Industry News

The FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Biogen's investigational antisense oligonucleotide salanersen for spinal muscular atrophy, supported by Phase 1b data showing motor function improvements and reduced neurodegeneration in children previously treated with gene therapy.

IDefine and UT Southwestern will assess a preclinical EHMT1 gene replacement strategy for Kleefstra syndrome.

Lilly adds Ascidian’s RNA exon-editing platform for rare inherited kidney disease targets in a deal with no disclosed clinical data.

Interim phase 1b/2 data from Tenaya Therapeutics’ MyPEAK-1 study showed TN-201 gene therapy was generally well-tolerated and associated with improvements in cardiac remodeling, symptom burden, and functional measures in patients with MYBPC3-associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.¹

Eli Lilly has entered a licensing agreement with Hanmi Pharmaceutical for sonefpeglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 receptor agonist in Phase 2 development for short bowel syndrome. The deal includes $75 million upfront and up to $1.2 billion in milestone payments, plus royalties.

FDA draft guidance outlines how prior scientific knowledge may support gene therapy development for rare and life-threatening diseases.

New research presented by Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute found similar safety and quality outcomes for CAR-T cell therapy delivered at accredited and non-accredited centers, suggesting treatment location may play an important role in improving patient access to care.

APAC clinical trials require tailored strategies to manage regulatory, operational, and cultural differences for efficient, high-quality study execution.

Biogen has completed its acquisition of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, adding complement-targeting therapies Empaveli and Syfovre to its portfolio and strengthening the company’s position in nephrology and rare disease therapeutics.

Kanvas Biosciences and LTZ Therapeutics raised a combined $86 million to advance novel cancer immunotherapy platforms targeting the microbiome and innate immune system, respectively.

Madrigal licensed Arrowhead's ARO-PNPLA3 to target PNPLA3 I148M-associated metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis, expanding options beyond approved resmetirom.

New long-term data reported by Eli Lilly and Company show Omvoh achieved sustained disease clearance through four years in ulcerative colitis, highlighting the potential durability of interleukin-23–targeted therapies.

Phase 3 FUZION data showed guselkumab improved fistula remission vs placebo in adults with perianal fistulizing Crohn disease.

The FDA has approved vepdegestrant, the first PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera protein degrader therapy, for estrogen receptor gene-mutated ER+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, offering a new option for patients with endocrine-resistant disease.

UCB’s planned $2.2 billion acquisition of Candid Therapeutics strengthens its immunology pipeline with bispecific T-cell engagers, led by cizutamig, a BCMA/CD3-targeting antibody in early-stage trials for autoimmune diseases.

As the biopharmaceutical industry moves increasingly toward applied AI in GMP manufacturing, emphasizing real-world use, PDA Week 2026 is expected to evolve as it further dives into risk management and data-driven quality decisions.

Survodutide delivers significant Phase III weight loss results, FDA grants RMAT status to Orca-Q, and Ligand expands its portfolio with a $739 million acquisition of XOMA.

Biopharma news highlights: Henlius and Organon gain EU approval for a pertuzumab biosimilar, while Pfizer reports Phase 3 success for Elrexfio in multiple myeloma. Genexine advances GX-BP1 targeting SOX2, signaling new progress in overcoming cancer resistance and expanding oncology innovation.

Boehringer Ingelheim announced promising Phase III data showing that survodutide achieved up to 16.6% weight loss and significant metabolic improvements in adults with obesity or overweight. The dual glucagon/GLP-1 agonist may offer a new approach targeting both weight reduction and liver-related metabolic health.

The BioPharm Brief covers three recent FDA developments shaping the autoimmune and inflammatory disease landscape. The agency cleared a subcutaneous autoinjector for anifrolumab in systemic lupus erythematosus, enabling at-home administration. It also granted Priority Review to nipocalimab for warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, highlighting its potential as a targeted treatment for a rare condition. In addition, a supplemental application has been submitted for subcutaneous risankizumab as an induction therapy in Crohn disease, which could reduce the need for infusion-based initiation. Together, these updates reflect a growing focus on patient convenience, expanded access, and more precise treatment approaches in immune-mediated diseases.

BioNTech’s decision to close its Singapore manufacturing facility reflects mounting financial pressure, ongoing restructuring efforts, and uncertainty around the pace at which next-generation mRNA therapies will scale.

FDA expands approval of Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly Sogroya to include three new pediatric growth disorder indications, offering children as young as 2.5 an alternative to daily growth hormone injections backed by Phase III non-inferiority data.

The facility builds on Eli Lilly's $50 Billion investment strategy to strengthen the company's domestic manufacturing capabilities.

The company composed a letter addressed to global governments to harness competitiveness and innovation to navigate the current global trade economy.

In Episode 29, John Androsavich, Benjamin Fryer and John Wilkerson go behind the top headlines from 2025.

The study by Integra Therapeutics and partners reveals how AI-engineered proteins could expand gene-editing tools and streamline development of advanced therapies.

Aaron Cowley, Recipharm Advanced Bio; Renee Hart, LumaCyte; and Vibha Jawa, EpiVax, go behind the headlines to delve deeper into recent market deals driven by Big Pharma patent cliffs and the complex manufacturing of ATMPs.

Bristol Myers Squibb is seeking approval of Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel) to treat relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma, making this the fifth cancer type for which the cell therapy would be approved.