Epilepsy R&D is breaking out of its old playbook

Genetic medicines and more selective small molecules are finally pushing the field toward new mechanisms — and potentially disease-modifying treatments.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Sept. 29, 2026

Nimbus used AI to help develop Takeda’s $4B psoriasis bet. Here’s where it’s taking the tech next

Nimbus Therapeutics’ head of R&D dishes on what’s next in AI-enabled drug discovery, years after Takeda completed its zasocitinib acquisition.

By Alexandra Pecci • Sept. 25, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial intelligence & machine learning

After years of excited buzz around the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning, pharma has begun to realize the true implications and potential value of these technologies.

By PharmaVoice staff

Basecamp raises $140M before the clinic; J&J and Compass’ potential rivalry

Some of the biggest news and trends captured in PharmaVoice’s newsletter this week. Sign up here to receive the newsletter daily. Another big AI haul Investors are still lining up to back AI drug developers before their candidates reach human trials. Basecamp Research...

By PharmaVoice Staff • Sept. 25, 2026

What J&J’s Spravato patent win could mean for psychedelic drugs

As more psychedelic drugs move toward market, developers are testing how far patent protection can extend around familiar compounds.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Sept. 24, 2026

Novo talks up drug launches in effort to win back investors

At a “capital markets day” in London, executives outlined a roadmap to better compete with key rival Eli Lilly and soon bring forth several multibillion-dollar products. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 23, 2026

Lilly stopped showing its phase 1 pipeline. Is it playing R&D chess?

Lilly no longer publicly lists its earliest clinical programs. The move could buy the pharma giant time to test, kill and reposition drugs while competitors are still reading the board.

By Sy Mukherjee • Sept. 23, 2026

CRO consolidation keeps rolling. What does that mean for pharma?

While M&A expands one-stop shop capabilities at large CROs, pharma companies could face tradeoffs around niche expertise and service continuity.

By Alexandra Pecci • Sept. 22, 2026

A norovirus breakthrough?; another women’s healthtech haul

Yale researchers untangled norovirus RNA and Evvy just pulled in $40 million for precision medicine in women's health.

By PharmaVoice Staff • Sept. 18, 2026

A dark horse in the orexin race?

As the orexin competition heats up in the neuroscience space, Harmony Biosciences is developing an early-stage asset it believes could have an edge over rivals.

By Meagan Parrish • Sept. 18, 2026

Sling banks $123M for an experimental thyroid eye disease pill

A confirmatory late-stage study is now also underway for what the startup is positioning as, potentially, the first oral alternative to approved injectables like Amgen's Tepezza and Viridian's Lumvoa.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Sept. 17, 2026

8 biotech IPO prospects testing investor appetite

Fresh filings and older proposals reveal different tests of clinical evidence, financing needs and readiness for public ownership.

By Sy Mukherjee • Sept. 17, 2026

‘Patients are not a renewable resource’: Rethinking rare disease R&D

Small patient communities face repeated demands for samples, data and time. The Speak Foundation’s founder explains how pharma can ease that burden while strengthening patients’ R&D involvement.

By Alexandra Pecci • Sept. 16, 2026

Where female participation in clinical trials has caught up — and where gaps remain

Getting more women into drug R&D remains critical for boosting health outcomes. But in some disease areas, pharma is still falling behind.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Sept. 16, 2026

3 KRAS drugs to watch as the field expands

Revolution’s pancreatic cancer approval marked a milestone in RAS-targeted treatment. Now, new treatments from Revolution, Astellas and Genentech could be the next to make a mark on the space.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Sept. 15, 2026

Cocrystal Pharma’s new CEO hopes to crack the norovirus code

James Sapirstein is bringing his Big Pharma chops to the clinical-stage company’s efforts to finally deliver an effective treatment for the vexing stomach bug.

By Alexandra Pecci • Sept. 15, 2026

PDUFA reauthorization offers a chance at clinical trial reforms. Will the US take it?

The reauthorization could give Congress the opportunity to help streamline clinical trials and accelerate drug research.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Sept. 14, 2026

Cancer still dominates pharma R&D. Obesity is gaining ground.

Oncology still accounts for nearly two out of five pipeline drugs, while obesity entered the top 10 indications and one-third of drugs target at least one rare disease.

By Alexandra Pecci • Sept. 11, 2026

mRNA cancer vaccines’ biggest barriers to market

Manufacturing hurdles are just one challenge the industry must overcome to commercialize personalized mRNA cancer vaccines.

By Alexandra Pecci • Sept. 10, 2026

5 questions that could determine Alzheimer’s next chapter

“The Alzheimer’s space has really got a fire under it,” says one analyst. But can the momentum deliver better drugs?

By Kelly Bilodeau • Sept. 9, 2026

Merck pairs ADCs with Keytruda in women’s cancer push

The drugmaker hopes to move the needle on challenging cancers and shore up its pipeline as it prepares for the Keytruda patent cliff.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Sept. 9, 2026

Prediction markets are putting a price on pharma’s secrets. Here’s what companies need to know.

As betting expands into clinical trial outcomes, drugmakers may need to look beyond employees and scrutinize outside partners with access to sensitive information.

By Sy Mukherjee • Sept. 8, 2026

Gilead’s growing HIV franchise; cell therapy licensing deals plummet

The FDA recently OK'd Gilead's novel HIV combo med, and cell therapy deals have fallen dramatically in two years.

By PharmaVoice Staff • Sept. 4, 2026

As measles outbreaks soar, where does drug R&D stand?

More than 25 years after it was declared eliminated, measles has surged back. But drug R&D is still in early stages and up against a tense market environment.

By Alexandra Pecci • Sept. 4, 2026

Autoimmune CAR-T faces tough questions after Novartis, Bristol Myers study halts

Wall Street analysts believe that a more cautious approach to manufacturing, study enrollment and side effect management could help developers avoid future safety hazards.

By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 3, 2026

China’s clinical trial boom under scrutiny after 3 deaths come to light

Two House Republicans are asking the FDA to increase oversight of China-generated clinical data after three trial deaths are reported.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Sept. 3, 2026