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.
Zongertinib a ‘Breakthrough’ for NSCLC with HER2 Mutations
Zongertinib (Hernexeos) received FDA accelerated approval for first‑line treatment of HER2‑mutant advanced NSCLC, based on Beamion LUNG‑1 data presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress. In previously untreated patients (cohort 2), the drug achieved a 76% objective response rate and a median progression‑free survival of 14.4 months, far exceeding historical chemotherapy and immunotherapy benchmarks. Cohort 4 demonstrated meaningful intracranial activity, with a 47% intracranial response rate in patients with brain metastases. Safety was manageable, with grade 3 or higher events in 19% of participants.
Gates Foundation Funds TesseraTx's Gene‑editing HIV Cure Research
1/🚨@TesseraTx has announced that it has received a grant from the Gates Foundation to fund an early-stage research which is aimed to develop a Gene Editing-based cure for HIV. This grant is build upon Tessera’s existing investment 🧵👇 from the Gates...
UK Biotech Day 2026 | May 27-28 | London, UK
UK Biotech Day 2026 will take place on May 27‑28 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow. The two‑day conference convenes executives, R&D scientists, investors, legal and finance professionals from pharma, biotech, medtech, and tech‑bio sectors. Positioned as...
The Likely Evolution of Generic Players in the U.S. Life Sciences Market
The U.S. generic drug market, long driven by the Hatch‑Waxman Act, now supplies about 90% of prescriptions but only 10% of drug spend. Price erosion of 70‑80% within two years and the entry of six to eight competitors have turned...
US FDA Approves Higher-Dose of Biogen’s Genetic Disorder Drug
The U.S. FDA has approved a higher‑dose version of Biogen’s gene‑replacement therapy for a rare genetic muscle‑weakening disorder, likely spinal muscular atrophy. The new regimen starts with two 50 mg loading doses two weeks apart, followed by a 28 mg maintenance dose...
Unicycive Therapeutics Announces Full Year 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
Unicycive Therapeutics reported FY 2025 results, highlighting the FDA’s acceptance of its oxylanthanum carbonate (OLC) New Drug Application resubmission with a PDUFA target date of June 29 2026. The company is preparing commercial operations for a potential Q3 2026 launch, while its cash balance...
A Novel G9a Inhibitor Reduces Symptoms in Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers have unveiled FLAV-27, a novel G9a histone methyltransferase inhibitor that readily crosses the blood‑brain barrier and exhibits subnanomolar potency. The compound demonstrates high selectivity for G9a over related enzymes and a favorable safety profile, addressing the limitations of earlier...
SLIT3 Protein Identified as Boost for Brown-Fat Calorie Burning, Opening New Biohacking Path
Researchers analyzing more than 15,000 human fat samples have identified the SLIT3 protein as a potent enhancer of brown‑fat calorie burning. The discovery suggests a novel, metabolism‑focused avenue for obesity treatment and biohacking beyond appetite‑suppressing drugs.
First-in-Human Hepatitis D Antibody Administered in Beijing Amid Mixed Pharma Outlook
A Chinese biotech company administered the first-in-human dose of a hepatitis D‑targeted monoclonal antibody in Beijing, marking a world‑first for the disease. The trial details were not disclosed, and it comes as the broader pharma sector grapples with earnings pressure,...
Microneedle Patch Enables Real‑Time Immune Monitoring, Could Replace Blood Draws
Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory and MIT unveiled a polymer‑based microneedle skin patch that captures immune cells and inflammatory biomarkers within 15‑30 minutes. The device could transform vaccine response tracking and chronic disease monitoring by eliminating the need for blood...
AstraZeneca’s Tozorakimab Cuts COPD Flare‑Ups, Shares Jump 3.8%
AstraZeneca announced that its experimental monoclonal antibody tozorakimab met primary endpoints in two late‑stage COPD trials, delivering a clinically meaningful reduction in moderate‑to‑severe flare‑ups. The data lifted the company’s shares as much as 3.8% and underpin a sales outlook of...
Eli Lilly Signs $2.75 B AI Drug Deal with Insilico Medicine, $115 M Upfront
Eli Lilly and Hong Kong‑listed Insilico Medicine have sealed a partnership that could be worth up to $2.75 billion, including a $115 million upfront payment. The deal gives Lilly exclusive global rights to Insilico’s pre‑clinical oral candidates and taps the biotech’s generative‑AI platform....
