Coming off a U.S. FDA approval of the first GLP-1 in pill format, Novo Nordisk A/S leaned further into oral drug delivery efforts, partnering with Vivtex Corp. to develop next-generation oral formulations of peptide and protein therapeutics in a potential $2.1 billion deal that marks the highest-profile news for Vivtex since the firm spun out of MIT in 2018. Read More

While the annual State of the Union address has morphed over the years from a summation of the state of the U.S. government and the president’s legislative agenda into political theater on both sides of the aisle, President Donald Trump did include some recommendations to Congress in his Feb. 24 speech. Among those recommendations was a request for Congress to codify his most-favored-nation pricing policy for prescription drugs. Read More

This year, European med-tech companies continue to navigate an uncertain macro environment created by the reciprocal tariffs on goods entering the U.S., their primary market. Some companies though are adapting supply chains and manufacturing strategies, while others are looking to diversify into other regions. Their technologies after all, address clinical needs, so the sector continues to innovate, conduct trials, present data, raise funds, and deliver products which improve patients’ lives. Read More

GSK plc is paying $950 million cash to acquire 100% of 35Pharma Inc.’s equity and pipeline, including phase II-ready candidate HS-235 for pulmonary hypertension. The acquisition agreement comes a day after GSK added two small interfering RNA assets from Nanjing, China-based Frontier Biotechnologies Inc. through a license deal reaching up to $1 billion. Read More

Antiretroviral therapies against HIV have been in use for more than 30 years and have enabled people living with HIV to maintain undetectable viral levels. Many of them are aging in good health. However, others present symptoms of cognitive decline. HIV can reach the brain and establish a reservoir there. Yet, it is still unknown what this reservoir is like, which cells are affected, and which comorbidities are typical of aging or are associated with the virus. Read More

United Therapeutics Corp.’s founder, chairman and CEO Martine Rothblatt disclosed during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call Feb. 25 the “unsheathing of a category killer product” known as Tresmi, a drug-device formulation of treprostinil delivered via a soft mist inhaler. Read More

GSK plc will pay Frontier Biotechnologies Inc. $40 million up front and up to $963 million in milestone payments to license two of Frontier’s small interfering RNA-based assets in the field of immunology. Read More

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy is facing a second lawsuit challenging his replacement of all the members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and seeking to undo the CDC’s Jan. 5 revision of its childhood immunization schedule. Read More

New hires and promotions in the biopharma and med-tech industries, including: Amber, Artiva, Boston Scientific, Diality, Helus, Human Continuum, Kyverna, Portal Access, Tectonic, Therna. Read More

Biopharma and med-tech companies raising money in public or private financings, including: Abbott, Allurion, Alveus, Brainomix, Centauri, Exact Sciences, Salspera, Slate, Tandem Diabetes. Read More

Clinical updates for biopharma and med tech, including data readouts and publications: Abcuro, Arcus, Cadrenal, Fulcrum, Iovance, Keenova, Kyntra, Monte Rosa, Natera, Nicox, Novo Nordisk, Palvella, Protara, Quralis, Solascure, The United Laboratories, Viiv, Vir. Read More

Biopharma and med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, and other news in brief: Abbvie, Biomarin, Chugai, Clinect, Epredia, Dartsbio, Five Discovery, Grünenthal, Invivyd, Microtransponder, Mindpeak, Miradx, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Oncolytics, Pfizer, PHC, Porosome, Renew, Roche, Sarepta, Sciwind, Si-Bone, Smith+Nephew, Valinor. Read More

Regulatory snapshots for biopharma and med tech, including global submissions and approvals, and other regulatory decisions and designations: Aktis, Alpha Tau, Alzecure, Amphastar, Haemonetics, Immedica, Intrabio, Larimar, Macrogenics, Mirus, Regeneron, Sanofi. Read More