New collaboration aims to break barriers in brain‑targeted drug discovery

Original title: “Deep Science Ventures and MDC partner to accelerate brain treatments”

Recent deals from Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb hint at Big Pharma’s more collaborative approach to partnering with Chinese companies.

Original title: “Big Pharma makes ‘creative effort’ to fold Chinese assets into pipelines”

As manufacturers modernize operations, the origin of their equipment is a strategic consideration.

Original title: “Why US-manufactured pharmaceutical packaging equipment matters”

Government backing, deep scientific talent and a robust pharma heritage are helping France punch above its weight, but turning research into investable companies remains a challenge.

Original title: “France’s biotech ambition is strong but its scale-up engine still needs work”

For Peter Pitts, a former associate commissioner at the FDA, the appointment to the board of BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics is an opportunity to fulfill a promise he made long ago to a patient with ALS.

Original title: “BrainStorm levels up, bringing on former FDA leader Peter Pitts for new ALS bid”

Seventeen life sciences businesses awarded Massachusetts tax incentives to add and retain 426 combined jobs hit 10% of that target as of Dec. 31. Three companies, including Novartis, had reported layoffs either last year or this year.

Original title: “17 companies expected to create 400+ Massachusetts jobs add under 50”

Edgewise Therapeutics will now focus on a handful of cardiovascular programs including EDG-7500 for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy thanks to the non-dilutive capital from France’s Servier.

Original title: “Servier frees Edgewise for cardio mission with $2.65B muscular dystrophy deal”

Swiss service provider CordenPharma is acquiring AmbioPharm, gaining facilities such as a plant in South Carolina to provide a fully U.S.-based supply.

Original title: “CordenPharma inks AmbioPharm buyout to continue peptide production expansion”

Riding a newfound surge of interest on infectious disease concerns, Moderna is linking up with a global vaccine foundation in hopes of developing a vaccine to slow the new surge in Ebola underway in the Congo and Uganda.

Original title: “Moderna partners with CEPI on Ebola vaccine efforts amid outbreak in Africa”

Orphan drugs remain commercially durable, strategically relevant and supported by a strong pipeline

Original title: “2026 Orphan Drugs Report: A safe(r) passage amid stormy waters?”

The American Diabetes Association's annual congress will feature a superstar lineup, including weight loss giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. But several scrappy biotechs will also present obesity candidates with the potential to match—if not outperform—their deep-pocketed competitors.

Original title: “Obesity Davids and Goliaths face off at ADA 2026”

After trial flops in spinal muscular atrophy, depression and bipolar disorder—and a costly rare disease drug rejection—Biohaven is undergoing a reset, recasting its former SMA candidate for obesity.

Original title: “Biohaven looks to obesity to bounce back from run of clinical and regulatory failures”

Study results accrued so far are giving Merck greater conviction that the therapy, licensed from a China-based biotech, was worth placing into a sprawling Phase 3 program.

Original title: “At ASCO, Merck makes case for a ‘cornerstone’ cancer drug”

A twice-spurned therapy that’s been seen as one of the FDA’s more controversial recent rejections is getting a new chance following the resignation of former commissioner Marty Makary.

Original title: “Replimune takes third swing at cancer drug approval following ‘productive’ FDA talks”