity Drug Stumbles in Comparison Study

Novo Nordisk’s next‑generation obesity drug CagriSema failed to demonstrate non‑inferiority to Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide in the 84‑week REDEFINE 4 study, achieving 20.2% weight loss versus 23.6% for tirzepatide. The open‑label trial showed the two treatments were not statistically equivalent. Following the announcement,...

By STAT News — Pharma
Transforming Epilepsy Care: How Innovative Implantable Neurotechnology Offers New Hope
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Transforming Epilepsy Care: How Innovative Implantable Neurotechnology Offers New Hope

PRECISIS GmbH’s EASEE® epicranial neurostimulation system offers a minimally invasive alternative for drug‑resistant focal epilepsy. The implant, positioned under the scalp atop the skull, delivers targeted electrical pulses without opening the skull, achieving a median 68% seizure reduction over two...

By MedTech Dive
J&J Reports Long-Term QUASAR Data for Tremfya in Ulcerative Colitis
NewsFeb 23, 2026

J&J Reports Long-Term QUASAR Data for Tremfya in Ulcerative Colitis

Johnson & Johnson released long‑term QUASAR extension data for Tremfya (guselkumab) in ulcerative colitis, showing sustained efficacy through week 140. Clinical remission was achieved by 80.8% of patients, with 78.6% attaining histo‑endoscopic improvement and 53.6% reaching endoscopic remission. Approximately 89% of...

By Hospital Management
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Reports the US FDA’s Approval of Bysanti (Milsaperidone) for Acute Bipolar I Disorder & Schizophrenia
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Reports the US FDA’s Approval of Bysanti (Milsaperidone) for Acute Bipolar I Disorder & Schizophrenia

Vanda Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. FDA has approved Bysanti (milsaperidone), an active metabolite of iloperidone, as a first‑line therapy for acute manic or mixed episodes in bipolar I disorder and for schizophrenia. The approval is based on demonstrated bioequivalence...

By PharmaShots
Sickle Cell Gene Therapies Casgevy and Lyfgenia Still Lacking Traction 2 Years In
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Sickle Cell Gene Therapies Casgevy and Lyfgenia Still Lacking Traction 2 Years In

In February 2024 Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics launched Casgevy, and bluebird bio (now Genetix Biotherapeutics) launched Lyfgenia as the first FDA‑approved gene therapies for sickle cell disease. Two years later, uptake remains modest—only 64 patients received Casgevy and just over 100...

By BioSpace
Beyond Rezdiffra: The 4 Most Promising MASH Pipelines in Play
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Beyond Rezdiffra: The 4 Most Promising MASH Pipelines in Play

Madrigal’s Rezdiffra became the first approved therapy for metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatohepatitis (MASH), generating $817 million in revenue within six quarters and prompting a wave of big‑pharma acquisitions focused on FGF21 analogs. In 2025, GSK, Roche and Novo Nordisk spent nearly $10 billion acquiring...

By BioSpace
Vir Biotechnology Inc (VIR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Vir Biotechnology Inc (VIR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

CVRx reported fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue of $16 million, a modest 4% rise, while gross margin improved to 86% driven by higher selling prices and manufacturing efficiencies. The company added 13% more active implanting centers, reaching 252, and expanded U.S. sales territories...

By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
GeneDx Holdings Corp (WGS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
NewsFeb 23, 2026

GeneDx Holdings Corp (WGS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

GeneDx Holdings reported Q3 2025 revenue of $116.7 million, a 52% year‑over‑year increase, driven by a 66% jump in exome and genome revenue to $98.9 million and 25,702 tests performed. Adjusted gross margin rose to 74% as higher reimbursement rates and a...

By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
Summit Therapeutics Inc (SMMT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Summit Therapeutics Inc (SMMT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Summit Therapeutics reported a strong cash position of $713 million with no debt at the end of 2025, while GAAP operating expenses fell to $225 million despite a rise in non‑GAAP R&D spend. The FDA accepted the Biologics License Application for ivonesumab...

