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LEO Pharma to Acquire Replay for Rare Skin Disease Gene Therapy Platform
LEO Pharma has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Replay for $50 million upfront, plus milestone payments and royalties. The acquisition expands LEO's dermatology pipeline by adding Replay's herpes simplex virus-based gene therapy platform designed for rare genetic skin disorders. Replay's technology delivers large therapeutic genes to skin cells via topical gel, with a lead candidate targeting dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
Q-linea AB reports record instrument deployments and FDA clearance amid operational streamlining
Q-linea AB achieved a record quarter by deploying seven instruments and secured FDA clearance for its V2 panel, expanding its US value proposition. Consumable sales rose 60% year-on-year, while operating expenses were reduced to below 11 million SEK monthly through restructuring. Despite these gains, net sales declined due to lower capital sales and challenges converting the US commercial pipeline. Economic constraints in Italy and financing hurdles for ASTAR placements also limit immediate growth. The company plans to launch a dedicated isolate kit in Q3 2026.
Bristol-Myers Squibb reports Q1 2026 growth portfolio sales increase amid Opdivo decline
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co reported a 9% year-over-year increase in growth portfolio sales for Q1 2026, driven by Reblozyl, Breyanzi, and Opdualag. The company achieved FDA breakthrough therapy designation for iberdomide. However, Opdivo revenue fell 8% due to inventory drawdowns and conversion to Cobenfy, while gross margins declined 280 basis points. Management highlighted $2 billion in projected cost savings by 2027 and strong cash reserves of $11 billion. Clinical programs for iberdomide, mezigdomide, and Milvexian are progressing.
NovoCure reports double-digit revenue growth and FDA approval for Optune Pax in Q1 2026
NovoCure Ltd reported double-digit year-over-year growth in active patients and net revenues for Q1 2026, driven by the launch of Optune Pax for pancreatic cancer. The company secured FDA approval for Optune Pax and certified 868 healthcare providers within seven weeks. Gross margins increased to 78%. NovoCure also secured its first major US payer coverage policy with Elevance Health. However, the company reported a net loss of $71 million, up from $34 million in the prior year, due to a $43 million share-based compensation charge and increased R&D and sales expenses.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals reports record Q1 2026 revenue growth driven by TTR franchise
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc reported Q1 2026 net product revenues exceeding $1 billion, a 121% year-over-year increase driven by its TTR franchise. AMVUTTRA and ONPATTRO generated over $900 million combined. The company holds $3 billion in cash and maintains 25 clinical programs. While collaboration revenue fell 17% due to a prior milestone, gross margins decreased 5% due to increased royalties. Non-GAAP R&D and SG&A expenses rose significantly due to Phase 3 studies and AMVUTTRA launch support. International revenues faced headwinds from pricing updates in Germany.
Merck reports Q1 2026 revenue growth of $16.3 billion amid pipeline milestones and acquisition charges
Merck & Co Inc reported Q1 2026 revenue of $16.3 billion, a year-over-year increase driven by oncology and animal health. The company achieved FDA approval for IDVYNSO and priority review for I-DXd. However, GARDASIL sales fell 22% due to demand drops in China and Japan. A $1.28 per share loss included a $9 billion one-time charge for the Cidara Therapeutics acquisition and an expected $0.12 EPS impact from the proposed Terns Pharmaceuticals deal. Merck highlighted a robust pipeline with 20+ new product launches and partnerships with Google Cloud, Tempus AI, and Mayo Clinic.
Kymera Therapeutics reports Q1 2026 cash balance of $1.55 billion with strategic partnerships
Kymera Therapeutics Inc reported a cash balance of $1.55 billion on April 30, 2026, providing a financial runway into 2029. The company highlighted strategic partnerships with Gilead and Sanofi and advancements in its pipeline, including oral therapies like KT-621 for atopic dermatitis. CEO Nello Mainolfi and CMO Jared Gollob discussed clinical trial timelines, noting expected enrollment completion for the KT-621 AD study by year-end. The company faces risks from increased R&D expenses and a competitive immunology landscape.
Eli Lilly reports record Q1 2026 revenue growth and raises full-year guidance
Eli Lilly and Co reported a 56% revenue increase in Q1 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, driven by Zepbound and Mounjaro. The company raised its full-year revenue guidance, citing strong performance. Key developments include positive Phase 3 data for Jaypirca and Ebglyss, the acquisition of Centessa and Orna, and early positive feedback for the new oral GLP-1 therapy, Foundayo. Despite a 1 percentage point decrease in gross margin and a 7% US price decline, the company expressed confidence in future growth across obesity, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology sectors.
CuraTeQ Biologics Receives Health Canada Approval for Bevqolva Bevacizumab Biosimilar
CuraTeQ Biologics Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma, received a Notice of Compliance from Health Canada for its bevacizumab biosimilar, Bevqolva. The approval grants formal marketing authorization for the drug, used in cancer treatment, confirming it meets safety, efficacy, and quality standards comparable to the reference biologic. This marks a key market entry for the product, which is available in 100 mg and 400 mg formulations.
