Research & Development


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    AI is already delivering pharma value — and not just in drug discovery

    While AI-generated drugs grab headlines, the technology is making more of an impact doing less “glamorous” tasks.

    By May 12, 2025
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    Lupus R&D has come a long way, and the next breakthroughs could come from cell therapy

    But the therapies will need to prove their worth in the clinic over the next few years.

    By Kelly Bilodeau • May 12, 2025
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    Trendline

    Clinical trial diversity

    As pharma wises up to the fact that the current playbook for improving clinical trial diversity has yet to make a meaningful impact, the quest is on to refine that approach.

    By PharmaVoice staff
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    RFK Jr.’s autism fixation hearkens back to his stance on vaccines

    The head of HHS is seeking the “root causes” of autism spectrum disorder through a large government research project.

    By May 9, 2025
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    Jacob Bell/PharmaVoice
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    Alnylam keeps pushing the rare disease paradigm as RNAi promises even wider indications

    With another rare disease approval under its belt, Alnylam is still revving up the R&D engines for new indications.

    By May 8, 2025
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    Prasad’s FDA appointment pressures cell and gene therapy stocks

    A vocal opponent of his predecessor Peter Marks, Dr. Vinay Prasad will now lead the office tasked with reviewing some genetic medicines, adding more uncertainty to an already struggling field of research.

    By Ben Fidler • May 7, 2025
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    After an up and down year, pharma’s R&D landscape is shifting again

    While clinical trial funding was up, deal-making was down, and new uncertainties are coming into the picture.

    By Kelly Bilodeau • May 5, 2025
  • Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks Speaks At The Economic Club Of New York
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    With compounders out of the way, Lilly and Novo go after each other

    The two obesity leaders are pulling on all levers to stay on top of the market.

    By May 5, 2025
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    Is pharma ready to let go of animal testing?

    Regulators have signaled their willingness to embrace alternative tests and guide the industry in new directions.  

    By May 2, 2025
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    Q&A

    Can real-world evidence bear some of the burden left by NIH cuts? This CEO sees an opportunity.

    Turmoil at the NIH has led to handwringing among researchers and drugmakers who rely on public funding. 

    By May 1, 2025
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    US backlash against mRNA vaccines could hinder scientific progress

    U.S. health agencies are taking the fight to vaccine and mRNA research, which could have lasting repercussions on medical and scientific advancements.

    By April 29, 2025
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    Will Cobenfy’s clinical stumble derail a once-predicted rise?

    BMS hopes to broaden the applications for the new schizophrenia drug into areas such as Alzheimer’s disease.

    By Kelly Bilodeau • April 28, 2025
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    What’s being cut at NIH

    A look at the government’s far-reaching rollback in research grants so far.

    By April 25, 2025
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    Flagship’s latest venture reflects more than 25 years of leaping into the unknown

    A new AI-based company launched by the prolific venture capital firm Flagship Pioneering marks another platform approach in forward-thinking early science.

    By April 24, 2025
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    Genetic breakthroughs could point pharma to a long COVID drug

    The discoveries also hold potential benefits for patients with other conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome.

    By Kelly Bilodeau • April 22, 2025
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    Can anything threaten Novo and Lilly’s obesity market dominance?

    Five GLP-1 products will collectively bring in $470 billion by 2030, and the market leaders are working to hold back competition.

    By April 21, 2025
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    How a scrapped Pfizer drug became a winner for SpringWorks

    SpringWorks Therapeutics and the Children’s Tumor Foundation salvaged a shelved asset for neurofibromatosis and got it over the regulatory finish line.

    By Alexandra Pecci • April 21, 2025
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    A big moment is coming for psychedelics

    Compass Pathways expects to publish the first phase 3 results from a large-scale, psilocybin drug trial by the end of this quarter.

    By April 18, 2025
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    Amid an onshoring push, Raleigh is poised to be pharma’s next manufacturing hub

    Lower operating costs and a supply of high-skilled workers are helping the North Carolina region pull in billions of pharma manufacturing investments. 

    By Alexandra Pecci • April 16, 2025
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    US risks losing biotech edge to China, report warns

    “There will be a ChatGPT moment for biotechnology,” a bipartisan commission wrote in the new report, which calls for the U.S. to invest at least $15 billion into the sector over the next five years.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • April 9, 2025
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    Big Pharma is rewriting the R&D playbook to account for seismic shifts in the investment landscape

    The top 20 pharma companies are focusing on novel drugs, innovative dealmaking and playing to their strengths to bolster R&D ROI.

    By Alexandra Pecci • April 9, 2025
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    Profile

    Her son’s DMD diagnosis shook her world. As a biotech CEO, it was also an epiphany for better rare disease R&D.

    Five years ago, Michelle Werner received her son’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy diagnosis with fear and desperation. Now, as CEO of Alltrna, she’s finding better ways to develop treatments.

    By April 8, 2025
  • Vials of Eisai and Biogen's new Alzheimer's drug Leqembi
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    Courtesy of Eisai
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    US vs. EU: When it comes to novel Alzheimer’s drugs, regulators can’t seem to agree

    The FDA is much more flexible in approving first-in-class drugs compared to European regulators.  

    By April 7, 2025
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    A birth control pill for men makes moves in the clinic

    So far, the science and safety seem solid. But is the world emotionally ready to shift the responsibility of contraception to men?

    By Kelly Bilodeau • April 7, 2025
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    The year’s biggest biotech haul shows investors are still chasing the AI dream

    Isomorphic Labs recently raked in $600 million to help develop its drug discovery platform.

    By April 4, 2025
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    Opinion

    Industry leaders react to HHS being ‘reduced to a shell’

    What healthcare watchdogs have said about the far-reaching job cuts this week.

    By Meagan Parrish and Amy Baxter • April 3, 2025