By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
Myriad Genetics Inc (MYGN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Myriad Genetics Inc (MYGN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Myriad Genetics reported Q4 2025 revenue of $209.8 million, essentially flat year‑over‑year but above its pre‑announced range, while test volume rose 2% to 382,000. Strong double‑digit growth was seen in MyRisk hereditary cancer (14% affected, 11% unaffected), Prolaris prostate cancer (12%...

By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Inc (TARS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Inc (TARS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals reported record 2025 net product sales of $451.4 million, driven by XDEMVY adoption, and issued its first full‑year 2026 guidance forecasting $670‑$700 million, implying over 50% revenue growth. The company highlighted a 44% gross‑to‑net discount, a robust DTC campaign that...

By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
Axsome Therapeutics Inc (AXSM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Axsome Therapeutics Inc (AXSM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Axsome Therapeutics reported a 66% revenue surge to $639 million in 2025, driven by strong growth in Auvelity, Sunosi and the newly launched Cymbravo. Net loss narrowed to $183 million, a 35% improvement year‑over‑year, while cash rose to $323 million. The company secured...

By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
Trends and Patterns of Medical Stimulant Use by US Adults
NewsFeb 23, 2026

Trends and Patterns of Medical Stimulant Use by US Adults

Recent analyses reveal a steady rise in medical stimulant prescriptions among U.S. adults, with a 30% increase between 2013 and 2022. The expansion of telehealth, especially after COVID‑19, contributed to roughly 40% of new adult ADHD initiations, while FDA alerts...

By Nature (Biotechnology)
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc (BMRN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
NewsFeb 23, 2026

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc (BMRN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

BioMarin Pharmaceutical raised its fiscal 2025 total revenue guidance, now starting at $3.15 billion, and reaffirmed Voxzogo revenue between $900 million and $935 million. The company lifted non‑GAAP operating margin guidance to 26‑27% and lifted diluted EPS guidance to $3.50‑$3.60. A $221 million IPR&D...

By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
AI Tools Can Design Genomes. Will They Upend How Life Evolves?
NewsFeb 23, 2026

AI Tools Can Design Genomes. Will They Upend How Life Evolves?

Artificial‑intelligence tools are now capable of designing genes that function in mammalian cells and have even generated a fully synthetic virus, marking a watershed for generative biology. In his new book, Adrian Woolfson outlines how computational models could evolve into...

By Nature – Health Policy
First-of-a-Kind Stem Cell Therapies Set for Approval in Japan
NewsFeb 23, 2026

First-of-a-Kind Stem Cell Therapies Set for Approval in Japan

Japan’s health ministry is set to grant conditional approval to two first‑of‑a‑kind regenerative medicines – Amchepry for Parkinson’s disease and ReHeart for severe heart failure – after tiny phase I/II trials involving seven and eight patients respectively. Both drugs are derived...

By Nature – Health Policy
Adolescent Depression Subtypes Show Distinct Brain Dynamics
NewsFeb 22, 2026

Adolescent Depression Subtypes Show Distinct Brain Dynamics

A new Nature Communications study reveals two neurobiologically distinct subtypes of adolescent major depressive disorder by analyzing information dynamics in sensory‑association cortices. One subtype shows heightened feedforward signaling, correlating with sensory hypersensitivity and anxiety, while the other exhibits reduced feedback...

By Bioengineer.org
Engineered Nanoparticles Could Deliver Better Targeted Cancer Treatment to Lymph Nodes
NewsFeb 21, 2026

Engineered Nanoparticles Could Deliver Better Targeted Cancer Treatment to Lymph Nodes

Scientists at McGill University and the Goodman Cancer Institute have engineered nanoparticles that deliver an existing immunotherapy directly to metastatic lymph nodes. The nanocomplex senses a molecule abundant in cancer‑laden nodes, activating the drug only at the disease site while...

