Joseph Haas

J&J is partnering with Flagship's Sail Biomedicines to develop in vivo CAR-T therapies for immune-mediated diseases in a deal that also provides an option to buy.

Despite falling sales overall for its cancer franchise, AbbVie predicts its three-product and possibly growing antibody-drug conjugate portfolio will provide better days ahead in oncology.

Estimated at around $160bn, the rumored AstraZeneca/Bristol Myers Squibb merger would be biopharma's largest ever. The sector has made 16 deals valued at $20bn+ over the last two decades, with five above $50bn.

With industry-leading sales growth driven by the tirzepatide franchise, Lilly is lapping the competition in dealmaking. Its lack of a patent cliff allows it to embrace risk and make larger acquisitions without having to “buy revenue.”

Lilly's business development chief Jake Van Naarden reviews the firm's 31 deals so far in 2026 and the strategies and priorities underlying that activity.

With PAH drug Winrevair up 75% year-over-year and COPD drug Ohtuvayre off to a solid launch, the cardiometabolic/respiratory disease franchise drove second-quarter growth for Merck.

Lilly posted 48% year-over-year revenue growth and increased its incretin market share edge over Novo Nordisk, but the Danish firm continues to win the oral GLP-1 fight with Wegovy pill.

Plus deals involving Alphamab/Pathos AI, Taisho/Kaigene, LTT Bio-Pharma/Apogepha, Sino Biopharmaceutical/PT Tempo, Nippon Shinyaku/Aquelys, Qilu/TYK and more.

Sarepta's revenues fell as Michael Severino took the CEO role; Arcturus took back rights to its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine; Iovance and Viridian saw encouraging signs for their approved products; and Roivant is getting ready to launch brepocitinib.

Plus deals involving Arcturus/CSL, Harrow/Viatris, Evotec/Odyssey, Processa/Vidya, Scancell/Neuphoria as well as the latest technology transfer agreements.