In the evolving landscape of drug discovery and new design, scientists and pharmaceutical innovators continually strive to develop therapies that are both highly selective and clinically effective, while addressing targets previously deemed “undruggable”. In recent years, macrocycles – a class of large, ring-shaped molecules – have emerged as a compelling solution at the crossroads between traditional small molecules and large biologics, offering a blend of high specificity, rich chemical diversity and promising pharmacological profiles.
Angelini inks $4.1B Catalyst takeover to fuel US expansion
Latest NewsItaly’s Angelini Pharma has struck a deal to buy Catalyst Pharmaceuticals for $4.1 billion (€3.5 billion) to enter the US market.
InflaRx attracts strong investor interest with US share offering turning to kidney
Latest NewsAs Amgen’s competing therapy has come under growing regulatory scrutiny, an opportunity has emerged for InflaRx N.V. to position its own oral C5aR inhibitor in the market. The Jena-based biotech company is now moving quickly to capitalise on that opening: InflaRx is refocusing its pipeline on severe renal diseases while simultaneously advancing a US$150m capital raise intended to fund development through key clinical milestones.
Scarlet raises £3.2 million to advance lab-grown red blood cell therapies
Latest NewsScarlet Therapeutics has raised £3.2 million (€3.7 million) to take therapies based on red blood cells (RBCs) to in vivo proof of concept, building on evidence that natural and lab-grown cells have comparable half-lives.
For several billions: Bayer adds Perfuse Therapeutics to portfolio of eye therapies
Latest NewsBayer AG is strengthening its ophthalmology portfolio with the acquisition of Perfuse Therapeutics for up to $2.45bn. The focus is on a Phase II candidate for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy with potential as a disease-modifying therapy.
Switzerland’s biotech sector defies tough markets with record revenue
Latest NewsIf one follows the figures in the Swiss Biotech Report 2026, the green lights are more prominent than the red warning signals. The Swiss biotech industry continued its growth momentum in 2025 and even reached new record highs. According to the industry report presented in early May at Swiss Biotech Day in Basel, total revenue among companies classified as biotech — which in this case explicitly does not include Roche and Novartis, for example — rose to CHF 7.5 billion, up from CHF 7.2 billion the previous year. The drivers were a growing number of market-ready products and persistently strong demand for specialized CDMO services.
Macrocycles: big is the new beautiful
Background, Latest NewsIn the evolving landscape of drug discovery and new design, scientists and pharmaceutical innovators continually strive to develop therapies that are both highly selective and clinically effective, while addressing targets previously deemed “undruggable”. In recent years, macrocycles – a class of large, ring-shaped molecules – have emerged as a compelling solution at the crossroads between traditional small molecules and large biologics, offering a blend of high specificity, rich chemical diversity and promising pharmacological profiles.
Swiss Windward Bio adds US$165m to its Chinese pipeline
Latest NewsBasel-based Windward Bio did it again and has raised another three-digit millions – $165 million to be exact – to advance a pipeline of long-acting immunology therapies—much of it sourced through in-licensing deals with Chinese partners. Its lead candidate, WIN378, is moving into Phase III, with first clinical readouts expected from 2026.
Cytospire raises £61M to take gamma-delta T-cell engager into the clinic
Latest NewsCytospire Therapeutics has raised a £61 million (€71 million) Series A round, positioning the British biotech to advance pan-gamma-delta T-cell engagers (TCEs) into cancer clinical trials.
UCB buys Candid Therapeutics for up to US$2.2bn to deepen autoimmune T-cell engager push
Latest NewsBelgian biopharma UCB has moved quickly from testing the waters in autoimmune T-cell engagers to making one of the largest bets yet on the modality, agreeing to acquire San Diego-based Candid Therapeutics for up to US$2.2bn.
BioOrbit: record seed round for in‑space drug manufacturing
Latest NewsCan in‑space manufacturing help cancer patients take complex medicines at home? For a technology that aims to do just that, UK‑based BioOrbit has just raised £9.8m (around €11.3m) – the “world’s largest” seed round of for in‑space manufacturing.