By Phys.org – Nanotechnology
A Trillionth of a Second: How Lasers May Sharpen Next-Gen Cryo-ET Microscopy
NewsFeb 21, 2026

A Trillionth of a Second: How Lasers May Sharpen Next-Gen Cryo-ET Microscopy

Scientists at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute and Cornell’s Maxson lab have linked a pulsed laser to a cryo‑electron tomography (cryo‑ET) microscope, creating a proof‑of‑concept that modulates electron phase to boost image contrast. The technique exploits laser‑induced lensing within a trillionth of...

By Phys.org – Biotechnology
Safe Ultrasound Opens Brain Barrier via Tight Junctions
NewsFeb 21, 2026

Safe Ultrasound Opens Brain Barrier via Tight Junctions

Researchers have detailed how focused ultrasound safely and reversibly opens the blood‑brain barrier by transiently reorganizing tight‑junction proteins. The study shows that pulsed ultrasound creates a brief paracellular window that permits therapeutic agents to reach brain tissue without causing inflammation...

By Bioengineer.org
Ephrin-A1–EphA2 Signaling: New Fracture Prevention Target
NewsFeb 21, 2026

Ephrin-A1–EphA2 Signaling: New Fracture Prevention Target

Researchers have identified the Ephrin‑A1/EphA2 signaling axis as a promising therapeutic target for preventing osteoporotic fractures. Preclinical studies demonstrated that blocking EphA2 activity enhances bone formation and improves microarchitecture in mouse models of age‑related bone loss. The findings suggest that...

By Bioengineer.org
How Your Body Senses Cold—And Why Menthol Feels Cool
NewsFeb 21, 2026

How Your Body Senses Cold—And Why Menthol Feels Cool

Researchers used cryo‑electron microscopy to capture multiple conformational states of the cold‑sensing ion channel TRPM8 as it transitions from closed to open. The study revealed that actual cold and menthol trigger the channel through overlapping yet distinct allosteric pathways, with...

By Phys.org – Biotechnology
Sometimes Less Is More: Messier Nanoparticles May Actually Deliver Drugs More Effectively than Tightly Packed Ones
NewsFeb 21, 2026

Sometimes Less Is More: Messier Nanoparticles May Actually Deliver Drugs More Effectively than Tightly Packed Ones

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen unveiled a high‑throughput, single‑nanoparticle analysis that examined millions of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) used for RNA delivery. The study identified two distinct LNP subpopulations—organized, onion‑layered particles and disordered, amorphous particles—and found the latter release their...

By Phys.org – Nanotechnology
It Seems Bad That Temu Is Selling Peptides
NewsFeb 21, 2026

It Seems Bad That Temu Is Selling Peptides

A recent Futurism report reveals that the low‑cost e‑commerce platform Temu is selling a variety of peptide products, including BPC‑157 and GLP‑1‑like compounds, at prices as low as $4. These peptides, marketed as muscle, skin, or cognitive boosters, are often...

By Futurism BioTech
What Is a 'Seesaw Protein' That Switches Functions by Changing Shape?
NewsFeb 20, 2026

What Is a 'Seesaw Protein' That Switches Functions by Changing Shape?

Researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo have engineered an artificial "seesaw protein" that alternates between a fluorescent marker and an enzymatic catalyst. The switch is controlled by a single amino‑acid change, pH shifts, or ligand binding, and only one...

By Phys.org – Biotechnology
Learning From FDA’s Moderna U-Turn
NewsFeb 20, 2026

Learning From FDA’s Moderna U-Turn

The FDA abruptly reversed its decision to approve Moderna’s mRNA‑based flu vaccine after the White House intervened, sparking intense discussion in biotech boardrooms. The reversal was driven by political considerations rather than new scientific data, underscoring the agency’s vulnerability to...

By BioCentury