STAT+: Eli Lilly’s $3.25 Billion Acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics Caps Startup’s Tortuous Ride
Eli Lilly announced a $3.25 billion acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics, a small biotech focused on cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The deal may include additional payments if Kelonia meets clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones. Kelonia, formerly Elcano Therapeutics, survived on just $60 million over five years and narrowly avoided cash depletion three times. The acquisition was highlighted by a venture‑capital memo and slide deck that shed light on the challenges of building a biotech startup.
British Patients Risking “Fake” Weight Loss Drugs, Despite Safety Concerns, Survey Says
British patients are increasingly turning to unregulated weight‑loss drugs, with a Zava survey revealing that 21% lack a prescription and many purchase them online. One in six respondents bought doses from e‑commerce platforms, while 11.75% sourced drugs through social‑media channels...
Merck Partner Reveals Bispecific Data; Biogen Pays $100M for Antibody Rights
Merck’s partner Sino Biopharm disclosed first‑in‑human results for its PD‑1×VEGF bispecific antibody, MK‑2010, reporting that six of 11 lung‑cancer patients achieved a response at a low dose. A second cohort showed four responses among nine patients, indicating activity across dosing...
Kelonia Investor Venrock Will Clear a 45-Fold Return on Startup's Sale to Lilly
Venture capital firm Venrock is set to pocket roughly $900 million after its modest $20 million seed investment in Kelonia Therapeutics paid off. Kelonia agreed to an all‑cash acquisition by Eli Lilly valued at $3.25 billion, delivering an upfront payment that triggers the windfall....
Tebentafusp Shows Durable Survival in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma, Immunocore Reports
Immunocore reported five‑year overall survival data from its phase 3 trial of tebentafusp‑tebn (Kimmtrak) in HLA‑A*02:01‑positive metastatic uveal melanoma. The study showed 16% of patients on tebentafusp were alive at five years versus 8% on standard therapy, with a hazard ratio...
AACR 2026: Revolution’s Next Prospect, Merck’s Reveal and a Lung Cancer Battle
At AACR 2026, Revolution Medicines reported that its RAS‑G12D inhibitor zoldonrasib produced a 52% response rate and a median 11.1‑month progression‑free survival in heavily pre‑treated non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, hinting at accelerated‑approval potential. Merck presented early data on...
Federal 340B Overhaul Bill Unlikely This Year
A bipartisan Senate “gang of six” has stalled its 340B drug‑pricing reform effort, with no bill expected before the end of the 118th Congress. The draft legislation, first released in early 2024, still omits a definition of a 340B‑eligible patient,...
Gilead Declines Another Arcus Option After Phase 3 TIGIT Fail
Gilead Sciences has declined another development option with Arcus Biosciences following the Phase 3 failure of their joint TIGIT immunotherapy. The setback ends a key pillar of a long‑standing collaboration and signals Gilead’s intent to trim external programs. Both companies will...
Lilly Adds Gene Delivery Technology to CAR T in up to $7B Kelonia Deal
Eli Lilly announced an up‑to $7 billion acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics, securing its Phase 1 lentiviral in‑vivo CAR‑T candidate KLN‑1010 and the iGPS gene‑delivery platform. iGPS uses lentiviral particles to program a patient’s own T‑cells, potentially eliminating ex‑vivo manufacturing and pre‑treatment chemotherapy. The deal...
Agenus Cancer Cocktail Records 0% Response Rate, Missing Midstage Goal
Agenus and its spin‑out MiNK Therapeutics reported a zero percent overall response rate in a Phase 2 trial of a three‑drug cocktail for advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. The regimen combined two experimental immunotherapies, botensilimab and balstilimab, with MiNK’s allogeneic iNKT cell therapy...
Novo’s Late-Stage Sickle Cell Win Piles Pressure on Competitors
Novo Nordisk reported that its oral pyruvate kinase‑R activator etavopivat reduced vaso‑occlusive crises by 27% in the Phase 3 HIBISCUS trial and more than doubled hemoglobin response rates versus placebo. The data support a regulatory filing slated for the second half...
Beyond GLP-1Rs: Emerging Targets Poised to Gain Share of Obesity Market
The global obesity drug market is projected to reach $172.6 bn by 2031, up 139% from 2026, driven by GLP‑1R giants like Wegovy and Zepbound. Non‑GLP‑1R therapeutics, currently a niche at $310 m, are forecast to surge 50‑fold, hitting $15.5 bn by 2031....
