Guido Oelkers will leave Swedish Orphan Biovitrum to become BioNTech’s CEO by Feb. 1, 2027, succeeding co-founder Uğur Şahin after overseeing a nine-year transformation that increased Sobi’s revenue more than fivefold.
https://european-biotechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Guido_Oelkers_0.png13822074Joachim Eeckhout/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBM_quer_Logo_2022_400px_wihte.pngJoachim Eeckhout2026-08-03 11:44:432026-08-13 11:46:12Sobi’s dealmaker CEO exits for BioNTech
AstraZeneca has held talks with Bristol Myers Squibb over a potential combination that would create a pharmaceutical group worth nearly $400 billion (€348 billion), the Financial Times reported.
Novo Nordisk’s ziltivekimab failed to reduce cardiovascular events in a Phase 3 trial, dealing a blow to a drug once forecast to generate about $3 billion in peak annual sales.
UK specialty pharma Pharmanovia has licensed senaparib, IMPACT Therapeutics’ oral PARP1/2 inhibitor, across 66 countries in a deal worth up to €423.5 million.
https://european-biotechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/kateryna-hliznitsova-3dg8Jn-yw58-unsplash.jpg55048256Joachim Eeckhout/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBM_quer_Logo_2022_400px_wihte.pngJoachim Eeckhout2026-07-31 15:53:262026-07-31 15:53:26Pharmanovia licenses China-approved PARP drug for up to €423.5M
London-based Relation Therapeutics has expanded its research collaboration with GSK in an agreement worth up to $110 million (€97 million), as the AI biotech launches a foundation model designed to predict how human cells respond to experimental treatments.
Sanofi has discontinued development of itepekimab and balinatunfib after disappointing clinical results, ending ongoing programmes across respiratory and inflammatory diseases.
https://european-biotechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/abby-savage-9Urds43o8c-unsplash-scaled.jpg17022560Joachim Eeckhout/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBM_quer_Logo_2022_400px_wihte.pngJoachim Eeckhout2026-07-30 11:09:122026-07-30 11:09:12Sanofi axes two more inflammatory-disease drugs
On July 23, Europe’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended the CETP inhibitor obicetrapib for approval after a string of big-name Phase 3 failures over the past two decades. The European Commission’s final approval is expected in the second half of the year.
https://european-biotechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nigel-hoare-gMOjVqtLCvU-unsplash-scaled.jpg14402560Victor Kotsev/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBM_quer_Logo_2022_400px_wihte.pngVictor Kotsev2026-07-29 09:55:202026-07-29 09:55:20CHMP backs first CETP inhibitor after two decades of failure
GSK has announced plans to shut its UK R&D headquarters in Stevenage, UK, moving operations north to a new site in Cambridge, while also announcing a company-wide programme to reduce annual costs by £1.9 billion (€2.2 billion).
https://european-biotechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/gsk-rd-stevenage-uk_22720103947_o-1-scaled.jpg17072560Richard Staines/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBM_quer_Logo_2022_400px_wihte.pngRichard Staines2026-07-29 09:32:302026-07-29 09:32:30GSK announces plan to axe UK Stevenage R&D hub, moving to Cambridge
Berlin-based Pentixapharm Holding AG has raised about €20.4 million to fund a pivotal Phase 3 trial of its PET diagnostic PentixaFor and advance its CXCR4-targeted theranostics pipeline.
Italian pharmaceutical group Chiesi has returned all development and commercial rights to seralutinib to Gossamer Bio, ending a pulmonary arterial hypertension partnership originally valued at up to $486 million.
https://european-biotechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/christian-agbede-hZ_Lq4dKCAE-unsplash-scaled.jpg17072560Joachim Eeckhout/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBM_quer_Logo_2022_400px_wihte.pngJoachim Eeckhout2026-07-28 10:08:582026-07-28 10:08:58Chiesi retreats from Gossamer PAH programme after Phase 3 miss
Sobi’s dealmaker CEO exits for BioNTech
Latest NewsGuido Oelkers will leave Swedish Orphan Biovitrum to become BioNTech’s CEO by Feb. 1, 2027, succeeding co-founder Uğur Şahin after overseeing a nine-year transformation that increased Sobi’s revenue more than fivefold.
AstraZeneca explores $400B combination with BMS
Latest NewsAstraZeneca has held talks with Bristol Myers Squibb over a potential combination that would create a pharmaceutical group worth nearly $400 billion (€348 billion), the Financial Times reported.
ZEUS failure clouds future of Novo’s cardiovascular plans
Latest NewsNovo Nordisk’s ziltivekimab failed to reduce cardiovascular events in a Phase 3 trial, dealing a blow to a drug once forecast to generate about $3 billion in peak annual sales.
Pharmanovia licenses China-approved PARP drug for up to €423.5M
Latest NewsUK specialty pharma Pharmanovia has licensed senaparib, IMPACT Therapeutics’ oral PARP1/2 inhibitor, across 66 countries in a deal worth up to €423.5 million.
Relation deepens GSK alliance with $110M deal
Latest NewsLondon-based Relation Therapeutics has expanded its research collaboration with GSK in an agreement worth up to $110 million (€97 million), as the AI biotech launches a foundation model designed to predict how human cells respond to experimental treatments.
Sanofi axes two more inflammatory-disease drugs
Latest NewsSanofi has discontinued development of itepekimab and balinatunfib after disappointing clinical results, ending ongoing programmes across respiratory and inflammatory diseases.
CHMP backs first CETP inhibitor after two decades of failure
Latest NewsOn July 23, Europe’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended the CETP inhibitor obicetrapib for approval after a string of big-name Phase 3 failures over the past two decades. The European Commission’s final approval is expected in the second half of the year.
GSK announces plan to axe UK Stevenage R&D hub, moving to Cambridge
Latest NewsGSK has announced plans to shut its UK R&D headquarters in Stevenage, UK, moving operations north to a new site in Cambridge, while also announcing a company-wide programme to reduce annual costs by £1.9 billion (€2.2 billion).
Pentixapharm raises €20.4M for Phase 3 diagnostic trial
Latest NewsBerlin-based Pentixapharm Holding AG has raised about €20.4 million to fund a pivotal Phase 3 trial of its PET diagnostic PentixaFor and advance its CXCR4-targeted theranostics pipeline.
Chiesi retreats from Gossamer PAH programme after Phase 3 miss
Latest NewsItalian pharmaceutical group Chiesi has returned all development and commercial rights to seralutinib to Gossamer Bio, ending a pulmonary arterial hypertension partnership originally valued at up to $486 million.