Even before the Trump administration’s executive order wiping out the concept of diversity, equity and inclusion, the statistics on female representation in the biotech industry painted a story of stagnating progress. But for Jane Wall, managing director of the U.K. Bioindustry Association (BIA), the available statistics also begged a question: Where was the U.K. specific data that could inform attempts to change things? There was “much frustration around stats being recycled without context or background – and very little our community could relate to,” Wall said.
The BioWorld Drug Developers Index underperformed both the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (NBI) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) throughout February and March. However, it showed some recovery by the end of April, finishing the month down 4.67%, slightly worse than the DJIA’s 4.41% decline. The NBI ended April slightly up from both, with a year-to-date drop of 1.16%.
Recognizing the potential legal challenges to U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for most-favored-nation (MFN) prescription drug pricing and the limits of that order, several congressional Democrats introduced a bill in both the House and Senate May 14 that could make MFN pricing the law of the land and extend it to both government health programs and private insurance.
Korean pharmaceutical stocks rose across the board May 13, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump signed off on the most favored nation executive order, a drug pricing policy expected to benefit biosimilar makers in the U.S., according to Celltrion Inc.
In April, biopharma transactions amounted to $12.8 billion, a sharp decline from March’s $29.48 billion. However, with $79.66 billion in deal value during the first four months of 2025, the sector has already achieved its highest start to a year in BioWorld’s records since 2019.
Private biotechs in Switzerland raised CHF833 million (US$1.002 billion) in 2024, driving an overall increase in capital investment in the sector to $3 billion, up from $2.4 billion in 2023.
Ongoing policy issues in the U.S., including the Inflation Reduction Act and recent proposals under President Donald Trump’s administration, have wide ranging implications for the global biopharmaceutical industry, speakers at Bio Korea 2025 said May 8, including a heightened need for all biotechs to draft regulatory strategies.