There was an upbeat message for cell and gene therapy companies in the 2026 industry update presented as the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference opened on Monday, with Tim Hunt, CEO of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, telling delegates that after lean years of learning, adapting and setbacks, the sector is now self-sustaining.
Oricell Therapeutics Holdings Ltd. announced a $70 million series C1 round to expand its global footprint and speed clinical development of its CAR T therapies. The round was co-led by Beijing Medical and Health Care Industry Investment Fund, Qiming Venture Partners and a leading global health care fund.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy has once again expanded the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), this time adding two more ob-gyns to the membership list. As a result, the ACIP, which can have up to 19 members, now numbers 13, three of whom are ob-gyns.
Perhaps the biggest indicator of U.S. President Donald Trump’s activism in his second term is the 225 executive orders (EOs) he issued in 2025. The pace of those orders seems to have slowed, with “only” 16 released in the last quarter of the year. Four of the recent EOs could impact drug and device companies in a myriad of ways.
At the Biotech Showcase 2026 – part of the broader hoopla in San Francisco surrounding the J.P. Morgan 2026 Healthcare Conference – a panel of investors and another of pharma dealmakers discussed what to expect from drug company deals in 2026. The calendar flipping marks a good time to look ahead, but the delineation doesn’t really change anything for dealmakers who have experienced a slow shift in attitudes of investors over the last few months that will likely continue into the year ahead.
The U.S. FDA has approved Zycubo (copper histidinate) as the first treatment for Menkes disease, a rare, genetic disease affecting children who cannot absorb copper through their intestines, leading to seizures, weak muscles, a failure to thrive and, ultimately, if left untreated, an early death by age 3.
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, and other news in brief: Alloy, BCM, Domain, Eisai, Formosa, Johnson & Johnson, Link Cell, Lyra, Metagenomi, Nuvation Bio, Radius Health, Samil, Swiss Rockets, Vaximm.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, and other regulatory decisions and designations: Alessa, Aquestive, Kezar, PDS, Uniqure.
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, and other news in brief: Acepodia, Anaptys, Avista, Biocytogen, Cytoreason, Dewpoint, GSK, Iktos, Link Cell Therapies, Madrigal, Medilink, Nona, Pfizer, Pierre, Roche, Sanofi, Tesaro.
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