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.
Open Label Outpatient Switch Study Demonstrates Symptom Stability During Transition From Oral Atypical Antipsychotics to Cobenfy™ (Xanomeline and Trospium Chloride)
Bristol Myers Squibb reported Phase 4 data showing that adults with schizophrenia can switch from oral atypical antipsychotics to Cobenfy (xanomeline‑trospium) without loss of symptom control. In an 8‑week open‑label trial, 86% of 105 patients completed the study, and mean PANSS scores stayed below baseline regardless of a 2‑week or 4‑week cross‑titration schedule. No participants discontinued Cobenfy due to lack of efficacy, and safety was consistent with earlier studies, with about half experiencing non‑serious adverse events. The results were presented at the 2026 SIRS Congress in Florence.
GLP‑1 Drugs Could Help Prevent Cancer, Study Shows
As a medical school professor, I've watched GLP-1 drugs transform diabetes and obesity treatment. Now a Nature Cancer review reveals they may suppress cancer too. GLP-1 drugs reduce insulin resistance, lower inflammation, and cut body weight -- three of the biggest...
Weight‑loss Drugs Curb Intake; Future Targets Calorie Burn
The current meds help people eat fewer calories. That’s how they work for weight loss (yes they have weight independent effects like CVD reduction). The next frontier is helping burn more calories.
Leiden University Unveils Brain‑Free Microrobots That Swim, Steer and Shape‑Shift
Researchers at Leiden University introduced microrobots only a few tens of micrometres long that can swim, steer and change shape without any onboard sensors or code, moving at roughly 7 µm per second. The breakthrough relies on a nanostructured chain design...
Lantern Pharma's STAR-001 IND Clearance Triggers 10% Stock Drop
Lantern Pharma and its subsidiary Starlight Therapeutics received FDA clearance for the Investigational New Drug application of STAR-001, paving the way for a Phase 1 pediatric trial in central nervous system cancers. The announcement sent Lantern's Nasdaq‑listed shares down 10.04%...
Adjuvant Pembrolizumab Maintains Benefit-Risk Profile for High-Risk Stage II Melanoma in KEYNOTE-716 Analysis
Adjuvant pembrolizumab (Keytruda) continued to show a strong recurrence‑free survival (RFS) advantage in resected stage IIB/IIC melanoma, with median RFS not reached versus 59.2 months for placebo (hazard ratio 0.65). The 48‑month RFS rates were 68.7% with pembrolizumab compared with...
Oral GLP‑1 Battle Heats up Amid FDA Uncertainty
Oral GLP-1 wars, FDA drift, HIV franchise defense, and a few biotech landmines | Ep. 970 https://t.co/sx4kBXzgSL [ 02:30 ] oral GLP-1 battlefield heats up [ 03:08 ] convenience factor drives adoption [ 04:51 ] tolerability issues hit persistence [ 05:45 ] Novo writes $2.1...
Statin Safety and Efficacy: What Recent Studies Reveal
Recent meta‑analyses of roughly 100,000‑plus adults confirm that statins and other cholesterol‑lowering drugs cut cardiovascular events by about 30 percent relative risk, delivering an absolute 2 percent mortality benefit over four years—equivalent to one life saved for every 50 treated. The safety...
FDA Fast-Tracks Novo Nordisk’s 7.2 Mg Wegovy HD, Shaking Up Biohacking Market
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Novo Nordisk’s 7.2 mg semaglutide injection, branded Wegovy HD, just 54 days after filing. The fast-track decision, the fourth under the National Priority Voucher program, expands dosing options for weight‑loss and metabolic biohackers.
Nano‑Engineered 'Living Pharmacy' Implant Delivers Three Drugs for a Month in Rats
Researchers from Northwestern, Rice and Carnegie Mellon unveiled HOBIT, a gum‑sized implant that keeps engineered cells alive and releases three biologics—an anti‑HIV antibody, a GLP‑1 peptide and leptin—for a month in animal trials. The device maintained 65% cell viability versus...
Rocket Pharma Secures FDA Approval for KRESLADI Gene Therapy, Shares Volatile
Rocket Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for KRESLADI, its one‑time gene therapy for severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency‑I in children. The milestone triggered a swing in the company's stock, with a pre‑market surge followed...
