Latest Headlines from Cafepharma

ASCO: Merck, Kelun's sac-TMT ADC combo beats Keytruda by 65% on progression in first-line lung cancer

Fierce Pharma — Thu, 21 May 2026 22:37:39 -0400

Phase 3 data for Merck & Co. and Kelun-Biotech’s antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) suggest the race is heating up to establish a new standard of care in first-line non-small cell lung cancer.

Moderna, Merck cancer combo cuts melanoma spread risk at five years

Yahoo/Reuters — Thu, 21 May 2026 22:35:02 -0400

Moderna and Merck's combination therapy for skin cancer helped reduce risk of cancer spreading to another ‌part of the body by 59% after five years of ‌follow-up, data from a mid-stage trial showed Thursday.

Biogen, Denali scrap Parkinson's drug after failure in mid-to-late stage study

Yahoo/Reuters — Thu, 21 May 2026 22:30:58 -0400

Biogen and Denali Therapeutics said on Thursday ‌they will discontinue development of ‌their Parkinson's drug after it failed to meet the main goal in a mid-to-late stage study.

US taps small San Diego biotech for experimental Ebola treatment as epidemic worsens

Fierce Biotech — Thu, 21 May 2026 22:27:50 -0400

As an outbreak of Ebola in central Africa continues to worsen, the federal government has tapped a little-known biotech in San Diego to provide doses of an experimental antibody that may be used to treat the deadly virus.

The biotech, Mapp Biopharmaceutical, “has shipped doses for potential use in high-risk individuals,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services told Fierce, “as part of coordinated preparedness efforts.”

Lilly’s triple agonist shows bariatric surgery–like weight loss results

BioSpace — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:59:52 -0400

Lilly met analysts’ sky-high expectations with 28.3% weight loss over 80 weeks for the triple hormone receptor agonist retatrutide in a highly anticipated readout on Thursday.

Remepy’s app-drug combo heads for Phase III on mid-stage Parkinson’s win

Clinical Trials Arena — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:58:43 -0400

Remepy is taking its hybrid Parkinson’s therapy, Hybridopa, to Phase III, after the blended app-drug approach offered motor and non-motor outcome improvements in a mid-stage pilot study.

Gilead pledges 400K AmBiosome doses to fight visceral leishmaniasis in expanded WHO collab

Fierce Pharma — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:54:06 -0400

Gilead Sciences and the World Health Organization (WHO) are doubling down on a pact to eliminate deadly parasitic disease visceral leishmaniasis (VL) through an expanded collaboration that focuses on supplying treatment to East African countries over the next five years.

BioMarin bounces back as Voxzogo performs ‘bigger than expected’ in new indication

BioSpace — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:52:18 -0400

After being hit by safety issues and subpar results in another trial, BioMarin’s Phase 3 test of Voxzogo for a rare skeletal disorder called hypochondroplasia showed efficacy “solidly above” what the drug has shown for achondroplasia, which causes dwarfism.

3 big shifts for the GLP-1 market

Beckers Hospital Review — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:50:21 -0400

In 2026, the U.S. prescription drug market is predicted to exceed $1 trillion for the first time, and GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Zepbound and Wegovy are the primary drivers of this growth.

GLP-1s accounted for 14% of U.S. drug spending last year, with these drugs costing $131.9 billion of the $915.2 billion spent on all prescriptions in 2025. In 2023, Goldman Sachs researchers projected the global obesity market alone could hit $100 billion by 2030.

In Alzheimer’s, Bristol Myers sees big promise beyond amyloid

BioPharma Dive — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:48:17 -0400

Bristol Myers Squibb, like many of its big pharma peers, grew to be one of the world’s largest and most powerful drugmakers via deals.

Its name stems from two 19th-century companies that merged nearly four decades ago. Its second-biggest product, the immunotherapy Opdivo, was acquired from a small, New Jersey-based developer. Its position as a leading producer of cell therapies and blood cancer treatments was forged through the landmark, $74 billion buyout of Celgene in 2019.

