R&D/Clinical Trials

Pathos AI launches multi-year collaborations to build an AI-driven dataset for Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

Alcon is acquiring Neurotech Pharmaceuticals to add the only FDA-approved MacTel cell therapy to its retina portfolio, while AI Proteins has enters a collaboration with Astellas to design novel miniprotein therapeutics.

METiS TechBio enters a collaboration with Eli Lilly to develop next-generation, tissue-specific lipid nanoparticle delivery technologies using METiS’s AI-driven lipid discovery platform.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, acquires Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 billion, Hansoh Pharma and Roche expand their ADC partnership in a deal worth over $15 billion, and an EMA panel backs Lilly’s Foundayo for obesity and type 2 diabetes in Europe.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, agrees to acquire Silence Therapeutics for roughly $1.3 billion, gaining a siRNA asset, divesiran.

Hansoh Pharma enters a collaboration and license agreement with Roche covering a broad portfolio of antibody-drug conjugate programs.

European regulators are increasing pressure on clinical trial sponsors to report study results on time, rolling out new monitoring, reminders and guidance as patient advocates welcome the progress but question whether stronger oversight and enforcement will follow.

FDA is launching the Rare Disease Framework Initiative, aiming to tailor drug development and review requirements to the realities of small patient populations.

Gilead and Vir Biotechnology Enter a $1.87 billion collaboration to discover three PRO-XTEN dual-masked T-cell engagers aimed at solid tumors.

Roche licenses Rona Therapeutics’ ALK7-targeting RNAi candidate for obesity, while Pfizer partners with Enodia Therapeutics on Sec61 inhibitor discovery.

Astellas CEO Naoki Okamura is putting a “patient axis” operating model, a broader portfolio of strategic brands and a new generation of science to work in the company’s bid to return to record growth.

As established gains in personalized and targeted therapy have enabled increasingly precise approaches to disease, novel technologies are expanding what is possible while creating new challenges for drug developers.

ESC 2026 marked a turning point — GLP-1s earn their first formal heart failure guideline recommendation and become a cardiometabolic platform.

Caribou Biosciences is discontinuing its two allogeneic CAR-T programs and exploring strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.

CORXEL’s chief medical value discusses how GLP-1s are becoming a chronic disease platform.

Trialbee CEO Matt Walz explores the current impact of AI in delivering practical gains in clinical development and reflects on its future potential, where enrollment predictability may be the biggest prize of all.

Why effective RWD linkage starts with a specific research objective — and how tokenization, clean rooms, and AI make it possible.

CSL partners with Alentis Therapeutics to co-develop lixudebart, while Jiangsu Nhwa licenses a clinical-stage sleep disorder candidate to Somnivera.

Foghorn Therapeutics and Eli Lilly are discontinuing their SMARCA2 degrader Fhd-909 after Phase I data fell short on efficacy.

Novartis licenses Abogen's mRNA-encoded CD19xCD3 T-cell engager, while AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo partner with Summit Therapeutics.

MRD testing is transforming oncology trials — compressing timelines, enriching populations, and generating earlier answers.

Real-world data from Novo's Octane study show patients who switched from injectable GLP-1 therapy to oral semaglutide lost an average of 4.1% of their body weight within three months.

Novo licensed Hengrui's once-weekly oral GLP-1/GIP dual agonist HRS-1596 in a deal worth up to $2.6 billion, while AstraZeneca invested $2 billion in Summit Therapeutics to pair ivonescimab with its antibody-drug conjugate portfolio.

Merck has acquired exclusive global rights to SciBrunch's preclinical KRAS G12D inhibitor SPR2015.

Two FDA approvals, six platform deals, a European alarm, a Novo listing debate, and a China mega-deal — this week's biggest pharma stories, explained.