Β‑Hydroxybutyrate's Dual Impact on Colorectal Cancer
β-Hydroxybutyrate, a primary metabolite of ketogenic diets and its dual role in modulating colorectal cancer: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic insights https://t.co/pPCdm2AcFo https://t.co/mPtz1Xqiep
Earendil Labs Secures $787M to Accelerate AI Biologics
Earendil Labs Announces $787 Million in Financing to Scale AI-Driven Biologics Discovery and Development Who is winning AI race again? https://t.co/ZW4S2zUGkS
China Shineway Pharma Posts $133 M Profit Rise Despite 17% Revenue Drop
China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group Limited announced a full‑year net profit of RMB949.95 million (about $133 million), up from RMB840.05 million a year earlier. The gain came even as revenue slipped 17% to RMB3.135 billion ($439 million), highlighting a mixed performance in China's generic drug market.
Efficacy and Potential Pharmacological Mechanisms of Total Glucosides of Paeony in Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis in Asian Populations: A Meta-Analysis, Network...
A meta‑analysis of 28 randomized trials involving 2,130 Asian patients shows that total glucosides of paeony (TGP) combined with conventional therapy significantly improves spinal function, reduces inflammatory markers such as ESR and CRP, and enhances quality‑of‑life scores in ankylosing spondylitis...
Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Exposes the Cost of Delayed Digital Infrastructure
Cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing is advancing quickly, yet many early‑stage firms postpone building an integrated digital backbone. The resulting manual handoffs create safety, compliance, and scalability risks. SAP’s Cell and Gene Therapy Orchestration platform introduces guided workflows, e‑signatures,...
Ocugen Inc. (OCGN): One of the Popular Penny Stocks on Robinhood
Ocugen announced completion of patient enrollment for its Phase 3 liMeliGhT trial of OCU400, a modifier gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa. The study enrolled 140 patients in a 2:1 treatment‑to‑control ratio and will assess visual function via the LDNA mobility test....
SELLAS Life Sciences (SLS) to Present SLS009 Data at AACR 2026
SELLAS Life Sciences announced it will present preclinical data on its CDK9 inhibitor SLS009 (tambiciclib) at the AACR 2026 meeting in San Diego. The poster highlights the drug’s ability to induce apoptosis and lower MCL‑1 levels in acute myeloid leukemia...
Molecule‑Led Framework Prioritizes Coordination Over Technology
For years, we’ve talked about a trillion-dollar bioeconomy. The harder question has always been where to start. This new piece on the AB4S Molecule Manifesto from @LOrealGroupe, @Lallemande, @EITFood , @BASF, @Evonik, and @cradlebio offers one of the most compelling answers...
Securities Lawsuits Target Corcept and Aldeyra, Sparking Investor Scrutiny
Rosen Law Firm has filed a securities‑fraud class action against Corcept Therapeutics and opened a class‑action investigation into Aldeyra Therapeutics following FDA setbacks. The actions give investors a chance to seek compensation and set a deadline of April 21, 2026...
Light‑Activated Copper Nanoparticles, Magnetic Carriers and Liposomal PDT Transform Nanomedicine
Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Houston Methodist and the University of Johannesburg have unveiled three nanomedicine platforms—a light‑activated copper nanoparticle, a magnetically guided superparamagnetic carrier and a liposome‑encapsulated photodynamic therapy—that each claim to dramatically improve precision for cancer or spinal‑cord...
![[Comment] New Hope for Neurotrophin Targeting in Osteoarthritis Pain?](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/754aaf1faeb0d5f3b76618daddf79401.webp)
[Comment] New Hope for Neurotrophin Targeting in Osteoarthritis Pain?
Osteoarthritis (OA) remains a massive global health challenge with no disease‑modifying drugs and only modestly effective analgesics. The anti‑NGF monoclonal antibody, introduced in 2010, delivered unprecedented pain relief but was halted in 2021 after the FDA and EMA flagged joint...
![[Editorial] Politicisation of the US FDA: Eroding Integrity and Trust](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/2cbcac9eecf69b15e3915028747699be.webp)
[Editorial] Politicisation of the US FDA: Eroding Integrity and Trust
The editorial warns that increasing political interference is eroding the US Food and Drug Administration’s integrity and public trust. With a 2026 budget of $6.8 billion, the FDA remains the world’s most influential drug regulator, tasked with safeguarding safety while accelerating...