STAT+: Finally Cracking KRAS as a Druggable Target
Revolution Medicines announced that its KRAS inhibitor daraxonrasib produced tumor shrinkage in a Phase 2 trial for pancreatic cancer, marking the first clear efficacy signal for an oral drug targeting the once‑undruggable KRAS protein. The result follows a wave of...
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About Trump Boosting Psychedelic Treatment, the Future for Weight-Loss Drugs, and More
Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks warned that GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs will likely reach only about half of the eligible overweight and obese population due to healthcare system complexities and cost barriers. Currently, just 10% of those who could benefit are...
Oregon Passes Bill to Support Medical Cannabis Among Hospice Patients
Oregon enacted Ryan’s Law, mandating hospice, residential and palliative care providers to permit qualified patients to use medical cannabis and to establish safety policies and staff training. The bill adds hospice and end‑of‑life care as a new qualifying condition for...
A Vaccine for Lyme Disease Could Be on the Horizon
Pfizer and Valneva reported that their Lyme disease vaccine candidate LB6V reduced cases by about 70% in a Phase 3 trial. The four‑dose regimen targets the OspA protein, preventing bacterial transmission from ticks to humans. If regulators approve it, the...
Decoding Resistance to Targeted Therapy via New Cancer Models
ATCC and the Broad Institute have created a panel of isogenic non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines that model resistance to osimertinib, the newest EGFR inhibitor. Using CRISPR editing and gene‑overexpression, the team introduced six clinically observed resistance mechanisms,...
Pheast Therapeutics Reports Early P-Ia Data for PHST001 at AACR 2026
Pheast Therapeutics presented initial Phase Ia data for its anti‑CD24 macrophage checkpoint inhibitor PHST001 at the AACR 2026 meeting. The study showed clear target engagement, activation of innate immunity and a favorable safety profile across dose‑escalation cohorts. Early clinical signals...
Boehringer Ingelheim Launches AI Center for Pharma Research in London
Boehringer Ingelheim announced the launch of a new artificial‑intelligence and machine‑learning centre in London, its fourth dedicated AI hub after sites in Austria, Germany and the United States. The company will invest £150 million (about $200 million) over the next ten years...
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[Podcast] From Protocol to Patient: Inside Clinical Supply with Almac Clinical Services
Almac Clinical Services has launched a six‑part podcast series that walks listeners through the end‑to‑end clinical supply chain, from protocol translation to global regulatory release. The series targets biopharma sponsors, highlighting how early collaboration with supply partners can streamline planning,...
Who Is Dr. Houman Hemmati, Potentially CBER’s Next Leader?
Dr. Houman Hemmati, a board‑certified ophthalmologist and biotech entrepreneur, is the leading candidate to replace Dr. Vinay Prasad as director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Hemmati co‑founded Optigo Biotherapeutics, held senior roles at companies such as...
Update: Lilly Makes $7bn Bid for in Vivo CAR-T Firm Kelonia
Eli Lilly has confirmed a $3.25 billion upfront offer for Kelonia Therapeutics, with milestone payments that could lift the total value to $7 billion. Kelonia’s in vivo CAR‑T candidate KLN‑1010 demonstrated MRD‑negative responses in a four‑patient early‑stage study, highlighting the promise of off‑the‑shelf cell...
Merck’s Early PD-1/VEGF Data Competitive in Lung Cancer, but Summit ‘Looms Large’
Merck’s anti‑PD‑1/VEGF bispecific MK‑2010 posted a 55% overall response rate in treatment‑naïve non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a 44% response in later‑line patients, figures that rival the current leader, Summit/Akeso’s ivonescimab. The data were presented at the AACR meeting,...
Nektar’s Long-Term Mid-Stage Alopecia Data Fuel Phase 3 Plans
Nektar Therapeutics reported that its IL-2 variant rezpegaldesleukin achieved modest efficacy and safety signals in the long‑term extension of a previously failed Phase 2b alopecia areata trial, barely meeting Wall Street expectations. The data revive confidence in the program and...
STAT+: Extended Use of Nektar Therapeutics Drug Shows Promise in Alopecia
Nektar Therapeutics announced that its experimental oral drug rezpeg produced significant hair regrowth in patients with severe alopecia areata. After a year of treatment, 27% of participants reached a SALT Score 20, meaning at least 80% of the scalp was covered...
