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.
![[Comment] Moving Beyond Aspirin After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: 10-Year Results From the HOST-EXAM Trial](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/8acb026fc2949304b649926f35a196b8.webp)
[Comment] Moving Beyond Aspirin After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: 10-Year Results From the HOST-EXAM Trial
The HOST-EXAM trial, with ten-year follow‑up, compared clopidogrel monotherapy to aspirin after percutaneous coronary intervention. Results showed clopidogrel achieved lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and major bleeding. The study enrolled over 5,000 patients from diverse centers, reinforcing the robustness of findings. These data challenge aspirin’s long‑standing role as the default antiplatelet agent in secondary prevention.
SGLT2 Inhibitors Help HFrEF Mice via Off‑Target Effects
SGLT2 Inhibitors Act Independently of SGLT2 to Confer Benefit for HFrEF in Mice “The beneficial effects of SGLT2i treatment in gKO mice conclusively demonstrate that in a physiologically relevant preclinical model of HFrEF, SGLT2i can exert therapeutic benefits via off-target pharmacology.3...
GLP‑1 Drugs Now Help Psoriatic Arthritis Beyond Weight Loss
The list of conditions for which GLP-1 drugs provide benefit independent of weight loss keeps growing. Add psoriatic arthritis #AAD26 @AADskin https://t.co/kJej6osXTS
#ACC26: Merck Leans Toward Lower Winrevair Dose in Phase 3 Trial for Rare Form of Heart Failure
Merck announced that its experimental drug Winrevair will move into a pivotal Phase 3 trial for a rare form of heart failure, focusing on the lowest dose tested in Phase 2. The Phase 2 data showed a "pretty profound" efficacy signal at that...
Nektar's IL‑2 Variant Shows Strong Phase 2b Gains in Atopic Dermatitis and Alopecia Areata
Nektar Therapeutics presented Phase 2b data at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology meeting showing statistically significant EASI improvements in 393 atopic dermatitis patients and a 28.2% mean SALT reduction in alopecia areata. The results position rezpegaldesleukin as the first IL‑2‑based...
Tralokinumab Shows Strong Real-World Efficacy in Atopic Dermatitis for Patients With Skin of Color: April Armstrong, MD, MPH
At the American Academy of Dermatology 2026 meeting, researchers presented TRACE, a real‑world study of tralokinumab in atopic dermatitis. The trial enrolled over 800 patients, with roughly 16% representing skin‑of‑color individuals (Fitzpatrick types 4‑6). After 12 months, 80% of this subgroup achieved...
Eli Lilly’s Oral GLP‑1 Pill Beats Wegovy in Trial, Shows 73% More Weight Loss
Eli Lilly’s once‑daily oral GLP‑1 agonist orforglipron outperformed oral semaglutide (Wegovy) in a 52‑week Phase 3 trial of 1,698 adults, delivering 73.6% greater relative weight loss and a three‑fold higher rate of A1c normalization. The data, published in The Lancet, could reshape...
DNA‑Based Nanorobots Detect and Target COVID‑19 Viruses
Researchers have engineered microscopic DNA nanorobots that can recognize and bind to COVID‑19 viral particles. The breakthrough, described in a recent SmartBot feature, points to a future where nanotech diagnostics and therapeutics operate inside the human body with unprecedented precision.
Johnson & Johnson's ICOTYDE Shows 52‑Week PASI 100 Rates up to 49% in Psoriasis Trials
Johnson & Johnson unveiled 52‑week Phase 3 data for ICOTYDE™ (icotrokinra), revealing PASI 100 clearance rates of 41‑49% in adults and 57% in adolescents, with no new safety signals. The results position the oral peptide as a possible disease‑modifying first‑line option for...
New Advances in Diabetes Drugs Are Transforming Treatment of Liver Disease
Emerging diabetes therapies are reshaping treatment of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), especially its severe form MASH. GLP‑1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and dual‑action agents like tirzepatide have shown significant liver‑fat reduction and histologic improvement. SGLT2 inhibitors and...
The Risks of Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising and Big Pharma
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising in the United States now commands $6‑8 billion in annual TV spend, propelling antipsychotics and biologics into mainstream consumer consciousness. Companies such as Eli Lilly and AbbVie have poured $30 million‑$24 million per month into campaigns for drugs like Rexulti...
Eli Lilly to Sign $2bn Deal for AI Drug Development with Hong Kong Biotech
Eli Lilly has agreed to a roughly $2 billion partnership with a Hong Kong‑based biotech firm to develop new medicines using artificial‑intelligence platforms. The deal will give Lilly access to the startup’s AI‑driven discovery tools while providing the biotech with Lilly’s clinical expertise...
