Curated news and analysis on clinical trials, drug approvals, and medical research.
Novartis AG has entered into an agreement to sell 1.74 crore shares, or 70.68% of Novartis India, to investors led by ChrysCapital. Novartis India later posted a 4.81% weekly gain even as quarterly profit and net sales declined.
More than 30 approved cell and gene therapies carry prices from nearly $1 million to over $4 million, creating fiscal pressure for Medicaid. A federal access model launched in 2024 aims to centralize outcomes-based contracting.
Morphic Medical’s Reset obesity treatment device received NUB status in Germany, allowing hospitals to seek supplementary reimbursement. The company said U.S. FDA study enrollment is continuing after protocol changes to accelerate recruitment.
Congress rejected the administration’s deepest proposed science cuts, increasing NIH funding by about $415 million to $48.7 billion. NASA and NSF also saw far smaller reductions than proposed.
Calls are growing to bring CAR-T cell therapy to New Zealand as the current trial is set to end later this year. There is no clear path to public availability.
A study suggests a 16-protein blood test, the Sjögren’s protein score, may measure salivary gland inflammation without biopsy. The score correlated with glandular inflammation, antibodies, and extraglandular disease features.
Merck received FDA approval in early February 2026 for KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX in PD-L1-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The decision marks the first approval of a PD-1 inhibitor regimen for this setting.
Isomorphic Labs said one AI-designed drug, ISM8969, has FDA clearance for human clinical trials. The company’s initial pipeline focuses on oncology candidates.
Zocilurtatug pelitecan showed an overall response rate of 38.2% and a disease control rate of 55.9% in 34 patients with pretreated extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas. Grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse effects occurred in 30.4% of patients.
Everest Medicines launched VELSIPITY in Mainland China after NMPA approval on February 2, 2026. The first prescription was issued at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
Medtronic reported interim Affera Sphere-9 data showing 65.5% of VT patients were free from recurrence at six months. The FDA granted Breakthrough Device designation for Sphere-9 and approved a U.S. pivotal IDE.
Researchers developed a lipid nanoparticle gene-editing approach that inserted a full CFTR gene into airway cells and restored 88% to 100% of normal channel function in a cystic fibrosis lab model.
A study in Ophthalmology found tirzepatide use was associated with lower 12-month risk of new or progressive diabetic retinopathy versus lifestyle intervention alone. The analysis included about 174,000 matched patients.
Canada’s energy regulator recommended approval of Westcoast Energy’s Sunrise Expansion Program in British Columbia. The project is intended to meet anticipated demand from the Woodfibre LNG facility starting in 2027.
US health policy activity this week included HHS FY 2027 budget hearings, a House review of Medicare fraud and bipartisan discussion of PBM reform. President Trump also issued an executive order on mental illness treatments, and CMS and FDA announced the RAPID pathway.
Generic semaglutide launched in India as Novo Nordisk’s patent expired, with prices starting below Rs 1,300 a month. Doctors and companies said device quality, cold chains and patient support will also shape sales.
A U.K. focus-group study found support for sharing health data for AI is conditional on public benefit, safeguards and meaningful consent. The findings come as Europe tightens control over biomedical datasets under data-sovereignty policies.
BioNTech enters May with first-quarter earnings due May 5 and a May 15 shareholder vote on a capital increase. The company is pushing its oncology pipeline as COVID-19 vaccine sales decline.
Oncotelic Therapeutics said it was featured in an editorial on how advancing drug pipelines are driving biotech valuation. The company cited its oncology pipeline, AI-enabled platform and 45% stake in GMP Bio.
Quanterix said it will host a conference call on May 6, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. E.T. to discuss first-quarter 2026 financial results. A press release will be issued after the market closes the same day.