Experts call for rethinking chemoprophylaxis strategies for leprosy control
Global leprosy prevalence has plateaued since 2000, prompting a re-evaluation of chemoprophylaxis strategies. Trials like COLEP and PEOPLE showed limited long-term protection from single-dose rifampicin (SDR) and double-dose rifampicin (SDDR), with efficacy waning after two years. Concerns include rising rifampicin resistance, ethical issues regarding stigmatisation and drug exposure, and poor cost-effectiveness, particularly for high-risk household contacts. Emerging data suggests a paradoxical rise in disabilities following SDR campaigns. Experts recommend redirecting resources toward early case detection, treatment adherence, and systematic contact tracing rather than mass prophylaxis.
Microneedle biosensor detects impaired kidney drug clearance in rats
Sam Emaminejad and colleagues developed a minimally invasive microneedle biosensor capable of real-time assessment of liver and kidney drug clearance. Tested in a rat model, the device correlated interstitial fluid measurements with blood-equivalent pharmacokinetic parameters. The sensor successfully detected prolonged drug half-life in rats with liver damage and lower drug clearance in rats with adenine-induced kidney injury. Notably, the biosensor identified decreases in drug clearance before blood creatinine levels increased, indicating early detection of kidney function decline.
Syngene International reports strong sequential revenue growth amid profitability challenges
Syngene International Ltd reported a 13% sequential revenue increase in Q4 2026, driven by underlying business momentum and a new Antibody-Drug Conjugate Discovery Laboratory. However, year-on-year top-line growth was muted at 3% due to Librela destocking, while operating EBITDA margins fell to 29% from 34%. Profit after tax declined 16% year-on-year. The company expects flat performance for FY27 due to geopolitical uncertainties and ongoing Librela impacts, though it maintains a long-term partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb until 2035.
Scientists develop mRNA therapy using red blood cells to attack tumours
Researchers at the Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine developed an innovative mRNA therapy platform called mRNA-LNP-Ery. This technology uses red blood cells to deliver genetic instructions directly into the body, transforming myeloid cells into cancer-fighting agents without the need for laboratory extraction. Preclinical animal models demonstrated strong antitumor activity, with the reprogrammed cells successfully migrating to tumours, eliminating cancer cells, and enhancing broader immune responses. The findings, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggest this approach could offer a scalable and cost-effective alternative to traditional CAR-T cell therapies.
Portable MiniDock MTB device enables rapid tuberculosis testing in under 30 minutes
Researchers from the University of California San Francisco and University of California Irvine demonstrated that the MiniDock MTB portable device delivers accurate tuberculosis diagnosis results in under 30 minutes at the point of care. The device matches standard laboratory accuracy while using alternative samples like tongue swabs, benefiting children and HIV patients. It utilizes molecular technology similar to COVID-19 diagnostics, runs on battery power, and requires minimal training. The World Health Organization has issued its first recommendation for this test type, potentially enabling same-day diagnosis and treatment globally.
4DMedical shares rise 1173% in a year due to US regulatory clearance
4DMedical Ltd shares have increased by 1,173% over the past 12 months, outperforming the broader ASX 200 healthcare sector which has fallen 39%. The growth is attributed to the company securing FDA 510(k) clearance for its CT:VQ platform in September 2025 and a one-year contract with GlaxoSmithKline starting in May 2026. Unlike peers facing regulatory uncertainty and currency challenges, 4DMedical has established a foothold in the US market and recently received certification in the United Kingdom. The company's software-as-a-service technology transforms routine chest CT scans without the need for contrast agents.
Bayer sues vaccine makers over alleged stolen technology
Bayer is suing pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson over alleged patent appropriation regarding mRNA stabilizing technology. The lawsuit claims the technology was originally developed by Monsanto, which Bayer acquired in 2018. Bayer states it did not share in the profits from the COVID-19 vaccines and seeks to recoup costs related to the acquisition and ongoing legal challenges regarding its herbicide Roundup.
Dognosis study finds dogs detect multiple cancers from breath with over 90 per cent accuracy
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reveals that trained dogs can detect multiple types of cancer from human breath samples with over 90 per cent accuracy, including early-stage cases. Conducted across six hospitals in India involving 1,502 participants, the research highlights the potential of combining canine olfaction with Bayesian modeling for non-invasive screening. Dognosis, the Indian startup behind the technology, aims to commercialise the system next year following further real-world validation. While results are promising, experts caution that established diagnostic tools remain necessary.
Eli Lilly reports strong growth potential amidst regulatory challenges in 10-Q filing
On May 01, 2026, Eli Lilly and Co released its 10-Q filing for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. Revenue increased driven by higher volumes of cardiometabolic products Mounjaro and Zepbound, which accounted for 65% of total revenue. The company received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for sofetabart mipitecan for ovarian cancer. While the GF Score is 95/100 indicating strong potential, the company faces regulatory litigation regarding the 340B program and pricing pressures. The stock trades at $934.60, undervalued by 28.3% relative to a GF Value of $1302.77.