KAIST Study Shows Graphene Oxide Kills Bacteria While Sparing Human Cells
Researchers at South Korea's KAIST have demonstrated that graphene oxide can selectively eradicate bacterial cells while leaving human cells intact. The finding points to a new class of nanomaterial‑based antibiotics that could help combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Pharma Pulse: A Call for U.K. Pricing Reform and the Latest FDA-Approved Biosimilar for Bone Health
Eli Lilly is urging the United Kingdom to overhaul its drug‑pricing framework, warning that persistently low prices could deter future investment and calling for outcomes‑based reimbursement models, especially for obesity therapies. At the same time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...
Something of a Shopping Spree: Novartis to Acquire US-Based Excellergy for up to $2bn
Novartis announced a deal to acquire California‑based Excellergy for up to $2 bn, securing the Phase I antibody Exl‑111 that targets both free and cell‑bound IgE. The acquisition bolsters Novartis’ allergy pipeline, positioning the drug as a next‑generation complement to its existing...
Insilico, Tenacia Expand AI-Driven CNS Collaboration
Insilico Medicine and Tenacia Biotechnology have broadened their AI‑driven collaboration to create additional small‑molecule therapies for central nervous system disorders. Building on a March 2025 program that combined Insilico’s Pharma.AI platform with Tenacia’s proprietary data, the partners will use generative...
New AI Research Reshapes Neuroprotective Drug Discovery Funding
BCC Research’s new Pulse report, “AI Impact on Neuroprotective Agents,” outlines how artificial intelligence is reshaping the discovery, development, and delivery of neuroprotective therapies. The study projects a 4.5% CAGR for the North American market through 2030 and documents hundreds...
Scalable Biotech Manufacturing Targets $14B Cell Therapy Market
Research forecasts the global cell‑therapy manufacturing market to exceed $7 billion in 2026 and reach $14 billion by 2035. The FDA has introduced new manufacturing flexibility to accelerate approval timelines for cell and gene therapies, addressing a capacity bottleneck that analysts expect...
ADHD Medication in Short Supply in Japan as Demand Soars
Japan is experiencing a nationwide shortage of Concerta, the primary stimulant used to treat adult ADHD, as demand surges. The shortage, first noted in late 2023, persists despite Janssen Pharmaceutical’s promise of a two‑month fix, with officials now estimating several...
Europe’s Pivotal Choice: Vaccination Is Health Security
Europe is positioning vaccination as a strategic asset, linking political will, science, and capital to secure health and economic resilience. The European Commission has pledged €225 million to fast‑track next‑generation flu vaccines, including the NOFLU consortium’s mRNA mucosal candidate. By integrating...
10 European Startups to Watch in 2026
A curated list of ten European biotech startups founded since 2021 showcases rapid progress toward clinical milestones and sizable financing. Companies such as Isomorphic Labs, Draig Therapeutics and Adcytherix are moving from platform development to first‑in‑human trials, backed by funding...
FDA Launches New AI-Powered System to Track Drug and Vaccine Side Effects
The FDA launched the AI‑powered Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS) on March 11, 2026, consolidating VAERS, FAERS and other databases into a single, real‑time platform. AI automates data entry and categorization, replacing quarterly updates with instant reporting. Early testing showed...
Boston Scientific's EKOS System Cuts Pulmonary Embolism Mortality by 61% in HI-PEITHO Trial
Boston Scientific announced that its EKOS™ Endovascular System, combined with anticoagulation, lowered the 7‑day composite endpoint for intermediate‑risk pulmonary embolism to 4.0% versus 10.3% with anticoagulation alone, a 61% relative reduction. The findings, presented at ACC.26 and published in NEJM,...
Cortical Labs Shows Human Neurons on Chip Playing Doom, Signaling New Era for Enterprise AI
Australian biotech Cortical Labs demonstrated that 200,000 living human neurons cultured on a silicon chip can learn to play the 1993 shooter Doom. The proof‑of‑concept highlights neuromorphic computing’s potential to cut power use in enterprise AI, prompting CIOs to reassess...
