Business Strategy

The Paris-based group has inked five external deals already this year, this time paying $111m to get access internationally to Day One Biopharmaceuticals' Ojemda for refractory pediatric low-grade glioma.

The JAK inhibitor cream for hand eczema will serve a large market in Europe and help the Danish dermatology specialist expand its strong position in dermatology. 

Amid deals activity in India, Torrent Pharma executives spelt out their acquisition expectations and licensing strategy while an in-licensed Takeda brand did well in Q1 of FY25. The US growth trajectory is seen determined by five to ten product approvals expected this fiscal

The company raised 2024 revenue expectations, driven by the second quarter performance of its Humira successors Skyrizi and Rinvoq.

The UK major has raised its full-year sales and earnings forecast on strong demand in the second quarter for its cancer, rare disease and cardiovascular medicines.

Roche is taking a more hard-nosed approach to portfolio prioritization, and said in its Q2 call that it believes it can move faster with a more slimmed down R&D pipeline.

Sumitomo’s novel AML candidate has shown early clinical promise and been granted US Fast Track status for a form of AML, which looks set to aid the Japanese firm's strategic shift to oncology following recent CNS setbacks. 

For Sage, the mid-stage failure of SAGE-324 in essential tremor is its second setback in a year full of clinical trial readouts. For Biogen, it highlights a lack of later-stage pipeline prospects.

The company’s giroctocogene fitelparvovec, partnered with Sangamo, could compete with BioMarin’s hemophilia A gene therapy Roctavian, but longer-term data may be needed.

Autobahn raised $100m in series C venture capital to take its oral, brain-penetrant thyromimetic ABX-002 into Phase II studies in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder depression.

Deal Snapshot: Degrading rather than inhibiting a target protein has emerged as one of the most promising approaches in drug discovery and AstraZeneca is paying handsomely to advance its presence in the space.

 Phase IIb/III trial testing Merck’s prophylactic monoclonal antibody clesrovimab met the primary safety and efficacy endpoints to protect infants from RSV, but the market is competitive.