Biopharma & Healthcare Talks

Global and regional news, studies and observations about the matters affecting pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and public health.

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Korea plans to slash Gx drug prices to 40% of originator price, down from the current 53.55%. Despite heavy pushback, the MoH insists that the price cut is a firm principle. However, delays in implementation seem possible.
https://t.co/Ll0eh2MPij

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

The war in the Middle East is disrupting the flow of critical medicines to the Gulf, threatening supply routes for cancer and other cold-chain drugs.
https://t.co/wCkhMO5CZ3

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Merck is reorganizing its human health business into a distinct oncology division incl. Keytruda, and a separate specialty & infections unit incl Winrevair.
https://t.co/hAPeBYrAE4

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Sales of Merck’s oncology blockbuster Keytruda will erode more starkly in about 2033 rather than 2029, predicts Bloomberg, translating to extra $22B in revenue.
https://t.co/iSiI688L0r

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

The average upfront for a licensing deal between a Western biopharma and its Chinese counterpart increased 230% from $52M in 2022 to $172M in 2026.
https://t.co/4yCpKC978k

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Eli Lilly henters CAR T space via $2.4B acquisition of invivo CAR T biotech Orna.
Orna’s pipeline is still preclinical, but lead asset Orna-252 is “CT-ready”. It is aimed at treating B cell–driven autoimmune diseases.
https://t.co/3QBOLdDnzY

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

UK, Spain, Austria, Canada and other nations have lost their ‘measles free’ label, and the US is projected to follow in April. This happens despite the fact that the measles vaccine is highly effective.
https://t.co/AFnkXvaMEc

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

2025's top 10 clinical trial target cardio, Sickle cell disease, OCD, AL amyloidosis, Alzheimer’s, COPD, nonsegmental vitiligo, DKD, bone metabolism.
https://t.co/OFZ4YFRycm

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

An experimental obesity shot Pfizer got through $10B buyout of Metsera look “slightly inferior” to Zepbound, pushing Pfizer to test a far higher dose at Phase 3. https://t.co/037zMAL2Xx

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Top-10 2026 drug launches include CagriSema by
Novo Nordisk, Orforglipron by Eli Lilly, Anito-cel
by Gilead/Arcellx, Brepocitinib by Roivant, Icotrokinra
by J&J/Protagonist.
https://t.co/0xPocOtZw8

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Novo Nordisk laid out a cautious view of 2026, projecting that both sales and operating profit will decline by 5~13%. The outlook rattled investors, sending the shares -14% on NYSE.
https://t.co/35dIVhEtBE

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Modifiable risk factors account for ~40% of all new cancer cases worldwide. Smoking, infections, and alcohol are TOP-3 preventable causes.
Variations by region and sex indicate a need for prevention strategies tailored to specific population norms.
https://t.co/F0q2NY3m2J

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

AstraZeneca entered a collaboration and license agreement with CSPC worth up to $18.5B, securing ex-China rights to develop and commercialise long-acting peptide medicines for obesity and T2 diabetes, incl SYH2082. https://t.co/49QVEv8UkD

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

EU and India agreed to a sweeping free trade agreement expected to “mostly” eliminate an 11% Indian tariff on EU meds, as well as nearly completely axe trade duties on products like machinery and chemicals while reducing taxes on others.
https://t.co/O5KQ7380QZ

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

WHO regrets the US withdrawal from the agency after Trump's administration criticized the way the WHO handled the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://t.co/Urrr6cYuKQ

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Merck stopped discussions to acquire cancer maker Revolution, a deal valued at $28~32B. The key asset was late-stage candidate daraxonrasib, which has won a fast-track review voucher FDA.
https://t.co/bPmCoNPGkT

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Seamless will program site-specific recombinases to correct mutations in genes linked to hearing loss, and Lilly will have an exclusive license. The collaboration could total >$1.1B in upfront, research and milestone payments. https://t.co/LA2s5W53uT

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Boston Scientific is buying Penumbra in a deal valued at $14.5B. The range of devices includes mechanical thrombectomy products, vascular portfolio, devices for stroke revascularization and neuro embolization.
https://t.co/7203KYVP8R

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

PharmaCos are increasingly turning to AI to accelerate R&D, betting on new modeling tools and automated labs to unlock efficiency gains across their pipeline: >30 deals since 2025. https://t.co/3DrYhY6UJR

[Biopharma & Healthcare Talks @TalkingPharma]

Having secured drug-pricing deals with 16 largest biopharmas, Trump is moving on to insurance companies.
The Great Healthcare Plan aims to simplify the process of buying health insurance by increasing transparency and lowering costs.
https://t.co/NiNzUvT7rc