BioPharma Dive - Latest News

RFK Jr. secured support of key Republican with vaccine pledges

Delilah Alvarado — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:37:00 -0500

Sen. Bill Cassidy, whose “yes” vote advanced Kennedy’s nomination as health secretary, said Kennedy promised to maintain a key CDC vaccine panel without change.

Flagship-backed Omega signals it’s headed toward bankruptcy

Gwendolyn Wu — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:15:00 -0500

Flagship’s Pioneering Medicines initiative could acquire Omega’s assets via a stalking horse bid, according to a regulatory filing.

Merck shares tumble as company pauses Gardasil shipments to China

Jonathan Gardner — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:07:00 -0500

Executives pulled back on a 2030 sales target of $11 billion as demand for the HPV shot shrinks amid China market turmoil.

RFK Jr. clears key hurdle on path to become HHS secretary

Sydney Halleman, Delilah Alvarado and Jonathan Gardner — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:49:22 -0500

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy joined his Republican colleagues in voting to advance Kennedy's nomination to a vote by the full Senate.

Shares of psychedelics biotech nearly double on depression data

Jacob Bell — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:07:00 -0500

The small, Ireland-based company GH Research said its inhaled version of mebufotenin — a molecular cousin to psilocybin — was fast and effective in a treatment-resistant depression trial.

Pfizer drug acquired in $11B buyout confirms benefit in colon cancer

Jonathan Gardner — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 11:45:00 -0500

The results could sway U.S. regulators to convert Braftovi’s accelerated clearance in colorectal tumors into a full approval — boosting an oncology portfolio Pfizer is looking to for revenue growth.

Drugmakers prep for bird flu outbreak, despite continued low risk

Kelly Bilodeau — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:01:00 -0500

While the virus hasn’t made a sustained leap into humans, vaccines and treatments are being developed ahead of an outbreak.

Is 2025 the Chinese Year of BioPharma?

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

China is now a dealmaking hot spot for firms seeking next-generation innovation. What will 2025 hold?

Troy Tazbaz, an FDA digital health leader, resigns

Elise Reuter — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:39:25 -0500

Tazbaz was director of the FDA’s Digital Health Center of Excellence for two years, leading on policies involving artificial intelligence and software as a medical device.

A new, non-opioid pain drug is here. Getting it to patients could be agony.

Jacob Bell — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:03:00 -0500

After decades of research, Vertex Pharmaceuticals now has an approved pain medication. Can one of the world’s most powerful biotechs contend with a healthcare system that’s long favored opioids?