More than four decades on from the approval of the first biologic drug, the industry has reached a tipping point, and biotech drugs now outnumber small molecules in the global R&D pipeline. At the start of the biotech industry, progress was slow. Between 1983 and 1995, the U.S. FDA approved an average of two biologics each year. Now, biologics have taken the lead by the smallest of margins, accounting for 50.1% of drugs in development at the start of 2026, according to the Pharma Annual Review 2026, published by Pharmaprojects, a firm that tracks global pharma R&D.
Ibio Inc. has received clinical trial notification (CTN) acknowledgement from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), as well as Human Research Ethics Committee approval, for IBIO-600, enabling the initiation of a first-in-human trial in Australia.
Proqr Therapeutics NV has highlighted the continued progression and expansion of its early-stage pipeline of RNA editing therapies, including programs in cholestatic diseases, Hurler syndrome, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and Rett syndrome.
Suzhou Spring-Sea Bio-Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has discovered new prodrugs of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) polypeptides acting as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, overweight, chronic kidney disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, neurodegeneration, diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular disorders, among others.
Ambrosia Biosciences Inc. has announced a $100 million oversubscribed series B financing intended to support progression of the company’s oral small-molecule GLP-1 candidate and other novel cardiometabolic programs into clinical development.
Aconcagua Bio Inc. has divulged new calcitonin (CALCR; CT-R) and amylin receptor agonists intended for use in the treatment of pain, neurodegeneration, bone, metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.
The Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has synthesized new polycyclic heteroaryl compound acting as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists potentially useful for the treatment of diabetes and obesity, among others.
Yuhan Corp. has discovered glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypoglycemia, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disorders, as well as hepatic steatosis and alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Omass Therapeutics Ltd. has described new melanocortin MC2 receptor antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing syndrome, depression, ectopic ACTH syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and septic shock.
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