GSK, Ionis Achieve Functional Cure in Hepatitis B Studies, Clearing Path for FDA Run
GSK and Ionis reported that their antisense oligonucleotide bepirovirsen achieved a functional cure in the Phase III B‑Well 1 and B‑Well 2 chronic hepatitis B trials. The drug met its primary efficacy endpoint and all ranked secondary endpoints, showing statistically significant cure rates without detectable virus for 24 weeks post‑treatment. Safety was characterized as acceptable, though detailed adverse‑event data were not disclosed. The partners intend to submit a regulatory filing in early 2026.
Jazz’s Ziihera Shows ‘Practice-Changing’ Efficacy in Stomach Cancer
Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported Phase III HERIZON‑GEA‑01 data showing its bispecific HER2 antibody Ziihera dramatically improves outcomes in first‑line HER2‑positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. In a trial of more than 900 patients, Ziihera combined with chemotherapy cut the risk of progression or death by...
Pfizer Searches for Novel Tumor-Selective Antigens With $865M+ Cartography Pact
Pfizer has signed a multi‑year agreement with Cartography Biosciences to discover novel tumor‑selective antigens. The deal provides up to $65 million in upfront and near‑term milestones, with potential total payments exceeding $800 million if all options are exercised. Cartography will employ its...
Amgen Makes up to $840M Cancer Play With Dark Blue Takeover
Amgen announced the acquisition of England‑based Dark Blue Therapeutics for up to $840 million, combining an upfront payment with future milestones. The deal brings Dark Blue’s lead asset, DBT 3757—a pre‑clinical small‑molecule degrader of MLLT1 and MLLT3—into Amgen’s oncology portfolio. Additional programs...
Novo Launches Oral Obesity Pill, Lilly Targets Lofty Revenue, FDA and M&A in Focus
Novo Nordisk introduced its first oral GLP‑1 obesity treatment, Wegovy pill, priced at $149 per month for lower doses. Eli Lilly is eyeing a March approval for its oral weight‑loss candidate orforglipron, positioning it as a catalyst to more than double...
Biotech Investors Bet on a 2026 Rebound as Deal Activity Accelerates
Biotech investors anticipate a rebound in 2026, driven by a wave of M&A activity and larger private financing rounds observed in late 2025. High‑profile deals such as Pfizer’s $10 billion acquisition of Metsera and AbbVie’s $10.1 billion purchase of ImmunoGen signal renewed...
BioSpace’s NextGen Class of 2026 Attracts Big Bucks From Tight Wallets
BioSpace’s 2026 NextGen list spotlights 15 early‑stage life‑science startups that secured seed or Series A financing despite a 2025 capital crunch. The cohort includes rare‑disease pioneers and innovators tackling cardiovascular, oncology, and genetic therapies. Notable deals feature Light Horse’s $62 million Series A...
Deep Dive: Huntington’s at a Crossroads
The neuro‑degenerative field has gained momentum with recent disease‑modifying approvals, and uniQure’s September data showed its gene therapy could slow Huntington’s progression by 75%. However, the FDA signaled that the Phase I/II results may not satisfy the evidentiary standards for...
Arrowhead Enters Obesity Chat by Doubling Tirzepatide’s Weight Loss in Combo Study
Arrowhead Pharma reported that its RNAi drug ARO‑INHBE, combined with Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, produced roughly double the weight loss seen with tirzepatide alone in a small Phase I/IIa study. In the interim analysis, patients receiving the combo lost 9.4% of body weight...
Lilly Doubles Down With Nimbus, Paying $55M for Preclinical Obesity Drug
Eli Lilly has struck a new multi‑year collaboration with Nimbus Therapeutics, paying $55 million upfront for a preclinical oral obesity drug program that could generate up to $1.3 billion in milestones. The partnership leverages Nimbus’s AI‑driven, structure‑based design to discover small‑molecule treatments for...