Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
Small biopharma companies drive 2024 drug approvals
- Small companies led the way with 55 new drug and biologic approvals, reflecting a trend of biotechs resisting buyouts and opting to market their products independently, reports Fierce Pharma.
- Significant treatments were approved for a range of conditions, including metabolic disorders and chronic respiratory diseases.
Biopharma seeks M&A boost at J.P. Morgan conference
- As reported by BioSpace, industry sentiment is low as biopharma heads into the 2025 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, hoping for mergers and acquisitions to lift spirits.
- Last year had fewer big deals and multiple clinical failures, contributing to the pessimism in the sector.
FDA sets new standards for weight-loss therapies
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposes a minimum 5% weight-loss requirement for investigational obesity therapies to establish efficacy, reports BioSpace.
- New guidelines aim to regulate the increasingly crowded obesity treatment market and ensure safety and effectiveness in drug development.
FDA proposes new AI device guidelines
- The FDA issued draft guidance to address transparency and bias in artificial intelligence-enabled medical devices, reports MedTech Dive.
- Recommendations include that manufacturers have a post-market performance monitoring plan in place because the performance of AI-enabled devices can change or degrade over time.
Big pharma eyes China for deal opportunities amid uncertainty
- Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking to China for partnerships and deals, despite regulatory uncertainties, according to BioSpace.
- China’s evolving life sciences policies are making the region more attractive for biopharma investments, focusing on innovation and data transparency.
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