Magnetic Nanorobots Offer Targeted Cancer Therapy, Researchers Claim
Scientists have demonstrated magnetic nanorobots smaller than blood cells that can be steered by external magnets to deliver chemotherapy directly to tumors. The technology aims to cut side effects and enable new hyperthermia treatments, signaling a potential shift in nanomedicine.
Analysts Forecast GLP-1 Biotech Stocks Could Triple by Year-End
Wall Street analysts project that GLP-1 focused biotech stocks could see their valuations triple before the end of 2026. The forecast highlights market leaders Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, while also flagging Viking Therapeutics as a high‑risk, high‑reward play.
Johns Hopkins Releases First Clinical Guidance on Psychedelic Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine and Unbound Medicine have published the first ever clinical guidance on psychedelic medicine through the Johns Hopkins Psychiatry POC‑IT Guide. The guidance targets clinicians treating treatment‑resistant depression and PTSD, offering evidence‑based recommendations as psychedelic‑assisted therapies near FDA...
KAIST Unveils Graphene Oxide That Kills Bacteria Yet Remains Safe for Human Cells
A research team led by KAIST has identified how graphene oxide (GO) can selectively attack bacterial membranes while sparing mammalian cells, demonstrating rapid wound‑healing in mouse and pig models. The discovery could accelerate antimicrobial product development without relying on traditional...
AEON Biopharma Inc (AEON) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Abeona Therapeutics reported 2025 results highlighting the commercial launch of ZevaSkin, its first autologous cell‑based gene therapy for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Total revenue reached $5.8 million, driven by $2.4 million product sales and a $1.5 billion gain from selling a priority‑review voucher,...
DeFi Development Corp (DFDV) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Definium Therapeutics reported that its lead psychedelic candidate DT120 ODT is on track for three pivotal Phase III readouts in 2026. The EMERGE MDD study is fully enrolled with top‑line data expected in late Q2, while the VOYAGE GAD trial...
Unicycive Therapeutics Inc (UNCY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Unicycive Therapeutics reported a 40% revenue drop to $16.1 million for 2025, primarily from lost collaboration and contract manufacturing income, while license revenue modestly rose. R&D spending slipped slightly to $140.7 million, but SG&A surged $12.8 million as the company ramps up...
Guided Therapeutics Inc (GTHP) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
G1 Therapeutics announced FDA approval of COSELA, a first‑in‑class therapy that reduces chemotherapy‑induced myelosuppression in extensive‑stage small cell lung cancer. The company began commercial launch in early February 2021, reporting rising physician awareness and positive payer feedback. It also outlined...
INmune Bio Inc (INMB) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
INmune Bio announced the first patient dosing in its phase‑2 XPro trial targeting neuroinflammation‑driven Alzheimer’s disease and outlined parallel phase‑2 studies in mild AD and MCI that leverage biomarker‑guided endpoints. The company also detailed a six‑week phase‑2 trial for treatment‑resistant...
USA Rare Earth Inc (USAR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical reported 2025 revenue of $673 million, a 20% year‑over‑year increase that topped the upper end of guidance. The company announced a 10% workforce reduction to streamline costs and focus on near‑term value drivers. Pipeline highlights include resubmission of...
Lexeo Therapeutics Inc (LXEO) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Exelixis reported record cabozantinib franchise revenue of $2.12 billion in the U.S. and $2.89 billion globally for 2025, a 17% year‑over‑year increase. Total Q4 2025 revenue reached $599 million, driven by $546.6 million from cabozantinib net product sales and $52.8 million in partner royalties. The...
RenovoRx Inc (RNXT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
RenovoRx reported Q4 2025 revenue of $266,000, bringing year‑to‑date sales to roughly $900,000 as it expands the RenovoCath platform across 14 approved cancer centers, up from five earlier in the year. The company ended the quarter with over $10 million in...
Graphene Oxide Selectively Kills Bacteria, Spares Humans
Graphene oxide targets and destroys bacterial membranes by binding to a unique lipid absent in human cells, enabling selective antibacterial action and offering a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. nanotechnology
Kailera Plans IPO for Phase 3 Obesity Drug From Hengrui
Kailera Therapeutics, one of biotech’s best‑funded startups, announced plans to go public to finance the Phase 3 trial of its obesity drug co‑developed with China’s Hengrui. The IPO aims to raise capital that will position the company against heavyweight rivals such...
