H. Lundbeck A/S and Contera Pharma A/S have entered into a strategic research collaboration designed to accelerate the discovery and development of innovative oligonucleotide-based medicines for serious neurological conditions with unmet needs.

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued draft guidelines for remedies for mergers and acquisitions, which the agency insists incorporates some regulatory flexibility. However, CMA said its approach is premised on the notion that any regulated transaction should have zero effect on competition in the affected industry, a premise that would seem to quash any transaction that leads to fewer companies in that industry.

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Rani Therapeutics LLC have entered into a collaboration and global license agreement to develop and commercialize an oral product that encompasses Rani’s oral delivery technology, the Ranipill, and Chugai’s rare disease antibody in development.

Dianthus Therapeutics Inc. has joined the recent trend of companies licensing therapies in development from China. The company will pay as much as $1 billion to Nanjing Leads Biolabs Co. Ltd. for DNTH-212, a bifunctional BDCA2 and BAFF/APRIL inhibitor to treat autoimmune disorders. The payment comprises $30 million up front and some near-term milestones, plus an $8 million milestone for getting a phase I study underway. Leads Biolabs is in line to bring in another $962 million in milestones and royalties.

Boston Scientific Corp. moved to acquire the balance of Nalu Medical Inc. in a $533 million cash deal, expanding its chronic pain portfolio with the addition of peripheral nerve stimulation. The Nalu neurostimulation system delivers mild electrical impulses to interrupt aberrant pain signals from nerves in the shoulder, knee and lower back before they reach the brain.

Med-tech M&A activity totaled $4.84 billion in September, down slightly from $7.29 billion in July but stronger than August’s $2.42 billion. Year-to-date disclosed deal value reached $37.21 billion, roughly on par with the $41.79 billion recorded during the same period in 2024. While still far below the highs of 2021 and 2022, when annual totals surpassed $100 billion, the 2025 data show that consolidation within the med-tech sector remains steady.

The full rights to Taysha Gene Therapies Inc.’s lead gene therapy candidate are coming back to the company. In 2022, Astellas Pharma Inc. invested $50 million in Taysha for 15% of the company and the exclusive option to license TSHA-102 for treating the rare disease Rett syndrome. That option has expired, according to Taysha.

Biopharma companies announced $73.38 billion in deals from 240 transactions during the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, bringing the year-to-date total to $212.44 billion, up from $149.87 billion in the same period of 2024. The total marks the highest deal value through Q3 ever recorded by BioWorld.

Merit Medical Systems Inc. looks to ingest Pentax Medical’s C2 cryoballoon through a $22 million asset purchase expected to close Nov. 1. The C2 treats Barrett’s esophagus, which can be a precursor to esophageal cancer, as well as gastric antral vascular ectasia syndrome. The deal includes a $19 million cash payment at closing and up to $3 million in contingent milestone payments.

ISS became the third proxy advisory firm to recommend shareholders vote against the proposed sale of Staar Surgical Co. to Alcon AG, joining Glass, Lewis & Co. LLC and Egan-Jones Ratings Co.