Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma e Biotech world. Verdiva has entered the competitive obesity market with a $410 million debut, focusing on next-generation therapies. The company's lead asset is an oral glp-1 receptor agonist that can be dosed weekly, aiming to improve accessibility and affordability. In 2024, the biopharma industry saw a significant increase in first-time VC funding, totaling $7.7 billion over 137 deals. J.P. Morgan predicts a strong year for biopharma in 2025, with an uptick in M&A activity and FDA decisions to watch. The FDA has proposed setting a bar for weight-loss therapies as the obesity space heats up. Lilly has won Medicare coverage for Zepbound in sleep apnea, while Vanda criticizes the FDA's conduct after a drug rejection. Layoffs have affected the gene therapy space, with companies like Resilience and Scribe cutting staff. Overall, the outlook for biopharma in 2025 is cautiously optimistic, with opportunities for innovation and growth.