Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
New Jersey invests in medtech and maternal health startups
- NJB Magazine reports that the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology awarded over $12.5 million to 18 early-stage companies focused on medical technology and maternal health innovation.
- The initiative aims to strengthen New Jersey’s life sciences ecosystem by supporting startups developing solutions for critical health care challenges and driving economic growth.
New drug approvals lag behind prior years, driven by organizational challenges
- Per Fierce Pharma, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 55 new drugs in 2025, lower than the totals from the past two years.
- The agency faced operational struggles, including staffing shortages and resource constraints, which likely created delays and highlighted the complexity of modern drug reviews.
FDA’s key approval decisions to watch in 2026
- The FDA is expected to rule on several high-profile therapies in 2026, including treatments for Alzheimer’s, obesity and rare genetic disorders, which could significantly impact the pharmaceutical market, reports BioPharma Dive.
- The article highlights that these decisions will test the agency’s ability to manage complex reviews amid ongoing resource challenges, while shaping competitive dynamics for major drugmakers.
Asia’s growing role in biopharma innovation
- McKinsey reports that Asia is becoming a critical hub for biopharma, driven by rapid growth in research and development capabilities, manufacturing infrastructure and regulatory harmonization across key markets like China, India and South Korea.
- The region’s expanding talent pool and government incentives are positioning Asia as an epicenter for global drug development, with significant implications for supply chains and competitive dynamics worldwide.
Amgen expands blood cancer pipeline
- Amgen has agreed to acquire Dark Blue Therapeutics, a UK based biotech, for up to $840 million, to gain a preclinical blood cancer program focused on protein degradation, according to Fierce Biotech.
- The deal adds an experimental therapy aimed at treating hard-to-address blood cancers, with the research team joining the buyer’s oncology R&D efforts.
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
