Today's Pharma Pulse
Ona lands $86.6M Series B, one of Spain’s biggest biotech rounds
Spanish biotech firm Ona announced an $86.6 million Series B financing, ranking among the largest venture rounds in Spain’s life‑science sector this year. The round was led by Seventure Partners with participation from existing backers and new strategic investors. The funding will be used to scale Ona’s AI‑driven drug discovery platform and accelerate its pre‑clinical programs.
NVIDIA’s Healthcare Stack Is the Picks and Shovels Play You’ve Been Waiting For
NVIDIA has assembled a comprehensive AI infrastructure stack for healthcare, encompassing BioNeMo, MONAI, Isaac for Healthcare, Holoscan, Parabricks, Clara and NIM. Its 2026 State of AI in Healthcare survey shows 70% of organizations actively using AI, with generative models now the dominant workload (69%). The platform accelerates drug discovery, medical imaging, genomics and edge‑device inference, turning AI from experimental pilots into production‑grade services. Investors and founders see NVIDIA’s stack as the essential “picks‑and‑shovels” layer driving the next wave of health‑tech value creation.
Diabetes Drug Empagliflozin Shows Promise for Early Alzheimer’s
As a medical school professor, I've long suspected that Alzheimer's disease is metabolic at its core. Now we have clinical proof. A Wake Forest trial tested empagliflozin -- a common diabetes drug -- in NON-DIABETIC Alzheimer's patients for the first time. The...
The Ways Pharma Leaders Are Rewiring Their Organizations for Launch Success
Pharma executives face accelerating market pressure, prompting a shift from static launch plans to agile, data‑driven execution. Remco op den Kelder of Inizio Ignite argues that real‑time insights, AI integration, and cross‑functional collaboration are essential for successful product launches over...
The Ways Pharma Leaders Are Rewiring Their Organizations for Launch Success
Pharma executives face mounting pressure to deliver faster, more successful product launches amid volatile markets and tighter timelines. Inizio Ignite’s Global President Remco op den Kelder argues that traditional static launch plans must give way to agile, data‑driven execution models....
Merck Strikes Deal with Antibody Discovery Startup
Merck has signed a research collaboration with AI‑driven antibody startup Infinimmune, potentially providing up to $838 million in payments tied to clinical milestones. Infinimmune’s platform scans human immune cells to uncover novel targets such as IL‑22 and IL‑13 for autoimmune indications....
Dose by Design: Pharmaceutical 3D Printing and the Future of Pediatric Compounding
The article charts the transition of pharmaceutical 3D printing from research pilots to routine pharmacy practice, focusing on pediatric compounding. Companies such as FabRx and CurifyLabs have built platforms that let pharmacists print chewable tablets, gels, and mini‑tablets tailored to...
MRNA Is Poised to Rise Beyond Infectious Diseases, if It’s Not Derailed by R&D Cuts
mRNA technology, once celebrated for COVID‑19 vaccines, now faces heightened political and regulatory scrutiny, including the cancellation of roughly $500 million in BARDA contracts. A new JAMA Network Open study shows NIH has invested $1.65 billion in 178 mRNA grants since 1997,...
Novo Nordisk Launches Subscription Program for Wegovy Drugs
Novo Nordisk introduced a subscription service for its obesity treatment Wegovy, allowing cash‑pay patients to lock in three‑month, six‑month or twelve‑month supplies. The model promises lower out‑of‑pocket costs compared with traditional pay‑per‑dose purchases. By bundling shots and oral pills, Novo...
Blackstone Closes $6.3B BXLS VI Fund, Making It the Largest Life Sciences Vehicle
Blackstone announced the final close of its Life Sciences VI fund at a hard cap of $6.3 billion, roughly 40% larger than the prior vehicle. The BXLS platform, launched in 2018, now manages about $15 billion and invests across the entire drug...
UCB Brings First Therapy for Rare Disease TK2d to EU
UCB’s Kygevi, a combination of doxecitine and doxribtimine, received its first EU approval for treating thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d) under exceptional circumstances. The drug, aimed at patients whose disease began before age 12, cut mortality risk by 95% compared with...
PepGen’s Muscle Disease Program Posts Poor Mid-Stage Results as One Patient's Data Get Markedly Worse
PepGen reported that its Phase 2 trial of an oligonucleotide therapy for a rare genetic nerve‑muscle disorder failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoints. The data showed no statistically significant improvement in muscle strength across the cohort, and one participant experienced...