PMPRB Consults on Proposed Practice Directions for PMPRB Hearings
The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) released seven proposed Practice Directions to modernize its hearing procedures. It proposes default paper hearings for evidentiary matters, electronic filing, standardized motions, AI disclosure, virtual oral arguments, and an expedited failure‑to‑file process with...
When Fake Supplements Work
A recent study from Università Cattolica in Milan examined how open‑label placebos affect seniors aged 65 and older. Ninety participants were divided into deceptive placebo, open‑label placebo, and control groups for a three‑week trial. The open‑label group, informed they were...
LEO Pharma Announces New Long-Term Data for SPEVIGO® (Spesolimab-Sbzo) Injection in Adults with Generalized Pustular Psoriasis at AAD 2026
LEO Pharma presented long‑term results from the five‑year EFFISAYIL ON extension, showing subcutaneous SPEVIGO® reduced generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) flares from an average of two per year to 0.13, with 74.6% of patients experiencing no flares over three years. Intravenous SPEVIGO...
How Does MFN Pricing Work Within TrumpRx?
TrumpRx, launched early 2026, is a direct‑to‑patient portal offering more than 40 drugs with cash‑pay prices, coupons and discounts. The platform aligns with the administration’s most‑favored‑nation (MFN) pricing policy, but the listed prices do not always match the official MFN...
VIVAZEN® Urges Immediate Action on 7-OH as U.S. House of Representatives Examines End Needless Distribution of 7-OH Act
VIVAZEN® welcomed a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on H.R. 8000, the End Needless Distribution of 7‑OH Act, urging the DEA to promptly schedule the synthetic opioid 7‑hydroxymitragynine. The company highlighted public‑health risks such as toxicity, dependence and market confusion...
Going ‘Golden’: K-Biotech May Be Prepping for Its Moment on the Global Stage
Korean biotech is gaining global visibility after the East‑West Biopharma Summit highlighted its first‑in‑class pipelines. The Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that Eli Lilly will invest $500 million over the next five years to collaborate with domestic firms. The deal...
Rubedo Announces Positive Preliminary Results for RLS-1496
Rubedo Life Sciences reported positive preliminary Phase 1 data for RLS‑1496, the first human‑tested GPX4 modulator designed to clear senescent cells. The 4‑week, double‑blind study in the EU showed the drug was well‑tolerated, produced a clear dose‑response, and reduced epidermal thickness...
CHMP Recommends Subcutaneous Form of Sanofi's Sarclisa and Four New Drugs
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued positive opinions on five products: a subcutaneous formulation of Sanofi’s multiple‑myeloma therapy Sarclisa and four entirely new drugs pending approval. The subcutaneous version aims to simplify...
STAT+: In Private Meetings, White House Works to Win Pharma Companies’ Support for Drug Pricing Bill
The White House has drafted a drug‑pricing bill and is privately meeting with more than a dozen major pharmaceutical companies to secure their backing. The proposed legislation mirrors voluntary pricing agreements the administration previously struck, and notably would allow cash‑paid...
Tapinarof Shows Early, Sustained Gains in Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Linda Stein Gold, MD
At the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology meeting, phase 3 ADORING 1 and 2 trials demonstrated that once‑daily tapinarof cream significantly improves rash and itch in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, with effects evident by week 1 and sustained through eight weeks. The studies...
GLP-1 Drugs: Brain‑targeted Cure for Obesity and Addictions
In 1992, scientists discovered a chemical in Gila monster venom that mimicked GLP-1, the hormone your gut releases to signal fullness. By tinkering with its structure, pharma companies extended its duration from two hours (the Gila monster version) to one...
New Therapeutic Triad Accelerates Huntington's Disease Breakthroughs
“Huntington’s Disease and The Triad of Therapeutic Conviction”. Debut blog from Eric Green, CEO of Trace Neuro, explaining why and how advances are happening in HD. Genetics, cellular understanding, and enabling modalities. https://t.co/pAr9EQs5gJ
Switching Between Biosimilars and Their Reference Counterparts with Dr. Sarah Yim
In a recent FDA Q&A, Dr. Sarah Yim explained that the agency has now approved 50 biosimilars covering 15 reference biologics, spanning treatments from oncology to diabetes. She clarified the distinction between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars, noting that the latter...