Betting on biotech: Prediction markets set sights on clinical trials

Fierce Biotech — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:46:20 -0400

One day in early May, web-based prediction market platform Kalshi listed two contracts tied to Compass Pathways’ psilocybin drug, COMP360. Patrons could wager on when the company would submit a new drug application for treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder or when the FDA would approve the drug, with several timing choices offering different payouts.

China’s biotech rise sparks new US industry alliance

Pharma Voice — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:35:29 -0400

While China may have been the impetus for ABIA’s formation, its focus will be squarely on supporting America’s biotechs, Lawson said. About 30 companies have already joined the group, including Moderna and Rocket Pharmaceuticals, and Lawson is aiming to grow its ranks to 50 members as it creates its “Biotech Vision 2030” strategy.

Guardant wins FDA approval for updated liquid biopsy

Medtech Dive — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:30:55 -0400

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Guardant Health’s new blood-based genomic test, the company said Wednesday.
Guardant designed the liquid biopsy panel to profile more than 740 genes, compared with the 74 covered by its existing product.

Infex chases after Insmed with bronchiectasis trial win

Pharmaphorum — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:27:21 -0400

There is only one approved therapy for lung disease non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) in the US and Europe – Insmed's Brinsupri – but UK startup Infex Therapeutics is in hot pursuit.

Why UCB bet a billion dollars on cell therapy for epilepsy

Pharmaphorum — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:24:50 -0400

Last month, UCB announced its plan to pay $650 million up front, with another $500 million in milestone payments, for San Francisco-based Neurona Therapeutics.

Lilly pens $202M deal for preclinical DNA delivery biotech Engage as M&A streak continues

Fierce Biotech — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:51:01 -0400

There's no question Eli Lilly has been the most active biopharma dealmaker of recent months, but even the billions the pharma already spent on acquisitions hasn't exhausted its appetite.

The latest target is California-based Engage Biologics, for which Lilly is paying $202 million. That amount includes both an upfront fee and milestone payouts, although the companies didn't offer a breakdown of the financials.

Immunovant pays out $39M to call time on FcRn inhibitor after eye disease phase 3 fails

Fierce Biotech — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:49:49 -0400

Immunovant has confirmed that its first-generation FcRn inhibitor has been scrapped, a month after the asset flunked a pair of phase 3 eye disease trials.

The company first set out plans back in 2022 to assess the therapy, called batoclimab, in two late-stage studies of patients with thyroid eye disease (TED). But Immunovant’s majority shareholder, Roivant, disclosed in early April that both trials had missed their primary endpoint of demonstrating a 2 mm or greater reduction in proptosis, a term for eye bulging.

Eli Lilly accuses church bishops, businessmen of fraud in Trulicity drug rebate scheme

CNBC — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:48:24 -0400

Eli Lilly has disclosed in a civil lawsuit filed in federal court on Tuesday that a rebate fraud scheme cost it more than $200 million.
The company alleges several bishops and a leader of the Church of God in Christ, a major Pentecostal church, were part of the plot. The church is not named as a defendant in the suit.

AbbVie’s new immunology standard-bearer Skyrizi kneels to UCB’s Bimzelx in psoriatic arthritis

BioSpace — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:44:19 -0400

UCB’s Bimzelx has outperformed Skyrizi, AbbVie’s new immuno juggernaut, in a late-stage head-to-head psoriatic arthritis study.

Phase 3 data released Tuesday showed patients on Bimzelx experienced significantly better joint outcomes than those on Skyrizi, according to a company release. The study measured this endpoint using the ACR50, a tool used to assess clinical response that looks for at least a 50% improvement in joint symptoms, quality of life, functional performance and other metrics.

Moderna’s stock rides hantavirus fears as spotlight returns to infectious disease platform

BioSpace — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:42:34 -0400

While the pathogen appears unlikely to trigger a pandemic, analysts see potential for Moderna to build goodwill amid a period of political pressure on vaccine manufacturers.