Biogen Buys Apellis for $5.6B, Adds SYFOVRE Sales‑linked CVR
1/Another mega M&A deal in the BioTech and Pharma sector with the acquisition of Apellis Pharmaceuticals - $APLS by Biogen $BIIB for $41 per share in cash at closing in a $5.6B deal. In addition, Apellis stockholders will also receive...
Eli Lilly to Buy Centessa for $6.3B to Get Sleep Disorder Drug
Eli Lilly announced a $6.3 billion acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals, marking its largest deal in years. The purchase secures Centessa’s orexin‑based insomnia candidate and a pipeline of early‑stage neurological programs. Lilly is channeling cash generated by its GLP‑1 blockbuster drugs into the...
First Clinical Trial of tRNA Therapy Will Start Soon
Alltrna, a biotech startup focused on transfer RNA (tRNA) therapeutics, has secured regulatory clearance to launch its first human clinical trial. The trial will evaluate a novel tRNA‑based drug designed to correct protein synthesis errors that underlie a range of...
Enveda's First Clinical Readout Shows Strong Eczema Results
Enveda Biosciences released its first clinical readout for an investigational atopic dermatitis therapy, showing efficacy comparable to AbbVie's Dupixent. The Phase 1 trial met its primary endpoints, demonstrating significant skin clearance and a safety profile similar to existing biologics. The...
Semarion Raises $3.8M to Scale Cell Assay Technology
Semarion, a Cambridge spin‑out, secured $3.8 million (≈£2.9 million) in a Series A round led by Parkwalk to scale its SemaCyte cell‑based screening platform. The funding follows a $2.89 million seed round in 2022 and will be used to expand manufacturing, field support,...
Alterity Receives Positive FDA Feedback on ATH434 Phase 3 Program
Alterity Therapeutics received positive written feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after a Type C meeting on its planned Phase 3 program for ATH434 in Multiple System Atrophy. The agency endorsed the company’s clinical pharmacology and non‑clinical development strategy and...
Luye Pharma Posts 4.1% Revenue Rise to $883M, Earnings Jump 31% to $87M
Luye Pharma Group Ltd announced full‑year revenue of RMB6.308 bn ($883 m), a 4.1% rise from the prior year, and net earnings of RMB618.75 m ($86.6 m), up 31%. The results highlight robust domestic demand for its generic and specialty drugs amid a recovering...
RenovoRx Posts $11.2M FY25 Loss, Sets Mid‑2026 Target for Phase III TIGeR‑PaC Enrollment
RenovoRx announced a widened FY25 net loss of $11.2 million, despite its first full year of revenue from the FDA‑cleared RenovoCath device. The company also outlined a timeline to complete enrollment for its Phase III TIGeR‑PaC oncology trial by mid‑2026, a move...
University of Michigan Shows Protein Nanoparticles Deliver Genes to Diverse Human Cells
Scientists at the University of Michigan have demonstrated that protein‑coated nanoparticles can efficiently deliver DNA and mRNA to liver cancer, kidney and immune cells in vitro, marking a potential shift away from viral vectors in gene therapy. The platform uses...
Galapagos and Gilead Ink $837.5M Framework Deal Tied to Ouro Acquisition
Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences have signed a binding framework agreement that gives Galapagos a 50% share of the $1.675 billion upfront consideration for Gilead’s acquisition of Ouro Medicines. The deal also locks in a $500 million cash pool for Galapagos, including...
Genetic-Level Solutions Needed; Dyno Tackles Untreatable Diseases
Eric Kelsic said: "To address the root cause of a genetic disease, you need to take action at the genetic level." But this isn’t possible today. If you have sickle cell, Huntington's or cystic fibrosis, there's no cure for you just yet. Here's...
Eli Lilly Acquires Centessa for $7.8B in Neuro Push
Lilly buying $CNTA Centessa (hub & spoke R&D co) for $6.3B + $1.5B CVR. Another neuro deal. Big congrats to @Medicxi, Index ventures, General Atlantic https://t.co/jkC9dv6d3I @medicx
Can Damage to a Stressed Cell Be Reversed?
Soley Therapeutics’ co‑founder and CEO Dr. Yerem Yeghiazarians explained the company’s novel strategy of using small‑molecule drugs to reverse cellular stress rather than targeting a specific virus or gene. The platform aims to restore function in stressed cells implicated in non‑oncology...