R3 Bio Engineers Whole Organs, Featured in WIRED
This is so awesome. @JohnSchloendorn and Alice Gilman at R3 Bio talk through what they’re doing at R3 Bio: building something that's never existed before. They're designing genetically engineered whole organ systems. See them featured in WIRED. @WIRED full story here: https://t.co/8z5iGXR0uK
White House Drug Pricing Bill Details Revealed, Previewed by Insiders
Early details of what's in the White House's drug pricing bill text — and who's getting a sneak peek of it https://t.co/Yt8usm4yOa
FDA Approves Update to Neffy 1 Mg Label, Removing Age Requirement
The FDA has approved an update to the neffy 1 mg epinephrine nasal spray label, eliminating the previous age minimum of four years. The only remaining eligibility criterion is a patient weight of at least 33 lb, covering children as young as...
How Real-World Data Is Reshaping the NSCLC Patient Journey
Pharma firms are leveraging real‑world data (RWD) to map the patient journey of non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and uncover social determinants of health that hinder care. The new eBook highlights how gaps in biomarker testing, socioeconomic barriers, and incomplete...
Akeso Posts 51% Revenue Jump, Starts Phase II ADC Trials
Akeso Inc. announced a 51.5% year‑on‑year increase in 2025 commercial sales to RMB3.033 bn (about $425 m) and secured Chinese regulator clearance to launch Phase II trials of two first‑in‑class antibody‑drug conjugates. The results underscore the biotech’s rapid commercial expansion and its strategic...
AstraZeneca's Lung Drug Scores Unexpected COPD Trial Win
AstraZeneca lung drug gets ‘surprise’ win in COPD trials https://t.co/QuRlOQtzdT @ByJonGardner $AZN $RGN $SNY $RHHBY
Agentic AI, Virtual Cell, LNP Vaccine Boosters, Engineered Organs, and Mergers
Agentic AI is emerging as a pivotal technology in healthcare, building on generative AI momentum. Xaira Therapeutics unveiled the largest virtual cell model to date, enhancing complex biology simulations. Researchers redesigned lipid nanoparticles to avoid the liver and concentrate in...
Regulatory Actions for March 27, 2026
On March 27, 2026 BioWorld reported a flurry of regulatory actions affecting a broad swath of biopharma and med‑tech companies. The snapshot lists approvals, designations and submissions for firms such as 3D Systems, Agilent, Deciphera, Royal Philips and several others....
J&J’s Darzalex Nets First Self-Administered Cancer Injectable Approval
Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex (daratumumab) received European Medicines Agency approval for self‑administration, becoming the first oncology injectable cleared for home use. The Type II label change allows patients or caregivers to give the subcutaneous injection after the fifth dose, covering all...
AI Can Now Design Cancer Vaccines—Game‑changing Breakthrough
We can vibe-code cancer vaccines, and you think no one is going to be able to vibe-code a doomsday virus?
Overcoming Barriers to Specialty Medication Adherence With CareTria
CareTria’s CEO Willis Chandler told Pharmaceutical Commerce that 50% of patients abandon specialty drugs due to fragmented support and lengthy benefit verification. The company’s automated platform unifies provider, pharmacy, and payer workflows, slashing the time from prescription to therapy from...
Novartis Acquires Excellergy to Secure Xolair Successor
Novartis targets Xolair successor in buyout of startup Excellergy https://t.co/eGYQ2AxTd5 by @gwendolynawu $NVS $RHHBY #startups #biotech
Drug Trials Snapshots: CARDAMYST
Milestone Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval on December 12, 2025 for CARDAMYST, a 70 mg nasal spray of etripamil designed to rapidly convert acute paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) to sinus rhythm. The pivotal RAPID trial enrolled 255 adults across eight countries, showing...
Drug Digest: Examining the Growing Role of Partnerships in Modern Bioprocessing and Biopharma R&D with Bristol Myers Squibb's Dr. Manisha...
In a debut interview for BioPharm Drug Digest, Bristol Myers Squibb’s senior vice‑president of Product Development, Manisha P. Desai, explains how strategic, end‑to‑end partnerships are reshaping bioprocessing and biopharma R&D. She highlights a shift from traditional fee‑for‑service outsourcing to deep collaborations that integrate...