Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
Medical device company to double size of London AI and robotic surgery hub
- The expansion will make the UK location the company’s largest global artificial intelligence and surgical robotics facility, according to Fierce Biotech.
- The move is part of a five-year investment cycle in the UK which aims to align with the goals of the National Health Service’s 10-year plan.
Biopharma deal structures are shifting
- According to Fierce Biotech, while the average potential earnout per deal has declined significantly—from $683 million during the COVID-19 era to $437 million recently—upfront payments have steadily increased since 2017, reaching a mean of $386 million in the most recent period.
- Milestone achievements, related to clinical, regulatory and more, remain elusive, noting only 22% of milestone events tied to biopharma deals were achieved by mid-2025, with nearly half of the deals collecting no earnout at all, leaving $27.4 billion in potential payments unclaimed.
UK launches £50M R&D fund
- In response to mounting criticism from biopharma companies over high drug rebate taxes and low pricing, the UK government introduced a £50 million life sciences transformational research and development investment fund to attract major R&D projects and improve its life sciences environment.
- While one major pharmaceutical company opened a new vaccine center in Oxfordshire and reaffirmed its £1 billion UK investment, other pharma giants have paused plans or threatened to exit the UK market due to unfavorable pricing policies, reports Endpoints News.
Concerns over biopharma talent pipeline with proposed H-1B visa crackdown
- The current administration announced a plan to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions aiming to curb perceived abuse of the system and prioritize higher-paid, higher-skilled workers.
- According to Endpoints News, critics argue this could hinder scientific innovation and limit access to global talent, especially in biopharma and tech. Some in the biopharma industry are concerned the new policy may deter foreign scientists and students, reduce job opportunities and strain already tight hiring budgets.
FDA issues new draft guidance to accelerate cell and gene therapy development
- The recommended guidance is focused on small patient populations to help patients with treatment options. The recommendations include innovative trial designs, expedited pathways for regenerative therapies and clearer expectations for manufacturing consistency.
- According to Endpoints News, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration highlighted the importance of long-term safety and effectiveness, monitoring for cell and gene therapies, and recommending the use of electronic health records, claims data and registries to meet post-approval study requirements.
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