AZ Considers Filings for Long-Acting Strensiq Follow-Up
AstraZeneca’s Alexion unit intends to file a new long‑acting enzyme replacement therapy, efzimfotase alfa, as a successor to its Strensiq (asfotase alfa) for hypophosphatasia (HPP). Phase 3 data showed the drug met primary endpoints in pediatric patients but failed to achieve...
Homoharringtonine Extends Lifespan, Fights Obesity in Mice
Researchers reported that homoharringtonine (HHT), a plant‑derived alkaloid already approved for certain blood cancers, acts as a potent senolytic in mice. The compound selectively eliminated senescent cells across adipose, liver and muscle, leading to lower inflammation, improved glucose tolerance and...
Blackstone Closes $6.3bn Life Sciences Fund
Blackstone announced the closing of its newest life sciences fund at $6.3 billion, topping the original target. The vehicle will back biotech, pharmaceutical and medical‑technology companies from seed to growth stages. Investor enthusiasm for health‑tech has surged since the pandemic, allowing...
UBriGene and Cellinfinity BIO Collaborate to Accelerate in Vivo CAR-T Therapies
uBriGene Biosciences has entered a strategic partnership with Cellinfinity BIO to accelerate the development of in‑vivo CAR‑T therapies for both solid tumors and hematologic cancers. The collaboration will apply uBriGene’s LVV Turbo platform, which delivers up to 80% purification recovery...
UBriGene and Cellinfinity BIO Collaborate to Accelerate in Vivo CAR-T Therapies
uBriGene Biosciences has entered a strategic partnership with Cellinfinity BIO to fast‑track in‑vivo CAR‑T programs for both solid and hematologic cancers. The deal leverages uBriGene’s LVV Turbo platform, which delivers GMP‑grade lentiviral vectors with up to 80% purification recovery and...
ACC 2026: Lorundrostat Lowers BP but Raises Hyperkalemia Risk
At the 2026 ACC Scientific Session, Brazilian investigators presented a meta‑analysis of three placebo‑controlled trials (1,060 patients) evaluating lorundrostat in uncontrolled hypertension. Lorundrostat 50 mg reduced systolic blood pressure by 9.08 mm Hg and diastolic by 3.48 mm Hg, while the 100 mg dose achieved an...
Merck Reports P-III (CORALreef AddOn) Trial Data on Enlicitide Decanoate in Hypercholesterolemia
Merck presented Phase III CORALreef AddOn trial results for enlicitide decanoate, an oral PCSK9 inhibitor, in hypercholesterolemic adults on statins. At eight weeks, the drug lowered LDL‑C by 64.6%, outperforming bempedoic acid, ezetimibe and their combination. It also achieved 54.6%...
STAT+: Over-the-Top Psychedelic Promos Could Undermine the Field’s Drug Development Efforts
Psychedelic biotech firms Helus Pharma and AtaiBeckley have hired marketing agencies to produce YouTube videos that tout exaggerated efficacy claims and alleged FDA fast‑track status for their investigational drugs. The ads, labeled only as “informational,” suggest near‑perfect Phase 2 results and...
Teva Advances Biosimilars Portfolio with Ponlimsi (Denosumab) FDA Approval and Dual Omalizumab Filing Acceptance
Teva Pharmaceutical received U.S. FDA approval for Ponlimsi, a biosimilar to Amgen’s Prolia (denosumab), covering all approved indications. The approval was granted after extensive analytical and clinical studies demonstrated comparable efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity to the reference product. In parallel,...
Bioinspired Anti‐VEGF Peptide Nanoparticle with Immune Regulating and Corneal Epithelium Penetration Capability for Corneal Neovascularization Therapy
Researchers have engineered a bioinspired nanoparticle that co‑assembles an anti‑VEGF peptide with copper ions, adds a ROS‑scavenging moiety and a cell‑penetrating peptide, and achieves deep corneal delivery. The formulation extends ocular residence to roughly 70 minutes and reaches 300 µm in a...
Tirzepatide Cuts Cardiorenal Events 14% vs Dulaglutide in Landmark Trial
A post‑hoc analysis of the SURPASS‑CVOT trial finds the dual GLP‑1/GIP agonist tirzepatide lowers a broad six‑component cardiorenal endpoint by 14% compared with the GLP‑1‑only drug dulaglutide. The result, presented at ACC 2026, could reshape how biohackers approach metabolic health...
Aurinia to Acquire Kezar for $6.96 per Share, Adding Immunoproteasome Asset
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals announced a definitive agreement to acquire Kezar Life Sciences for $6.955 in cash per share plus a contingent value right (CVR). The deal, slated to close in Q2 2026, gives Aurinia access to Kezar’s lead immunoproteasome inhibitor, zetomipzomib, and...
