Also known as: Merck, Merck & Co, Merck & Co., Merck & Co Inc, Merck & Co. Inc., MSD
A phase 3 trial shows that the oral drug enlicitide reduces LDL cholesterol by 60% compared to placebo, according to results published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Sponsored by Merck & Co., the trial involved 2,909 participants with atherosclerosis or at risk. If approved, enlicitide could help lower heart attack and stroke risk.
The bladder cancer therapeutics market is expanding with recent FDA approvals including INLEXZO for NMIBC and a KEYTRUDA-Padvev combination for MIBC, while the NMIBC market reached approximately USD 3 billion in 2025 across seven major markets. Ferring reported record revenues exceeding €2.5 billion in 2025, driven by Adstiladrin as its second major growth driver. A robust pipeline of emerging therapies is expected to further transform the market through 2036.
Portal Biotechnologies closes $9M funding round to expand cell engineering platform for drug discovery and cell therapy. Navikenz raises $7.5M seed round to scale AI transformation services focused on life sciences and pharmaceuticals.
Teva Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi reported positive Phase 2b long-term extension results for duvakitug, a TL1A-targeting monoclonal antibody, showing durable efficacy over 44 weeks in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients. UC patients achieved up to 58% clinical remission and CD patients up to 55% endoscopic response at the higher dose.
Long-term data from ASCO 2026 shows the personalized cancer vaccine Intismeran Autogene, combined with Keytruda, reduces recurrence or death risk by 49% in high-risk melanoma patients. Developed by MSD and Moderna, the vaccine uses AI to select neoantigens from a patient's tumor and mRNA technology to create a personalized treatment. The results signal a major advance for a field that had struggled for decades, spurring similar development efforts by other companies.
Merck and Gilead discontinued a Phase 3 lung cancer trial due to lack of statistical significance, while Pfizer initiated a new Phase 1 trial and Roivant Sciences completed enrollment in its Phase 2 PHocus trial for pulmonary hypertension.
The FDA is receiving extensive industry feedback on three regulatory initiatives: draft guidance for using new approach methodologies to reduce animal testing, the Commissioner's National Priority Voucher pilot program, and a proposed rule to update the National Drug Code format. Stakeholders are urging revisions to the NAMs guidance, improvements to the CNPV program, and timely finalization of the NDC rule to avoid disruptions.
Major biotech investment and M&A activity marked early 2026, including a significant stake purchase in TG Therapeutics and multiple high-value acquisitions within the RTW Biotech Opportunities portfolio. The sector showed improving capital markets and strategic deal interest following the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference.
Recent market reports forecast significant growth in the progressive pulmonary fibrosis market, set to reach $2.7 billion by 2035, and the global asthma and COPD drugs market, projected to hit US$ 82.2 billion by 2036. The Asia Pacific pharma 4.0 market is also expanding rapidly, driven by digital technologies like AI and IoT.
Global oncology drug spending is projected to reach $467 billion by 2030, driven by novel modalities like ADCs and bispecifics, but growth will slow due to patent expirations for key drugs like Keytruda and Lynparza. R&D is shifting, with novel modalities accounting for 33% of clinical trials in 2025. The industry is also seeing broader innovation and investment, with new blockbuster contenders emerging across multiple therapeutic areas.