Li Ka-Shing’s CK Life Unit Eyes China Fast Track for Cancer Vaccine Pipeline
CK Life Sciences, the Li Ka‑shing‑backed unit, has created Sequencio Therapeutics in Hong Kong to fast‑track its cancer‑vaccine pipeline in mainland China using investigator‑initiated trials (IITs). The fast‑track channel can cut trial start‑up time from 18‑24 months to a few months,...
SPIRIT-HF: Spironolactone’s Benefit Still Uncertain in HF With Preserved, Mildly Reduced EF
The SPIRIT‑HF trial, designed to test spironolactone in heart‑failure patients with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction, enrolled only 730 of the planned 1,564 participants and therefore lacked statistical power. Over two years, the composite of cardiovascular death or total...
Modulating RNA Folding Boosts Drug Efficacy More than Binding
Small molecules that alter RNA structure, rather than simply binding to it, have a greater impact on RNA function, highlighting the importance of targeting RNA folding in drug development. molecularbiology
Why Rocket Pharmaceuticals (RCKT) Got a Commercial Boost From FDA Approval of KRESLADI
Rocket Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval on March 27 for KRESLADI, its first marketed product and the first gene therapy for a rare pediatric disorder. The clearance also awarded the company a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher, which can be...
Why Allogene Therapeutics (ALLO) Says Its Lead Cancer Program Is Still on Track in 2026
Allogene Therapeutics announced that its lead CAR‑T candidate cemacabtagene ansegedleucel (cema‑cel) stays on track in the pivotal Phase 2 ALPHA3 trial for first‑line consolidation in large B‑cell lymphoma, enrolling over 60 sites globally. An interim futility analysis is slated for April 2026...
Why Allogene Therapeutics (ALLO) Says Its Lead Cancer Program Is Still on Track in 2026
Allogene Therapeutics announced that its lead CAR‑T candidate cema‑cel remains on schedule in the pivotal Phase 2 ALPHA3 trial for first‑line consolidation of large B‑cell lymphoma, now enrolling at more than 60 sites worldwide. An interim futility analysis is set for...
Why Aardvark Therapeutics (AARD) Paused Late-Stage ARD-101 Trials After Cardiac Findings
Aardvark Therapeutics announced on March 23, 2026 that it is voluntarily pausing its Phase 3 HERO trial of ARD‑101 for Prader‑Willi syndrome and the ARD‑201 obesity program while it consults the FDA. The decision follows cardiac findings in healthy‑volunteer studies, where...
Tirzepatide Cuts Heart and Kidney Risk 16% vs Dulaglutide in Diabetes Study
A Cleveland Clinic secondary analysis of a 13,000‑patient trial shows tirzepatide lowers the combined risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and death by 16% versus dulaglutide. The findings, presented at the ACC meeting, give longevity‑focused biohackers new...
MRK's Sotatercept Shows Inverse Dose Response in 6
$TENX $TECX 🤔 $MRK sotatercept high dose *missed* stat sig on 6MWT in P2 (and it wasn’t particularly close). The low dose hit stat sig (barely) and was the dose taken to P3. What to make of a...
Stopping Alzheimer’s Drugs Speeds Decline, Raises Death Risk
Long-term effect of discontinuing anticholinesterase treatment on cognitive decline and mortality in Alzheimer's disease in France: a quasi-experiment and target trial emulation study https://t.co/YUcSc7w9HG
![[Articles] Aspirin versus Clopidogrel for Chronic Maintenance Monotherapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: 10-Year Follow-Up of the HOST-EXAM Trial](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/f4390aa942546562889e73ef6cd4e624.webp)
[Articles] Aspirin versus Clopidogrel for Chronic Maintenance Monotherapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: 10-Year Follow-Up of the HOST-EXAM Trial
Ten‑year extended follow‑up of the HOST‑EXAM trial compared clopidogrel 75 mg daily with aspirin 100 mg daily as chronic monotherapy after PCI. Among 5,438 patients, clopidogrel achieved a 25.4% incidence of the composite of death, MI, stroke, ACS readmission, or major bleeding...
Network Pharmacology Reveals Natural Products' Neuroprotective Power
Network pharmacology approach to unravel the neuroprotective potential of natural products: a narrative review https://t.co/LGgQeHQHwF https://t.co/OiCYu2OxZq