Novo Nordisk Reports Positive P-III (HIBISCUS) Study Data for Etavopivat in Sickle Cell Disease
Novo Nordisk announced that its oral pyruvate kinase activator etavopivat met both primary endpoints in the Phase III HIBISCUS trial for sickle cell disease. In 385 patients aged 12 and older, the drug reduced vaso‑occlusive crisis (VOC) rates by 27% and...
AstraZeneca Reports Positive P-III (MIRANDA) Data for Tozorakimab in COPD
AstraZeneca announced that its anti‑IL‑33 antibody tozorakimab achieved its primary endpoint in the Phase III MIRANDA trial, delivering a statistically significant reduction in the annualised rate of moderate‑to‑severe COPD exacerbations. The double‑blind study enrolled 1,454 patients receiving standard inhaled therapy and...
Vaginal Drug Delivery Had A Funding Problem—Merck Changed That
Calla Lily Clinical Care’s tampon‑shaped vaginal drug delivery platform, Callavid, has secured a strategic collaboration with Merck to accelerate clinical development for IVF luteal‑phase support and miscarriage prevention. The device, cleared under FDA 510(k) and patented in 14 countries, promises...
AZ Is Three for Three with COPD Hope Tozorakimab
AstraZeneca’s anti‑IL‑33 antibody tozorakimab has succeeded in all three pivotal Phase 3 COPD trials, showing a statistically significant reduction in moderate‑to‑severe exacerbations. The MIRANDA study confirmed benefit with biweekly dosing, while OBERON and TITANIA validated once‑monthly regimens. These results place AZ...
Novo Nordisk’s Sickle Cell Therapy Hits in Phase 3, but Data Lag Expectations
Novo Nordisk announced that its oral sickle‑cell drug etavopivat met its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial, showing a statistically significant reduction in painful vaso‑occlusive crises. The study, however, fell short of the ambitious efficacy and safety benchmarks the...
Haryana Drugs Regulator Reports Fake Mounjaro Seizure in Gurugram: Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly disclosed that Haryana’s drug regulator seized roughly ₹70 lakh (about $85,000) of counterfeit Mounjaro injections in Gurugram. The company said it is actively supporting the investigation and praised the authorities’ enforcement action. Mounjaro, a GLP‑1 drug used for obesity, has...
Innate Pharma to Present P-II (MATISSE) Interim Data of IPH5201 in NSCLC at AACR 2026
Innate Pharma will present interim Phase‑II (MATISSE) data for its anti‑CD39 antibody IPH5201 in resectable non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the AACR 2026 meeting. The analysis of 40 patients shows a pathological complete response (pCR) of 35.7% in tumors...
Contributor: Focus on the Real Causes of the Shortage in Hormone Treatments
U.S. pharmacies have struggled to fill estradiol patch prescriptions, prompting media narratives that blame a surge in menopause hormone demand. In reality, usage of hormone therapy has hovered around 5% of menopausal women, far from unprecedented levels. The shortage is...
Freudenberg Medical Launches ISO Class 5 Cleanroom for Biopharma
Freudenberg Medical announced CleanAssure, an ISO 5 controlled cleanroom that delivers washed, dried and gamma‑sterilized single‑use assemblies for biopharma customers. The service expands the company’s portfolio beyond component manufacturing to include validated cleaning and sterilization under cGMP conditions. By integrating this...
Magazine: Digital Twins Become the New Battleground for CDMOs
The latest issue of Pharmaceutical Technology highlights how knowledge‑graph digital twins are becoming a strategic weapon for contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) tackling complex biologics, gene therapies and advanced products. By creating a virtual replica of the entire manufacturing...
Georgetown Engineers Pectin-Based Bone Grafts to Replace Metal Implants
Georgetown University researchers have engineered a 3D‑printed bone graft that combines pectin—a food‑grade polysaccharide—with hydroxyapatite layers to mimic natural bone architecture. The pectin matrix can be printed at room temperature, creating a porous scaffold that promotes nutrient flow and cell...
Inclusive Clinical Trials: An Oxymoron?
The author argues that mandating the inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women in pivotal clinical trials is driven more by sentiment than scientific rigor. He highlights that strict eligibility criteria are essential for internal validity, and adding these populations would...
