Business Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals News

Pfizer Acquires Metsera in $4.9 Billion Deal, Bolsters Obesity Drug Portfolio

pfizer news

Pfizer has announced a definitive agreement to acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Metsera in a deal valued at an initial $4.9 billion, with the potential for an additional $2.4 billion in milestone payments. The acquisition is a strategic move to re-enter the lucrative weight-loss drug market by adding Metsera’s next-generation obesity and cardiometabolic disease treatments, including promising oral and injectable therapies, to Pfizer’s pipeline.

News Biologics Oncology Regulatory Approval

U.S. FDA Approves Merck’s Keytruda Qlex, a Faster-Administered Subcutaneous Version of Keytruda for Cancer Treatment

Merck MSD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Merck’s Keytruda Qlex, a new subcutaneous formulation of its leading cancer immunotherapy drug. This game-changing approval introduces a fixed-dose combination of pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph, allowing the treatment to be administered as a simple injection in as little as one minute, a significant reduction from the previous 30-minute intravenous infusion. Approved for most of Keytruda’s existing solid tumor indications in adults, this new formulation was shown in clinical trials to have a comparable efficacy and safety profile to the IV version. The approval marks a major advancement in patient-centered care, offering a more convenient and less time-consuming option for thousands of cancer patients.

Biologics Autoimmune Diseases Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals News Regulatory Approval

U.S. FDA Approves Johnson & Johnson’s TREMFYA® (guselkumab) Subcutaneous Induction for Adults with Ulcerative Colitis

JohnsonAndJohnson

Johnson & Johnson announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new subcutaneous (at-home) induction option for TREMFYA® (guselkumab) for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. This approval, based on the successful Phase 3 ASTRO trial, makes TREMFYA the first and only IL-23 inhibitor to offer a completely subcutaneous regimen for both induction and maintenance, providing a significant new convenience for patients managing their condition.

Clinical Trials News Weight-loss Drugs

Lilly’s Mounjaro Shows Promising Results in Teens with Type 2 Diabetes

Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company announced positive topline results from its SURPASS-PEDS Phase 3 trial for Mounjaro (tirzepatide). The study, which evaluated the GIP/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes, demonstrated substantial and statistically significant improvements in blood sugar control and weight management, with a safety profile consistent with adult studies.

Clinical Trials News Weight-loss Drugs

Novo Nordisk Unveils Promising Phase 3 Data for Cagrilintide, a Novel Amylin Analogue for Obesity, Advancing to New Clinical Program

novo nordisk

Novo Nordisk has unveiled compelling phase 3 data for its next-generation obesity drug, cagrilintide, at the EASD 2025 congress. The novel amylin analogue demonstrated a significant 11.8% average body weight reduction over 68 weeks, far surpassing the placebo group. These promising results have prompted the company to advance cagrilintide into a new dedicated clinical program, RENEW, set to begin later this year.

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals News Vaccines

Ebola Vaccination Campaign Launched in Democratic Republic of Congo

World Health Organization

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, have launched an Ebola vaccination campaign in the Bulape health zone of Kasai Province. This vital initiative aims to curtail the spread of the deadly virus following the declaration of an outbreak in the region earlier this month. The first recipients of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine include frontline health workers and individuals who have been in contact with infected patients.

Regulatory Approval Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals News

U.S. FDA Approves Johnson & Johnson’s INLEXZO™ (gemcitabine intravesical system), a Groundbreaking Bladder-Sparing Treatment for a High-Risk Form of Bladder Cancer

JohnsonAndJohnson

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved INLEXZO™ (gemcitabine intravesical system), a novel drug-delivery system from Johnson & Johnson set to revolutionize care for adults with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This first-of-its-kind therapy offers a significant bladder-sparing alternative for a high-risk patient group often facing complete bladder removal. Clinical trials showed an 82% complete response rate, marking a major advancement in bladder cancer treatment.

Clinical Trials Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals News

Amgen and Kyowa Kirin Announce Positive Top-Line Results from Rocatinlimab Phase 3 Study for Atopic Dermatitis

amgen

Amgen and Kyowa Kirin announced positive top-line results from the ASCEND Phase 3 long-term study for rocatinlimab, an investigational treatment for adults and adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The study demonstrated a continued therapeutic benefit and a consistent safety profile, showing sustained improvements in skin clearance and itch reduction at one year.