Chinese Team Maps Inflammatory Aging and Unveils Multi‑dimensional Anti‑aging Interventions
A research team led by Liu Guanghui at the Chinese Academy of Sciences released a comprehensive map of inflammatory aging across multiple organs and introduced two anti‑aging strategies—a betaine‑based small‑molecule and engineered FOXO3‑edited stem cells. The work was named one...
World's First Hepatitis D Antibody Administered in Beijing Marks New Therapeutic Era
A Beijing hospital has given the first prescription of Libevitug, the inaugural monoclonal antibody targeting hepatitis D. Developed by Tsinghua University researchers and Huahui Health, the drug received conditional approval in January 2026 and could transform care for an estimated...
Liposomal Nanotech Boosts Light‑Powered Cancer Therapy
Researchers led by Prof. Heidi Abrahamse at the University of Johannesburg have unveiled a liposome‑based nanotechnology platform that upgrades photodynamic therapy (PDT). The platform protects photosensitizers in the bloodstream, targets tumors more precisely and releases the drug only where light...
Eli Lilly's Phase 3b Shows Taltz + Zepbound Improves Psoriatic Arthritis, Weight
Eli Lilly reported that its open‑label Phase 3b TOGETHER‑PsA trial met its primary and all key secondary endpoints, demonstrating that adding Zepbound (tirzepatide) to Taltz (ixekizumab) significantly reduced psoriatic arthritis activity and body weight versus Taltz alone. The data, presented...
Weekly Reads: Gattaca Stack, Animal Sacks, Custom iPS Cells, ImmunityBio FDA Warning, Mouse Cloning Limit
Weekly reads highlight several frontier biotech developments. The Gattaca Stack, a new database, tracks firms working on embryo models and artificial‑womb technologies. R3 Bio’s stem‑cell “organ sacks” aim to replace animal testing and could evolve into human organ bags, while...
UK Faces Medicine Shortages Within Weeks if Iran Conflict Persists, Experts Warn
Supply‑chain analysts say the United Kingdom is only weeks away from shortages of essential medicines, from painkillers to cancer therapies, if the Iran war drags on. Disruptions to Gulf air routes and the Strait of Hormuz have forced firms onto...
Intranasal 5-MeO-DMT Boosts Depression Relief with SSRIs
The results of this first phase 2a clinical trial of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT administered adjunctively to SSRIs demonstrated acceptable safety and tolerability with promising improvements in depressive symptoms. https://t.co/m15DkPP4qX
This New Therapy Turns Off Pain without Opioids or Addiction
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and collaborators have developed a preclinical gene therapy that selectively silences pain‑processing circuits in the brain, mimicking morphine’s analgesic effect without activating reward pathways. Using an AI‑driven system to map morphine‑responsive neurons in mice,...
Eli Lilly’s Retatrutide Shows Strong Weight‑Loss Results, Poised to Disrupt Obesity Market
Eli Lilly’s experimental injectable retatrutide has reported substantial weight‑loss outcomes in a 2023 trial, positioning it as a potential challenger to existing GLP‑1 drugs. The triple‑agonist targets three metabolic receptors, and large Phase 3 studies are now under way, drawing attention...
Chinese AI Firms Turn Niche Data Play Into Profit, XtalPi Posts $19.5M Gain
Chinese AI companies XtalPi and Blacklake have moved from loss‑making research to sustainable profitability by targeting specialized data‑driven markets. XtalPi reported a 134.6 million‑yuan ($19.5 million) profit in 2025, while Blacklake achieved its first profit in late 2024, underscoring a shift in...
Nektar's Rezpegaldesleukin Shows Strong Gains in Atopic Dermatitis and Alopecia Areata at AAD 2026
Nektar Therapeutics presented Phase 2b data for its regulatory T‑cell agonist rezpegaldesleukin at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology meeting, showing statistically significant EASI improvements in 393 atopic dermatitis patients and a 28.2% mean SALT reduction in severe alopecia areata....
Kardigan Announces Positive Phase 2 Data for Tonlamarsen in Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension Presented as Late-Breaker at ACC.26 and Simultaneously...
Kardigan reported positive Phase 2 data for its antisense drug tonlamarsen in the KARDINAL trial, showing a dose‑dependent 67% reduction in plasma angiotensinogen and a mean 6.7 mmHg drop in office systolic blood pressure after 20 weeks. Both a single 90 mg dose...
