ADVERTISEMENT
Log in here to read the desired article.
ADVERTISEMENT
This author has not written his bio yet.
But we are proud to say that Georg Kääb contributed 94 entries already.
Years of uncertainty surrounding the numerous pending lawsuits against Bayer’s Monsanto unit could now be brought to an end through a costly but capped court settlement. Under the proposed agreement, Bayer would pay up to roughly 7 billion US dollars over around 20 years to resolve claims for damages.
A late-week surprise from Munich-based Immunic, Inc. (listed on Nasdaq as IMUX): the company has launched a follow-on private placement of up to US$400 million and expects to close the financing later this month. At the same time, the biotech is pressing ahead with its transformation in preparation for the potential commercialisation of its lead asset. Current CEO Daniel Vitt will step back once a successor with proven market-launch expertise has been appointed.
A surprise move from Darmstadt to Paris: outgoing Merck CEO Belén Garijo is set to take the helm at French pharmaceutical group Sanofi after Paul Hudson unexpectedly failed to secure a contract extension from the board.
Zurich-based oncology biotech Araris Biotech AG has entered into a research collaboration with an option to license with Japan’s Chugai Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Roche. The aim of the partnership is to develop next-generation antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). While Araris itself is now Japanese-owned – a wholly owned subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical, part of the Otsuka Group – its research activities remain firmly rooted in Zurich. That presence was highlighted last year when the Strüngmann brothers, German billionaire twins, awarded a prize to the company’s founders.
The Australian–Swiss plasma specialist CSL is relying on technology from Switzerland for recombinant polyclonal immunoglobulins (IgG). With Memo Therapeutics, the company has entered into a collaboration and option agreement with a total potential value of up to CHF 265 million. This is good news for Memo, while CSL, following substantial job cuts including in Marburg, could also use some different headlines for a change.
Bayer can report a success in stroke treatment, even though an earlier study with the same compound had been discontinued due to limited benefit. The approach of inhibiting factor XIa represents a first-in-class example from Leverkusen. Whether the data will be sufficient for regulatory approval remains to be seen.
Novartis increased its annual profit in 2025 to USD 17.4 billion and raised its dividend. Towards the end of the year, however, growth weakened markedly, weighed down by copycat products. The group has therefore issued a cautious outlook for 2026. The CEO’s high, bonus-driven remuneration has sparked debate.
Pentixapharm Holding AG published new clinical Phase II data on its radiodiagnostic agent [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor in early February. As the Berlin-based company reported, the results published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine confirm the potential of Pentixafor PET/CT as a non-invasive alternative to adrenal venous sampling (AVS) for the subtyping of primary aldosteronism.
The Göttingen-based life science group Sartorius AG closed the 2025 financial year, based on preliminary figures, with a marked increase in revenue and earnings. Group sales grew by 7.6% at constant exchange rates to around EUR 3.54 billion, while the operating EBITDA margin rose by 1.7 percentage points to 29.7%.
CDMOs are currently setting the agenda across the industry. Alongside peers such as Vetter, Lonza has now delivered a clear statement of intent: strong results, sharper focus and an even more determined commitment to its core business. But the stronger investment strategy internationally frightens Switzerland – at least some analysts.