Episode 73: Biotech’s IPO Steamroll

FDA grants Ultomiris accelerated approval for primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy, a pharma funding roundup covers Alcon’s $550 million acquisition of Neurotech and AI Proteins’ collaboration with Astellas, and Incubate’s John Stanford on which therapeutic areas MFN deals might hit hardest.

A new ICER and West Health report finds median drug launch prices climbed to $257,000, the FDA approves GSK’s Hibsago as the first functional-cure therapy for chronic hepatitis B, and CSL names Deborah Waterhouse as CEO and managing director.

METiS TechBio and Eli Lilly collaborate on next-generation LNP delivery technology, Incubate’s John Stanford on how MFN deals may shape future pharma decisions, and the FDA grants accelerated approval to GSK’s Jemperli for MSI-H/dMMR locally advanced rectal cancer.

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.

Gilead and Vir Biotechnology strike a $1.87 billion T-cell engager collaboration, and Fox Rothschild’s Marc Wagner examines what slows manufacturers’ response to rising drug demand and how compounding pharmacies help fill the resulting gaps.

Experts warn prediction markets are exposing gaps in pharma vendor confidentiality agreements, Roche licenses Rona Therapeutics’ obesity RNAi candidate while Pfizer partners with Enodia Therapeutics on Sec61 inhibitors, and PaxSafe’s Mark Talens makes the case for acting on imperfect supply chain data.