Very Low LDL Levels Best in Secondary Prevention: Ez-PAVE
New randomized data from the Ez‑PAVE trial in South Korea show that lowering LDL cholesterol to below 55 mg/dL in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease reduces major cardiovascular events by 33% compared with a target of less than 70 mg/dL. The...
#AAD26: Biogen Declares Phase 2 Lupus Success for Anti-BDCA2 Antibody
Biogen announced positive Phase 2 results for litifilimab, its anti‑BDCA2 antibody targeting systemic lupus erythematosus. After 24 weeks, 14.7% of patients achieved complete clearance of skin lesions, meeting the trial’s primary endpoint. The data suggest the drug could become a...
KARDINAL: Monthly Tonlamarsen May Not Enhance BP Lowering in Resistant Hypertension
The phase II KARDINAL trial evaluated monthly versus single‑dose tonlamarsen, an angiotensinogen‑targeted nucleic‑acid therapy, in patients with resistant hypertension on multiple drugs. While monthly injections achieved a 67% reduction in plasma AGT compared with 23% after a single dose, both regimens...
Merck Buys TERN, CORT Gets FDA Cancer Nod as Trials Split, Anavex Pulls EU Filing
Merck announced a cash deal to acquire TERN, while CORT secured FDA clearance for its cancer therapy. In parallel, INSM reported positive trial data, VALN fell short of expectations, and Anavex withdrew its EU filing for an Alzheimer’s candidate.
Thousands of Americans Treated With Psilocybin in 2025
Psilocybin therapy is rapidly expanding across U.S. states, with Oregon reporting 5,935 patients in 2025 and Colorado opening its first regulated healing center. New Mexico is developing its own medical program while the federal government maintains prohibition. Scientific evidence shows...
Takeda’s Zasocitinib Delivered Rapid and Durable Skin Clearance in a Convenient Once-Daily Pill, Affirming Promise to Reshape Psoriasis Care
Takeda announced Phase 3 data for its oral TYK2 inhibitor, zasocitinib, showing rapid and durable skin clearance in moderate‑to‑severe plaque psoriasis. At week 16, 71% of patients achieved clear or almost clear skin (sPGA 0/1) versus roughly 10% on placebo and 30% on...
Takeda’s Zasocitinib Delivered Rapid and Durable Skin Clearance in a Convenient Once-Daily Pill, Affirming Promise to Reshape Psoriasis Care
Takeda announced that its oral TYK2 inhibitor zasocitinib delivered rapid and durable skin clearance in two global Phase 3 LATITUDE trials involving 693 and 1,108 moderate‑to‑severe plaque psoriasis patients. The drug met both co‑primary endpoints—sPGA 0/1 and PASI 75 at week 16—showing statistically significant...
Icotrokinra Delivers Complete Skin Clearance Through Week 52 With Strong Safety Profile: Linda Stein Gold, MD
FDA approval of icotrokinra introduces a new oral therapy for moderate‑to‑severe psoriasis. In the ICONIC‑ADVANCE trials, 100 % of patients achieved complete skin clearance through week 52, outperforming the oral benchmark deucravacitinib. The drug’s safety profile matched placebo, with fewer infections and...
Biogen Announces Second Positive Phase 2 Litifilimab Trial in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus at 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting,...
Biogen announced that litifilimab, an anti‑BDCA2 monoclonal antibody, achieved its primary endpoint in the Phase 2 portion of the AMETHYST study for cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). The drug showed an 11.8% greater reduction in disease activity versus placebo, with 14.7% of...
New England Journal of Medicine Publishes Positive Phase 3 VALOR Trial Results of Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis
Priovant Therapeutics announced that its TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor brepocitinib met the primary endpoint in the Phase 3 VALOR trial for dermatomyositis, showing a 15.3‑point improvement in Total Improvement Score at week 52 versus placebo. The 30 mg dose also delivered significant steroid‑sparing effects, with...
Combining Modest Therapies Unlocks Big Benefits, Reduces Waste
Adam, I used to think this way. Then gene therapy & IO worked. IL2 has consumed a lot of hope; but new variations make it hard to quit. Abeta worked. And synergy: combine modest drugs, unlock big benefits. Invest or...
Retatrutide's Sales Potential Tempered by Heart Risks
I'm fairly sure retatrutide will be the largest peak-sales drug in history (inflation-adjusted). My lingering question is the resting HR elevation of ~5–7 bpm and a 4–14% arrhythmia rate (vs. 2–3% placebo) seen in Phase 2 data, plus insomnia reported...
