Pharma and BioTech Daily

2025 Pharma Breakthroughs: Asthma, Cancer, and RNAi


Listen Later

Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. As we close out the year 2025, it's clear that the pharmaceutical and biotech industries have experienced a period of significant transformation. This year has been marked by groundbreaking drug approvals, strategic partnerships, and a focus on innovative therapies that promise to redefine patient care.One of the standout achievements this year comes from GlaxoSmithKline, which received approval from the U.S. FDA for its ultra-long-acting biologic, Exdensur, aimed at treating severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype in adolescents and adults. This approval underscores the growing trend toward personalized medicine and biologics, offering new hope for patients with chronic respiratory conditions by providing more sustainable and personalized treatment options.In the oncology sector, Merck's Keytruda and Astellas Pharma's Padcev have demonstrated significant overall survival benefits when used as perioperative treatments for cisplatin-eligible muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This combination therapy of a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor and an antibody-drug conjugate highlights the evolving landscape of cancer treatment, emphasizing the role of immunotherapy and targeted therapies in improving patient outcomes in challenging cancer subtypes.However, not all developments have been positive. Hansa Biopharma faced challenges with its kidney transplant drug, imlifidase. Despite success in kidney transplant trials, it failed to achieve desired results in treating anti-glomerular basement membrane disease. This serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in drug repurposing efforts within autoimmune diseases.Alnylam Pharmaceuticals announced a significant investment to enhance its Norton, Massachusetts facility into a dedicated site for small interfering RNA (siRNA) production. This move reflects the industry's shift towards RNA-based therapies that offer targeted gene-silencing capabilities and positions Alnylam at the forefront of RNAi therapeutics production.In another promising development, ImmunityBio reported positive data from its QUILT-3.032 study on Anktiva for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with high-grade papillary disease. The potential expansion of Anktiva's use reinforces the importance of personalized immunotherapies in oncology.The launch of Ambros Therapeutics with $125 million in Series A funding highlights efforts to develop non-opioid pain medications already approved abroad. This initiative addresses chronic pain management without relying on opioids, potentially advancing analgesic therapies amidst the ongoing opioid crisis.In China, Fosun Pharma's acquisition of a majority stake in Green Valley Pharmaceuticals aims to revive a controversial seaweed-derived Alzheimer's medication. Despite skepticism over its efficacy, this investment signals continued innovation efforts amid growing demand for effective Alzheimer's treatments.Siemens Healthineers' partnership with Alzpath to incorporate pTau-217 antibodies into its Atellica immunoassay platforms marks a significant step forward in Alzheimer's diagnostics. This collaboration aims to enhance biomarker detection capabilities crucial for early diagnosis and intervention strategies in neurodegenerative diseases.On the strategic front, Bristol Myers Squibb entered into a substantial research agreement with Harbour BioMed valued at up to $1.1 billion. This deal underscores Big Pharma's ongoing pursuit of alliances to advance therapeutic pipelines and antibody technologies.Finally, Cencora's acquisition of OneOncology for $5 billion underscores consolidation trends within specialty practice networks. By valuing OneOncology at $7.4 billion, this acquisition reflects the growing importance of integrated oncology care models and collaborative net

Support the show

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Pharma and BioTech DailyBy Pharma and BioTech News

  • 3.3
  • 3.3
  • 3.3
  • 3.3
  • 3.3

3.3

15 ratings


More shows like Pharma and BioTech Daily

View all
Exchanges by Goldman Sachs

Exchanges

956 Listeners

WSJ What’s News by The Wall Street Journal

WSJ What’s News

4,329 Listeners

Bloomberg Intelligence by Bloomberg

Bloomberg Intelligence

403 Listeners

Odd Lots by Bloomberg

Odd Lots

1,942 Listeners

WSJ Tech News Briefing by The Wall Street Journal

WSJ Tech News Briefing

1,645 Listeners

The Readout Loud by STAT

The Readout Loud

321 Listeners

Wall Street Breakfast by Seeking Alpha

Wall Street Breakfast

1,041 Listeners

FT News Briefing by Financial Times

FT News Briefing

634 Listeners

Behind the Money by Financial Times

Behind the Money

225 Listeners

Making Sense by J.P. Morgan

Making Sense

61 Listeners

Thoughts on the Market by Morgan Stanley

Thoughts on the Market

1,302 Listeners

The Journal. by The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

The Journal.

6,078 Listeners

The World in Brief from The Economist by The Economist

The World in Brief from The Economist

1,077 Listeners

Biotech Hangout by Daphne Zohar, Josh Schimmer, Brad Loncar, Tim Opler & more

Biotech Hangout

20 Listeners

The Markets by Goldman Sachs

The Markets

80 Listeners