The Future of Quality in CDMOs: The Five-Stage Journey to an Advanced Pharmaceutical Quality System (PQS)
Sharp, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), outlined a five‑stage journey to an advanced Pharmaceutical Quality System (PQS) that shifts quality from basic compliance to a strategic, performance‑driven function. The roadmap progresses through foundational compliance, strategic direction, integrated...
Four Ways to Build a Secure and Scalable CGT Distribution Network
Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) are expanding rapidly, with 34 US products approved and a projected $80 bn global market by 2029, driven largely by oncology. Successful commercialization now hinges on building secure, scalable distribution networks that protect fragile, cryogenic products...
What Actually Drives Speed in Complex Drug Development Programs
Speed in complex drug development is less about pushing harder and more about early, cross‑functional coordination. Traditional sequential handoffs often create hidden delays, forcing teams to revisit decisions under pressure. Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Accelerator™ Drug Development model integrates CDMO and...
Potential Spillover Effects on Diagnostic Delay for Cancer During the NHS-Galleri Trial
A quasi‑experimental study examined whether England’s NHS‑Galleri trial, which tests a cell‑free DNA multi‑cancer early detection (MCED) assay, caused spillover effects on cancer diagnostic timelines. Using a difference‑in‑differences design across 21 cancer‑alliance regions, researchers found that participating regions experienced a...
Pulnovo Raises $100M Led by Medtronic to Advance PADN System for Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulnovo Medical announced an oversubscribed $100 million financing round led by Medtronic, bringing together existing backers such as EQT, Qiming Venture Partners, Gaorong Ventures, OrbiMed and Lilly Asia Ventures. The capital will accelerate clinical development, regulatory work and commercialization of Pulnovo’s...
STAT+: PBMs Warn Trump’s Proposal to Disclose Drug Prices Is Illegal
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a proposed rule that would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to disclose detailed drug‑pricing information to employers and simplify audit processes. The rule, released in January, has sparked a flood of comments, with...
AlphaGen Therapeutics to Present Preclinical Studies of Two Next-Generation Alpha Therapies at AACR 2026
AlphaGen Therapeutics announced it will present preclinical data on two next‑generation alpha radiopharmaceuticals, AG1002 and AG1206, at the AAC 2026 meeting in San Diego. AG1002 is a non‑agonist SSTR2‑targeting agent that achieved a superior tumor‑to‑kidney ratio and robust tumor inhibition in multiple...
EpiBiologics Reports First Patient Dosed in P-I Study of EPI-326 for EGFR-Driven Solid Tumors
EpiBiologics has dosed the first patient in a global Phase‑1 trial of EPI‑326, a tissue‑selective bispecific antibody that targets EGFR in advanced solid tumors. The study will assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and early anti‑tumor activity in non‑small cell lung cancer...
From Product to Patient in Nuclear Medicine: Why Vertical Integration Is Essential for a Competitive Advantage
Nuclear medicine’s ultra‑short radiopharmaceutical half‑lives make delivery inseparable from production, forcing a single, time‑bound operational system. Curium has built a globally integrated model that combines isotope manufacturing, quality release, and distribution into one coordinated network. The approach proved its resilience...
Emyria Launches Empax Global Partnership Platform Targeting International Drug Sponsors
Emyria (ASX:EMD) has launched the Empax Global Partnership Platform, giving international drug sponsors and CROs direct access to its clinical delivery infrastructure for complex psychedelic‑assisted therapies. The service creates a dual‑revenue model that blends existing reimbursed treatment programs with high‑margin,...
Here’s Simulations Plus Inc (SLP)’s Vision for AI in Drug Development
Simulations Plus Inc (NASDAQ:SLP) announced on March 26 that three major pharmaceutical firms have joined its AI‑enabled modeling collaboration programs, embedding the company’s AI agents directly into their drug‑development workflows. The firm emphasized a fully integrated AI deployment rather than...
Why Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc (RXRX) Expanded Citeline Partnership
Recursion Pharmaceuticals announced an expanded partnership with Citeline on March 31, adding the data‑provider’s real‑world evidence capabilities to its AI‑driven drug discovery platform. The integration is designed to improve clinical‑trial design and accelerate decision‑making for its pipeline of cancer and...
Here’s What TD Cowen Thinks About Tempus AI Inc (TEM) Stock
TD Cowen upgraded Tempus AI Inc (NASDAQ:TEM) to a Buy rating, trimming its price target to $65 from $70. The company reported an 83.4% revenue jump to $1.3 billion in 2025 and projects $1.59 billion for 2026, a 25% increase. Strategic partnerships...