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Presents New Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Data for Plozasiran Across a Spectrum of Hypertriglyceridemia at the American College...
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals presented two‑year open‑label extension data for plozasiran at the ACC 75th session, showing an 83% median triglyceride reduction in severe hypertriglyceridemia and 96% of patients dropping below the 500 mg/dL pancreatitis threshold. No adjudicated acute pancreatitis events occurred, and...
New Atlas Maps All Human E3 Ligases, Unifying Research
A comprehensive atlas now defines all human E3 ligases, resolving decades of inconsistencies and providing a unified framework to advance research and therapeutic development for diseases linked to these essential enzymes. biotechnology
First Earnings Call Unveils AI‑Driven Aging Therapies
Our first ever earnings call coming up tomorrow - we are reporting our 2025 annual results. I will start the call with the 5 minute introduction to AI drug discovery and how we measure AI drug discovery productivity. In my...
Real-World Patterns of Peri-Procedural Antiplatelet Therapy and Concomitant Verapamil Use During Transradial Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
A single‑center retrospective study of 204 transradial PCI cases (2024‑25) found verapamil used in 98.5% of procedures. Ticagrelor was administered in 33.3% of cases, and 97.1% of ticagrelor patients also received verapamil, yielding an overall co‑exposure rate of 32.4%. Ticagrelor...
FDA Greenlights Viagra: A Pivotal HealthTech Milestone
#ThisDayInTechHistory. March 27, 1998. The FDA approved Viagra developed by Pfizer. (Untold Story) #HealthTech #JVGpost https://t.co/GJea9vd0v9
FDA Confirms Myocarditis Risk, Validating Parents' COVID Concerns
Great thread and one addition: Increased risk of myocarditis in young boys. The demonization of parents who asked, the denials by healthcare professionals and bureaucrats, and ultimately, the admission and subsequent FDA warning proving parents worst fears correct. It will take...
UT San Antonio Starts Precision Rapamycin Trial for Healthy Aging
The University of Texas at San Antonio has opened a precision clinical trial to evaluate rapamycin in non‑smoking, independently living seniors. Researchers hope the study will provide hard data on dosing and safety, moving the longevity drug from hype to...
Psilocybin Emerges as Promising Longevity Therapy
When I started Don't Die in 2021, we evaluated all the scientific evidence for the most powerful anti-aging therapies. Psychedelics were no where to be found. A wild turn of events that they're now front and center for us....
PCSK9 Inhibitor Cuts Cardiovascular Events in Diabetics
In a randomized trial of a PCSK9 inhibitor [for LDL cholesterol lowering] vs placebo for patients with diabetes and no known heart disease, there was significant reduction of major cardiovascular events including deaths #ACC26 @JAMA_current https://t.co/mzuI79c4IN https://t.co/16Cpxf7IBx
Security Gaps Exposed in Pharma AI Research Platforms Amid Rising Cyber Risks
A recent industry report warns that AI‑driven drug discovery platforms are vulnerable to cyber‑attacks and data‑privacy breaches, citing outdated hardware, fragmented compliance frameworks, and supply‑chain pressures. The findings could force pharma firms to overhaul security protocols and accelerate regulatory engagement.
Intensive LDL < 55 Mg/dL Cuts Cardiovascular Events
Validation of aggressive LDL lowering to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events, a randomized trial targeting LDL < 55 mg/dl. In participants with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (secondary prevention) @NEJM #ACC26 https://t.co/oLnkqhawOd
AI Meets Scalable Single-Cell Data, Transforming Medicine
AI needs data. And biology is finally generating it at scale. I spoke with @10xGenomics CEO Serge Saxonov about the single-cell and spatial biology revolution — and why the convergence of AI + biological measurement could transform medicine. Read the full profile...
GlucoTrack Shares Jump 34% as FDA IDE Submission Looms for Implantable Glucose Monitor
GlucoTrack, Inc. saw its Nasdaq‑listed shares climb 34.09% to $1.46 after reporting key milestones that set the stage for an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) filing with the FDA in the second quarter of 2026. The company completed a first‑in‑human trial...
#AAD26: Tanabe’s Phase 3 Win for Drug Targeting Rare Diseases that Cause Pain upon Light Exposure
Tanabe Pharma announced that its oral investigational drug achieved positive results in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X‑linked protoporphyria (XLP), two ultra‑rare phototoxic disorders. The study met its primary endpoint of reducing light‑induced pain episodes and...