After more than a decade of failed drug development efforts, osteoarthritis remains one of biopharma’s most stubborn challenges. Despite affecting more than 600 million people worldwide, no therapy approved in Europe or the United States has yet been shown to slow or modify disease progression. Against that backdrop, 4Moving Biotech (4MB) is betting that a familiar drug class, GLP-1 receptor agonists, can succeed where others have fallen short.
With an initial investment of around €480 million, Ravensburg-based Vetter Pharma has now fleshed out its plans to expand operations in Saarlouis, Saarland. The former automotive site is to be redeveloped by 2031 and is expected to employ up to 2,000 people in contract development and manufacturing.
FDA approves Novo Nordisk’s first oral GLP-1 pill Wegovy for obesity, offering an injection-free option and improving long-term treatment adherence.
Danish Novo Nordisk A/S has made an unexpected takeover bid for US biotech Metsera, Inc. This challenges the already agreed acquisition by Pfizer Inc. Novo offers US$6.5bn in cash, plus up to US$2.5bn in milestone payments. The total potential value is around US$9bn. Pfizer previously offered US$4.9bn plus US$2.4bn in milestones.
The FDA has approved Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster drug Ozempic (semaglutide) for patients with chronic kidney disease who also have type 2 diabetes.
Verdiva Bio, a London-based biotech, has raised an extraordinary US$410m in its oversubscribed Series A round, making it potentially the largest Series A ever raised by a U.K.-based biotech company, according to CEO Khurem Farooq.
Vetter Pharma
IQVIA
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