Drugmakers prep for bird flu outbreak, despite continued low risk

While the virus hasn’t made a sustained leap into humans, vaccines and treatments are coming through the pipes if it does.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Feb. 3, 2025

A new, non-opioid pain drug is here. Getting it to patients could be agony.

After decades of research, Vertex Pharmaceuticals now has an approved pain medication. Can one of the world’s most powerful biotechs contend with a healthcare system that’s long favored opioids?

By Jacob Bell • Feb. 3, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Oncology R&D

Cancer research remains a prime focus for the industry and often leads to pharma’s most impactful breakthroughs.   

By PharmaVoice staff

Pharma’s forecast for 2025: Sowing seeds of a rebound

Despite regulatory uncertainty, pharma is bouncing back from a market slump and is being fueled by innovation. 

By Meagan Parrish • Jan. 31, 2025

Is federal funding frozen? Has it already thawed? Flip-flop leaves biopharma on edge

NIH grants that help fund drug development were caught in the mix of confusing executive orders this week.

By Amy Baxter • Jan. 31, 2025

A long-awaited alternative to opioids is on the FDA doorstep. Can Vertex seal the deal?

Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ non-opioid pain medication is up for FDA approval this week. Other drugmakers have found safer alternatives to expand the pain management landscape.

By Amy Baxter • Updated Feb. 4, 2025

Natural killer cells, a rising alternative to CAR-T cell therapy

These innate immune cells may provide a safer, lower-cost option in cancer and autoimmune diseases.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Jan. 27, 2025

Gene therapies have been uneven for DMD — but these companies hope to turn the tide

Despite mixed results using gene therapies to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, drug developers are pushing ahead with the belief the answer could come down to delivery.

By Meagan Parrish • Jan. 24, 2025

J&J is all in on tau-targeted Alzheimer’s candidates. Will the approach lead to more effective treatments?

Anti-tau candidates haven’t crossed the regulatory threshold like their anti-amyloid counterparts, but J&J’s clinical efforts could lead in the right direction.

By Michael Gibney • Jan. 23, 2025

After an obesity stumble, BioAge reconnects with its longevity pipeline

The company is kicking off the year with a new Novartis partnership and renewed focus on metabolic aging targets.

By Alexandra Pecci • Jan. 22, 2025

Innovate or perish: Industry’s evolution leaves little room for me-too approaches

Novel drug approvals have set the stage for more breakthroughs in pharma.

By Amy Baxter • Updated Jan. 22, 2025

‘The bar has risen’: China’s biotech gains push US companies to adapt

Pharma dealmaking for drugs invented in China is putting pressure on U.S. biotechs to compete harder.

By Ben Fidler • Jan. 17, 2025

Musk’s rare disease torpedo, hospitals’ pharma fix and other policies leaders are tracking

There’s more to pharma's regulatory story in 2025 than just the IRA.

By Meagan Parrish • Jan. 17, 2025

Merck is broadening its pipeline as Keytruda’s patent cliff looms

Merck looks ahead with an array of cardiometabolic, immunology, neuroscience and ophthalmology pipelines.

By Alexandra Pecci • Jan. 14, 2025

Will 2025 mark pharma’s pivot to bigger deals after years of lackluster M&A?

A series of uncertainties that kept dealmaking to a minimum last year could be reversing as pharma reloads pipelines ahead of the patent cliff explosion.

By Michael Gibney • Jan. 14, 2025

FDA ‘stuck to its corner’ with AI draft guidance, leaving plenty of questions unanswered

The first draft guidance provides an initial framework for how the agency will assess AI models in drug development, but the industry is still looking for more.

By Amy Baxter • Jan. 13, 2025

PharmaVoice’s Crystal Ball: Industry shifts in R&D, policy and clinical trials

Coming changes that could impact pharma from drug development to launch.

By Meagan Parrish • Jan. 10, 2025

After layoffs, a viral immunotherapy biotech bounced back with a late-stage prostate cancer win

Candel Therapeutics’ CEO had to prioritize a phase 3 program amid layoffs and cuts, and an end-of-year clinical success was the redemption he was looking for.

By Michael Gibney • Jan. 9, 2025

3 trial readouts that could shake up the obesity market this year

A wave of new weight loss treatments is on the way, and drugmakers are scrambling for a foot in the door.

By Amy Baxter • Jan. 8, 2025

Subcutaneous options offer convenience for patients — and a valuable window for drugmakers

New formulations for under-the-skin application of drugs give pharmas another opening in a crowded market.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Jan. 7, 2025

PharmaVoice’s Crystal Ball: The industry’s AI future

How AI will further transform the business of drug discovery and development in 2025.

By Meagan Parrish • Jan. 7, 2025

4 closely watched FDA approval dates in 2025 from J&J, Novo and more

A first-in-class pain med and blockbusters with new indications are just a few of the possible approvals to keep an eye on in the new year.

By Alexandra Pecci • Jan. 6, 2025

4 companies to watch in the accelerating gene editing race

A handful of innovative startups are scrambling to gain a foothold as technology improves at a rapid clip.

By Kelly Bilodeau • Jan. 2, 2025

10 of our most read articles of 2024

The high drama of an election year, industry layoffs, patent cliff strategies and other key trends that shaped pharma in 2024.

By Meagan Parrish • Dec. 20, 2024

Merck’s RSV antibody could soon paddle into the rough waters of a crowded market

A new antibody from Merck would join a market teeming with new entries, but plenty of regulatory and financial uncertainty.

By Michael Gibney • Dec. 19, 2024

Maternal mortality trends remain dire — and researchers face an uphill battle to solve them

Rising maternal mortality, particularly among vulnerable populations, stems in part from a lack of research in pregnant women.

By Michael Gibney • Dec. 17, 2024