They're back, again. This time by increasing demand. All the ideas about slashing drug prices that have been floating around Congress since the turn of the century are taking on new, bipartisan life. And a few fresh ideas may be finding their way into the mix. Read More

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is leading a $125 million investment in Maverick Therapeutics Inc., a company founded with initial financing from MPM Capital that is working to improve the utility of T-cell redirection therapy for the treatment of cancer. Read More

SAN FRANCISCO – The networking was lively and the outlook optimistic as the Chinese-American Bio/Pharmaceutical Society (CABS) conducted its second Investor Forum in conjunction with the 35th Annual J.P. Morgan (JPM) Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. Read More

SAN FRANCISCO – Exelixis Inc. was 2015's top biopharma gainer on Wall Street and one of the top firms in 2016, according to BioWorld Insight. Riding high on the approval and strong launch for renal cell carcinoma drug Cabometyx (cabozantinib) and with a solid financial position of $379.6 million as of Sept. 30, the South San Francisco-based firm looks to build out its pipeline – or rebuild, rather. Read More

HONG KONG – The largest Chinese acquisition to date of a North American drugmaker – this week's $820 million acquisition of Dendreon Corp. by Sanpower Group Co. Ltd. – underscores the growing importance of Chinese financing in the global drug development market. Read More

Loxo Oncology Inc., of Stamford, Conn., closed its public offering of 4.45 million shares of common stock at $31 each, including the exercise in full of the overallotment option for 580,500 additional shares. Read More

Merck KGaA, of Darmstadt, Germany, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Boston, said they cemented a licensing agreement to develop and commercialize four research and development programs in cancer. Read More

Visterra Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said the first patient was dosed in a phase IIa clinical trial of VIS410, a monoclonal antibody in development for the treatment of hospitalized patients with influenza A, regardless of the viral strain. Read More