Metabolic Disorders

In its Q2 earnings call, the biotech expressed optimism about developing VK2735 as a monthly injection, with an oral version moving into Phase II. An EOP2 meeting for its MASH drug is expected in Q4.

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.

Big biopharma is struggling to find the next generation of cancer immunotherapies, but the sector’s smallest companies might just have the platforms of the future.

The global battle of the blockbuster obesity drugs appears set to come to China with the approval of Lilly's Mounjaro, although domestic competitors are fast catching up. 

In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: J&J’s Spravato on track for blockbuster status; US uptake of Rezzdifra held up by payers; CNS drugs are surprisingly valuable; obesity rules large cap stocks; and Legend buyout rumors validate China biotech. 

The head of the Basel-headquartered giant is no fan of bidding wars when it comes to dealmaking. "If we are outbid and it’s not within our envelope, we just walk away and we’re okay with that.”

With sales of its big sellers Jardiance and Ofev to start shrinking in the next few years, the German group is teeing up a suite of new drugs.

That is, if very early data in a handful of patients are borne out in later, larger studies.

The Swiss contractor said it will invest about $981m to increase manufacturing capacity for GLP-1 peptides in the US and EU, to fulfill API contracts worth more than $3bn.

Several factors are delaying fulfillment of MASH prescriptions, but payers are not holding out for biopsy disease confirmation. KOLs cited by Leerink also call tirzepatide the clear standout in obesity, though access issues are still an issue.

The drug maker said the US FDA issued a complete response letter for insulin icodec that included requests related to manufacturing process and the type 1 diabetes indication.

A modified-release formulation of the oral GLP-1 has been selected for development, Pfizer said. Dose-optimization studies will begin in the second half of the year.