Right Through the Skull
Researchers have unveiled a novel calvarial delivery platform that injects drug‑laden nanoparticles into the skull’s bone marrow. Immune cells within the diploic space capture the particles and migrate across skull‑meninges channels, ferrying the therapeutic cargo into the brain. In mouse...
Immune Modulation Preps FDA Submission for Parkinson's Drug After 30‑Year Journey
Immune Modulation, Inc. announced it is finalizing pre‑IND toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies to file an FDA submission for hypoestoxide, a plant‑derived anti‑inflammatory candidate for Parkinson's disease. The move caps a 30‑year scientific trek that began with a rainforest compound identified...
United Therapeutics Shares Surge 12% on Positive TETON-1 Phase III Results
United Therapeutics reported that its TETON-1 Phase III trial met the primary endpoint, delivering a 130.1 mL improvement in forced vital capacity for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. The news lifted the stock more than 12% and set the company on a path...
Imunon Inc (IMNN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Imunon reported Q3 2025 results, highlighting $5.3 million cash and a runway extending to mid‑Q1 2026 after a $4.5 million equity raise. Operating expenses fell 31% year‑over‑year, reducing monthly burn to $1.25‑$1.5 million. The pivotal OVATION 3 phase III ovarian‑cancer trial enrolled nine patients, surpassing internal targets,...
Tevogen Bio Holdings Inc (TVGN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
VistaGen Therapeutics reported completing the randomized portion of its PALISADE III Phase 3 trial and using the data to implement operational and statistical refinements for the ongoing PALISADE IV study. The company is leveraging third‑party AI and machine learning to...
Tvardi Therapeutics Inc (TVRD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Teva reported Q4 2025 revenue of $4.5 billion, up 3% year‑over‑year, with adjusted EBITDA rising 6% and non‑GAAP EPS of $0.78, a 14% increase. The innovative portfolio contributed over $800 million, driven by AUSTEDO’s $618 million U.S. sales (+38%) and solid gains from...
Omeros Corp (OMER) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Omeros Corp reported a Q3 2025 net loss of $30.9 million, but secured a transformative agreement with Novo Nordisk that could deliver up to $2.1 billion in upfront and milestone payments. The $240 million upfront cash will retire most short‑term debt and fund more...
Bioatla Inc (BCAB) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
BioAtla reported that it is in the final stages of a strategic partnership transaction expected to close by year‑end and disclosed FDA alignment on the phase‑3 design of its OSFI (OSV) trial for second‑line oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The trial...
Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd (GLMD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
MediWound reported a sharp Q4 revenue drop to $1.9 million, driven primarily by a U.S. government shutdown that delayed contract awards. R&D spending rose to $4.5 million as the company pushed the Phase III VALUE study for its EscharEx wound‑debridement therapy. A new...
Milestone Scientific Inc (MLSS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Milestone Scientific reported that the FDA accepted the New Drug Application for lorundrostat and set a PDUFA target date of December 22, 2026. The company highlighted a surge in cash to $656.6 million, extending its financial runway to 2028, while net...
Galectin Therapeutics Inc (GALT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Altimmune reported a strengthened cash position of roughly $340 million, extending its runway through 2028 to fund a pivotal Phase III NASH trial. The company disclosed that the trial will enroll about 1,800 patients globally, testing 1.8 mg and 2.4 mg doses of its...
Mink Therapeutics Inc (INKT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
MiNK Therapeutics reported a cash position of $14.3 million, extended through 2026 after a $1.2 million raise, while posting a $2.9 million net loss for Q4. Clinical data showed AGENT‑797 combined with PD‑1 achieved a median overall survival of roughly 23 months in heavily...
The BioPharm Brief: Talking Lifecycle Optimization, Strategic Investment, and Collaboration Shaping Growth Trajectory
The FDA has approved a higher-dose regimen of nusinersen (Spinraza) for spinal muscular atrophy, aiming to boost drug exposure and improve long‑term motor function. The approval underscores a broader industry shift toward lifecycle optimization of RNA‑targeted therapies. Simultaneously, biopharma firms...
Copper-Loaded Starch Nanoparticles Can Target Bacteria in Microbial Communities
University of Michigan researchers have engineered copper‑loaded starch nanoparticles that release antibacterial copper ions when specific bacteria degrade the starch carrier. The positively charged particles preferentially bind to bacterial surfaces and demonstrated potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis...