Pharma
Trailing rivals, AbbVie scores win with dual-acting myeloma drug
On September 3, AbbVie announced that its bispecific antibody etentamig met the primary endpoint in the Phase III CERVINO trial for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, significantly extending patients' progression-free survival. Safety data showed that etentamig had lower rates of severe immune-related adverse events compared to similar marketed drugs, which may support its broader use in community oncology centers. Although the drug is launching four years later than J&J's Tecvayli, its differentiated safety profile could help it secure a position in the highly competitive market.
AstraZeneca, Ionis data spark debate about RNA drugs’ impact on deadly heart disease
A latest study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the RNA drug eplontersen from AstraZeneca and Ionis failed to significantly reduce the risk of death or cardiovascular events in patients with TTR cardiomyopathy, contrasting with the positive data of Alnylam's Amvuttra from two years ago, sparking an industry debate over the actual benefits of RNA drug add-on therapy.
This week in charts: Biotech’s rebound is undeniable
BioPharma Dive launches a new data chart series, with the first installment focusing on the upward trend in biotech M&A and IPOs, as well as the strong recovery of the XBI index after a downturn. Data shows that the number of biotech IPOs in 2026 has already surpassed the full-year total of last year, M&A activity is equally robust, and large pharma companies are accelerating acquisitions of mid-to-late-stage assets to address the patent cliff.
New data could widen use of AstraZeneca, Amgen immune disease drug
AstraZeneca and Amgen announced that their immunology drug Tezspire met all primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase III trial for eosinophilic esophagitis, and plan to communicate with regulatory agencies and publish detailed data. The drug is already approved for severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis, and if the new indication is approved, it will compete with Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent.
Roche, Eli Lilly get FDA nod for new Alzheimer’s blood test
The Elecsys pTau217 blood test, developed jointly by Roche and Eli Lilly, has received U.S. FDA approval to aid in the assessment of Alzheimer's disease. The test targets individuals aged 55 and older showing signs of cognitive decline and helps clinicians evaluate the likelihood of amyloid pathology. Both Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics have announced plans to offer this test.
Pharma marketers need a share-of-answer strategy before AI spend
As 2027 brand planning kicks off, AI is changing how doctors access information. 81% of U.S. doctors use AI tools, and platforms like OpenEvidence reach 65% of doctors in a single month. Pharmaceutical marketers need to shift from traditional share of voice to answer share (SOA), optimizing budgets based on affinity data and AI platform engagement signals, avoiding blind investment.
Shareholders Pressure Capricor for Governance Reform; Eli Lilly Expands RNA Vaccine Efforts
This article summarizes the latest developments at Capricor Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Kynexis, and Network Bio, covering shareholder actions, AI drug discovery collaborations, RNA vaccine development, and financing for emerging companies.
AstraZeneca terminates phase III trial of bispecific antibody in lung cancer
AstraZeneca announced on Monday the termination of its phase III clinical trial (Evolve Lung 02) of the bispecific antibody drug volrustomig, because an independent data monitoring committee concluded in an interim analysis that the drug combined with chemotherapy was unlikely to improve overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer compared with standard treatment (Keytruda combined with chemotherapy). The drug, one of the key candidates for AstraZeneca's $80 billion sales target by 2030, is still being tested in other phase III trials for mesothelioma, cervical cancer, and head and neck cancer.
Lilly Files Six Lawsuits to Curb 'Black Market' Sales of Experimental Obesity Drug Retatrutide
Eli Lilly announced on Wednesday that it has filed six new lawsuits as part of a broader effort to shut down black-market sales of retatrutide, an experimental obesity medication. The drug has demonstrated powerful efficacy in clinical trials, yet the company has not submitted an FDA application. Meanwhile, unauthorized sellers—ranging from online merchants to compounding pharmacies—are marketing the substance, posing potential health risks. Lilly has referred over 200 individuals and entities to authorities and flagged more than 14,000 online listings across 100 countries.