Pharma and Biotech Daily: Novartis Acquires Kate Therapeutics for $1.1 Billion, Eli Lilly Partners with Chinese Biotech, and More

Pharma and BioTech Daily

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech Daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the Pharma and Biotech world.Novartis has recently acquired gene therapy specialist Kate Therapeutics for up to $1.1 billion, as part of its strategy to expand its new modality pipeline. This acquisition aligns with Novartis' goal to tap into the $55 billion cell and gene therapy market opportunity by 2030. CEO Vas Narasimhan has hinted at more deals up to $5 billion in the future.In other news, Eli Lilly has partnered with a Chinese biotech company to advance a muscle-sparing obesity treatment. Additionally, COVID-19 critic Marty Makary is reportedly a likely pick for Trump's FDA chief. SignalChem Biotech is offering kinase drug discovery solutions and support for researchers worldwide.Updates also include layoffs at J&J and Merck in China, FDA approvals for bispecific antibodies, and discussions on rare disease research funding. The biotech industry continues to evolve with new partnerships, acquisitions, and regulatory developments shaping the landscape.