In June, the pharmaceutical industry continued to witness more merger and acquisitions, deals, and groundbreaking approvals by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Several major players forged strategic deals, including Sanofi, Eli Lilly, BioNTech, AbbVie, and BMS, while players like AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, CSL, and Merck clinched key drug approvals.The month witnessed some of the largest deals in recent pharmaceutical history, with companies positioning themselves strategically across emerging therapeutic areas including rare diseases, oncology, and metabolic disorders. Biotech indices rebounded with the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (NBI) gaining 3.22 percent from 4,095.80 to 4,227.68. The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) rose 3.4 percent from 80.20 to 82.93, and the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index (SPSIBI) surged 4.68 percent from 6,170.44 to 6,459.28. Access the Pipeline Prospector Dashboard for June 2025 Newsmakers (Free Excel)Sanofi buys Blueprint for up
to US$ 9.5 bn; BMS signs US$ 11.1 bn deal with BioNTechIn M&As, Sanofi agreed to acquire US-based biopharmaceutical company Blueprint Medicines in a deal valued at up to US$ 9.5 billion. This acquisition significantly bolsters Sanofi’s portfolio in rare immunological diseases.Eli Lilly continued to diversify its pipeline — it plans to acquire
Verve Therapeutics, a Boston-based gene-editing company specializing in cardiovascular treatments, for up to US$ 1.3 billion. Lilly also entered into a strategic partnership with Swedish biotech firm Camurus, committing up to US$ 870 million to develop long-acting treatments for obesity and diabetes. In
Germany, BioNTech agreed to acquire fellow German mRNA vaccine developer
CureVac in an all-stock transaction
valued at approximately US$ 1.25 billion. This acquisition strengthens BioNTech’s position in mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization. And, as the month drew to a close, AbbVie announced the acquisition of privately held cell therapy developer Capstan Therapeutics in a deal worth up to US$ 2.1 billion. This buyout will give AbbVie access to experimental treatments for autoimmune diseases.Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) emerged as a major deal-maker in June — it signed a landmark partnership with BioNTech, valued at up to US$ 11.1
billion. This is one of the largest deals to date for the German
biotech firm. The collaboration focuses on co-developing and commercializing
BNT327, a promising antibody capable of targeting two cancer cell receptors
simultaneously, with potential to outperform Merck’s blockbuster Keytruda (pembrolizumab).BMS’ subsidiary RayzeBio secured exclusive worldwide
rights to OncoACP3, a radiopharmaceutical agent targeting prostate cancer, from
Philochem in a potential US$ 1.35 billion deal.AstraZeneca strengthened its position in
China, its second-largest market, through a significant research collaboration with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, valued at up to US$ 5.3 billion. This partnership focuses on
developing therapies for chronic diseases using artificial intelligence, with
CSPC conducting AI-driven research at its Shijiazhuang City facility.In
other deals, Vor Bio licensed telitacicept from RemeGen for generalized myasthenia
gravis in a deal potentially worth US$ 4 billion. Royalty Pharma committed up to US$ 2 billion to fund the development of Revolution Medicines’ daraxonrasib, an experimental drug to treat pancreatic cancer and
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Regeneron struck a US$ 2 billion licensing deal with Hansoh Pharmaceutical for obesity drug olatorepatide. Access the Pipeline Prospector Dashboard for June 2025 Newsmakers (Free Excel) Astra-Daiichi’s Datroway okayed for lung cancer; Merck, Moderna win FDA nods for RSV productsThe
FDA granted accelerated approval to Datroway (datopotamab
deruxtecan), a precision cancer therapy developed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, for treating adults with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC who have previously received EGFR-directed therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy.CSL secured FDA approval for Andembry (garadacimab-gxii), a groundbreaking monoclonal antibody for preventing hereditary angioedema in patients aged 12 and older.Merck’s long-acting monoclonal antibody Enflonsia (clesrovimab)
received FDA approval for preventing respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV) illness in newborns and full-term or pre-term infants
entering their first RSV season. Moderna bagged FDA approval for its mRNA-based RSV
vaccine, mRESVIA, for adults aged 18 to 59 years who are at increased risk of
severe RSV disease. This represents a marked expansion from the prior over-60
age group approval.Bayer’s Nubeqa (darolutamide) won an expanded US approval and can be used to treat all
patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Gilead Sciences won FDA approval for lenacapavir (Yeztugo), a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection showing nearly 100
percent efficacy in trials. Nuvation Bio’s Ibtrozi
(taletrectinib) received FDA approval for ROS1-positive NSCLC.FDA
also granted approval to UroGen Pharma’s Zusduri (mitomycin intravesical gel), marking the first-ever non-surgical therapy for adults with recurrent low‑grade intermediate‑risk non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer.Meanwhile,
AbbVie’s Mavyret (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir) expanded its hepatitis C label to include
pediatric patients aged three and above without or with compensated cirrhosis.
And, Sanofi-Regeneron’s Dupixent
(dupilumab) received its eighth FDA approval for bullous pemphigoid,
becoming the first targeted biologic for this autoimmune skin disorder. Access the Pipeline Prospector Dashboard for June 2025 Newsmakers (Free Excel) Compass’ depression therapy scores late-stage win; Sarepta suspends shipment of DMD med after second deathAmong
noteworthy clinical trials, Compass Pathways achieved a historic milestone as COMP360 became the first synthetic psilocybin
to meet primary endpoints in a phase 3 trial for treatment-resistant
depression. Eli Lilly’s experimental oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, orforglipron, delivered compelling
late-stage results in adults with type 2 diabetes. Merck’s oral PCSK9 inhibitor
enlicitide successfully hit primary and secondary
endpoints in two phase 3 hyperlipidemia trials,
showing significant LDL cholesterol reductions and representing a potential
multi-billion-dollar opportunity. Roche reported positive late-stage results for subcutaneous Lunsumio plus IV Polivy in relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma.In
a phase 3 trial, Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s investigational therapy — sibeprenlimab — cut severe levels of protein in
the urine by 51 percent in patients with life-threatening kidney disease (known
as IgAN).In
negative news from trials, FDA placed five trials on Gilead's experimental HIV drugs combo on clinical
hold, due to safety concerns. And Sarepta Therapeutics reported a second case of acute liver failure resulting in death after a patient (another teenaged boy)
received gene therapy
Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) for treating Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (DMD). The company has paused a clinical trial and suspended
shipments of the therapy for non-ambulatory patients. Moreover, an FDA investigation is underway, which will look
into acute liver failure due to Elevidys. Access the Pipeline Prospector Dashboard for June 2025 Newsmakers (Free Excel) Our viewThe industry continues to face challenges posed by the geopolitical volatility and pricing pressures, particularly in the US. Given these challenges, the industry has shown considerable resilience and courage to acquire companies and forge strategic partnerships. Coupled with innovation, these factors should help the industry post modest growth this year. Access the Pipeline Prospector Dashboard for June 2025 Newsmakers (Free Excel)
Share