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FDA approves Bayer’s asundexian as the first Factor XIa inhibitor for secondary stroke prevention, the FDA requires a new safety label warning across all GLP-1 receptor agonists for a potential NAION risk, and AstraZeneca acquires Omniose to add a bioconjugation platform to its vaccine pipeline.

argenx acquires Unnatural Products for up to $1.15 billion to expand its immunology capabilities, GiftHealth’s Chip Parkinson on how single-partner platforms can transform the prescription journey, and Partha Anbil on why competing on net value matters more than cutting list prices as US drug pricing resets.

Hims & Hers partners with Eli Lilly to sell Zepbound and Foundayo directly on its platform, Novo Nordisk terminates its research collaboration with Korro Bio, and the FDA grants accelerated approval to Johnson & Johnson’s Rybrevant Faspro in head and neck cancer.

ANI Pharmaceuticals makes an offer to acquire Egetis Therapeutics as Egetis separately sells its priority review voucher for $190 million, Novartis exits its BrainTransporter deal with BioArctic 14 months after signing, and Ignite Proteomics’ Dr. Brian Corgiat on improving how tumors are tested after recurrence.

How microgravity is opening new possibilities for drug R&D and manufacturing, a pharma funding roundup covers Boehringer Ingelheim’s up-to-$7 billion oncology licensing deal with Sino Biopharmaceutical and Nxera Pharma’s EP4 agonist deal with AbbVie, and CytoDyn’s Dr. Jay Lalezari on why Leronlimab isn’t just another repurposed drug.

FDA grants accelerated approval to INOVIO’s Voceryq to reduce surgical burden in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, Brox.AI’s Hamish Brocklebank on the three levels of digital clone use cases in pharma, and CytoDyn’s Dr. Jay Lalezari on his path from HIV clinician to CEO.

In this episode of the Pharmaceutical Executive podcast, Scott LaGanga, executive vice president of state advocacy at PhRMA, discusses the expanding influence of state policymaking on drug pricing, pharmacy benefit manager reform, and efforts to translate policy changes into lower out-of-pocket costs for patients. Joining Mike Christel, group managing editor, MJH Life Sciences, LaGanga also dives into the potential impact of tomorrow's U.S. midterm elections in shaping the next wave of drug pricing policy in state capitals as much as in Washington. Noting the high stakes, LaGanga explains why turnover in governors’ offices and state legislatures puts fresh urgency on educating policymakers about the pharmaceutical supply chain — and how decisions in states can move quickly and spread across the country. He also considers how the presidential campaign cycle that follows could bring local health care access and affordability concerns further into the national debate.

Bristol Myers Squibb discloses a patient death in its Phase I CAR-T multiple sclerosis trial, Pathos AI launches multi-year collaborations with Bristol Myers Squibb and Tempus AI to advance Alzheimer’s drug development, and health economist Dr. Nadine Zawadzki speaks with The Ron Lanton Report on how value is defined across healthcare.

Pharmaceutical and health economist Dr. Nadine Zawadzki, Senior Director, FTI Consulting joins the Ron Lanton Report to discuss how value is defined and measured across healthcare.

Treasury proposes adding biotechnology to its Outbound Investment Security Program, a pharma funding roundup covers Gilead’s $1.275 billion acquisition of an oral IL-23R inhibitor from PepStar and Zymeworks’ licensing deal with Roche, and Incubate’s John Stanford on why MFN is an offer pharma can’t refuse.

Biopharma manufacturing today is being asked to move faster, accommodate increasingly complex modalities, and respond more readily to changing development timelines and demand forecasts — all while maintaining reliable, compliant, and cost-effective supply. In this episode of the Pharm Exec Podcast, Dave Maraldo, Ph.D., executive vice president and president of the Merck Manufacturing Division, draws on 27 years at the company to explore that evolution. He discusses Merck’s major U.S. capacity investments; its approach to balancing internal capabilities with strategic manufacturing partners; and the closer integration of research, development, and production. Joining Mike Christel, group managing editor, MJH Life Sciences, Maraldo also examines the practical impact of digital tools and artificial intelligence and how Merck is building greater agility and resilience into its global supply network. He reflects ahead as well on what the next generation of manufacturing talent will require and why he thinks patient needs will move closer and closer to the shop floor.

FDA grants Ultomiris accelerated approval for primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy, a pharma funding roundup covers Alcon’s $550 million acquisition of Neurotech and AI Proteins’ collaboration with Astellas, and Incubate’s John Stanford on which therapeutic areas MFN deals might hit hardest.

A new ICER and West Health report finds median drug launch prices climbed to $257,000, the FDA approves GSK’s Hibsago as the first functional-cure therapy for chronic hepatitis B, and CSL names Deborah Waterhouse as CEO and managing director.

METiS TechBio and Eli Lilly collaborate on next-generation LNP delivery technology, Incubate’s John Stanford on how MFN deals may shape future pharma decisions, and the FDA grants accelerated approval to GSK’s Jemperli for MSI-H/dMMR locally advanced rectal cancer.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, acquires Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 billion, Hansoh Pharma and Roche expand their ADC partnership in a deal worth over $15 billion, and an EMA panel backs Lilly’s Foundayo for obesity and type 2 diabetes in Europe.