Incyte pays Genesis $80M to expand AI-fueled drug discovery pact

Fierce Biotech — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:39:50 -0400

Incyte is paying Genesis $80 million upfront to expand use of its partner’s AI platform across a broader range of drug targets, continuing the biotech’s rapid embrace of AI in drug discovery and development.

Endologix buys clot removal system from Surmodics

Medtech Dive — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:16:39 -0400

Endologix said Tuesday it has bought a device for removing clots from peripheral arteries from Surmodics for an undisclosed amount.
The product, Pounce, is a catheter system for the mechanical, nonsurgical removal of thrombi and emboli, types of vascular blockages including clots.

BMS taps Anthropic’s Claude for enterprise-wide AI adoption to speed R&D, global workflows

Fierce Biotech — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:03:26 -0400

Bristol Myers Squibb is the latest large pharma company to be making a major bet on artificial intelligence, announcing a sweeping agreement with Anthropic to deploy its AI tool Claude as the “shared intelligence platform” across the drugmaker’s global operations.

Pfizer expands pneumococcal vaccine push with new programs

Benzinga — Wed, 20 May 2026 10:58:21 -0400

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) on Wednesday reported positive Phase 2 data for its investigational 25-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate.

The study showed strong immune responses in infants compared with PREVNAR 20, supporting advancement into Phase 3 testing.

Medtronic plans to buy SPR Therapeutics for $650 million to expand pain treatment options

Yahoo/Reuters — Wed, 20 May 2026 10:51:16 -0400

Medical device maker Medtronic said on ‌Wednesday it plans to ‌acquire privately held SPR Therapeutics for about $650 million in cash, expanding its portfolio of treatments for chronic pain.

Tuneable peptide biotech Parabilis files IPO

Pharmaphorum — Wed, 20 May 2026 10:49:21 -0400

Fresh from agreeing a wide-ranging alliance with Regeneron worth up to $2.3 billion, Parabilis Medicines has decided to chance its arm with an IPO.

Supreme Court declines to hear IRA challenges from Novo, AZ and more

Fierce Pharma — Tue, 19 May 2026 11:42:34 -0400

Even as a new drug pricing specter rears its head in President Donald Trump’s “Most Favored Nation” policies, drugmakers continue to fight Medicare price negotiations under the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, albeit with limited success.

Now, following a string of defeats for the industry in challenging the IRA, Hail Mary efforts from a handful of companies to have their criticisms of the law heard by the United States’ High Court have fallen flat.

The Supreme Court declined to hear cases challenging the Biden-era program from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, Novartis and Boehringer Ingelheim, according to a summary of orders from the Justices issued Monday.

Vincentage Pharma touts Phase III win for oral GLP-1RA

Clinical Trials Arena — Tue, 19 May 2026 11:25:16 -0400

China-based Vincentage Pharma is hot on Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk’s heels after its oral glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) met its endpoints in a Phase III obesity trial.

At 52 weeks, VCT220 achieved mean body weight reduction of 12.2% and 12.4% in the 120mg and 160mg groups, respectively, both significantly greater than the 1.3% reduction reported in the placebo cohort.

Roche signs generic Xofluza licensing deal with Medicines Patent Pool for 129 countries

Fierce Pharma — Tue, 19 May 2026 11:22:08 -0400

Roche has signed a voluntary license agreement providing its popular influenza antiviral drug Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for generic drugmakers to copy in 129 developing countries.

The deal with the Medicines Patent Pool will enable generic supply of baloxavir in 129 low- and middle-income countries, “both supporting seasonal flu and broader pandemic preparedness and response efforts,” MPP said in a May 18 release.

TrumpRx expands to 600+ generics, taps Amazon Pharmacy and Cost Plus Drugs

Beckers Hospital Review — Tue, 19 May 2026 11:19:44 -0400

The Trump administration has expanded TrumpRx to include more than 600 generic medications — a significant scale-up from the platform’s original focus on branded drugs under most-favored-nation pricing agreements.