Novartis drops Alzheimer’s program; Windward files for IPO; GSK wins hepatitis B approval

Novartis drops lifonebart in Alzheimer’s after biomarker review: The Swiss pharma group has discontinued its Phase 2 Alzheimer’s program for lifonebart (VHB937) following a preplanned data monitoring committee assessment of biomarker data. The decision appears in its third-quarter pipeline update, without numerical findings. The antibody targets TREM2, a receptor involved in regulating the brain’s immune cells. This is a separate setback from September’s ALS trial failure: at that time, the Alzheimer’s study remained underway. Novartis has not disclosed which biomarker findings drove the latest decision.

Windward Bio files for a Nasdaq IPO: Basel-based Windward has filed for a US initial public offering to fund antibody trials in respiratory and inflammatory diseases, seeking to trade under the ticker WWB. Its programs target conditions including severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and eczema. The company has not disclosed the offering’s proposed share count or price range. CEO Luca Santarelli previously founded VectivBio, which Ironwood acquired for approximately $1 billion in 2023. Since its launch in early 2025, Windward has raised around $365 million and rapidly assembled a clinical-stage pipeline built on external innovation coming mostly from Chinese assets.

GSK wins US approval for hepatitis B drug Hibsago: The FDA approved the UK drugmaker’s bepirovirsen, developed with Ionis, alongside existing antivirals for selected adults with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis. The antisense medicine targets viral RNA, offering some patients the possibility of sustained viral control after stopping treatment. Across two trials, 19% of treated patients maintained viral control and undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen 24 weeks after stopping all hepatitis B therapy. However, Hibsago carries a boxed warning for serious liver reactions and low platelet counts, requiring regular monitoring.

Idorsia opens an autism development program for daridorexant: Switzerland-based Idorsia plans to investigate its insomnia drug in autism spectrum disorder after exploratory findings from a Phase 2 pediatric sleep study. Among participants with autism or subthreshold characteristics, two weeks of the 50-milligram dose produced signals involving behavior, cognition and daily functioning. The company hypothesizes that these effects could extend beyond improved sleep, but a dedicated trial must establish whether that interpretation holds. Idorsia is developing a dedicated formulation and discussing study design with regulators, with further details expected in the first half of 2027.

Servier partnership delivers an early milestone for Insilico: French pharma Servier will make an undisclosed payment after Insilico Medicine achieved the first research milestone under their AI-driven oncology collaboration. The partners have nominated targets for two programs, with the first meeting predefined research criteria. Announced earlier this year, the agreement includes $32 million in upfront and near-term research payments and a potential total value of $888 million. Insilico leads discovery and early development, while Servier will handle subsequent clinical validation and commercialization.

ScionxBio signs Sanofi partnership for longer-lasting RNA medicines: Cambridge-based ScionxBio will use its TERA platform to extend protein production from selected Sanofi mRNA candidates. The approach combines RNA engineering and synthetic chemistry to improve stability, potentially supporting applications requiring sustained therapeutic effects. ScionxBio will optimize candidates through animal validation, with  Sanofi taking responsibility for subsequent development, manufacturing and commercialization. Financial terms and disease targets were not disclosed. The partnership follows Eleven Therapeutics’ split into ScionxBio, focused on durable RNA medicines, and siRNA delivery developer Undecimal Bio, which recently raised $18 million.