Gilead Activates Its Pipeline: Option Exercises at Cartography Bio and Kymera Signal Accelerating Oncology Execution
oncodaily - In a pair of announcements that underscore Gilead Sciences’ intensifying commitment to oncology, two of its collaboration partners, Cartography Biosciences and Kymera Therapeutics, revealed today that Gilead has exercised exclusive […]
AI Summary: Gilead moved to accelerate its oncology strategy by exercising option agreements with smaller biotech partners, including Kymera and Cartography Bio. The moves signal targeted investment in protein degraders and other novel modalities, shoring up the company’s mid‑stage pipeline and hinting that big pharma still prefers buying options to inventing overnight.
Oricell Lands $110M to Take Cell Therapy to New Territory in Cancer
Frank Vinluan / medcitynews - There are no FDA-approved therapies for GPC3, a protein highly expressed by liver cancers. Oricell Therapeutics claims its cell therapy could be best in this class, but it faces competition from companies such as AstraZeneca and Eureka Therapeutics. The p…
AI Summary: Oricell, a China‑based CAR‑T developer, secured fresh financing to accelerate its cell‑therapy programs and support plans to go public. The fundraising will bankroll clinical expansion, manufacturing scale‑up, and regulatory preparations as the company pushes toward broader development and an IPO ambition, positioning it to compete in the crowded CAR‑T market.
FDA Approves Relacorilant with nab-Paclitaxel for Platinum-Resistant Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, Or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
esmo - Evidence for efficacy is based on the findings from the ROSELLA study
AI Summary: The FDA granted marketing authorization for relacorilant in combination with nab‑paclitaxel to treat platinum‑resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers. Regulators cited clinical benefit in a difficult‑to‑treat population, providing an additional therapeutic option for patients with limited choices and marking an important regulatory milestone.
James P. Allison, PhD, FAACR, Honored With the 2026 AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research
oncodaily - James P. Allison has been honored with the 2026 AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research, a distinction recognizing his extraordinary scientific achievements and enduring impact on modern oncology. […]
AI Summary: James P. Allison received the 2026 AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research for pioneering work in cancer immunotherapy. The award recognizes decades of transformative science that helped establish immune‑checkpoint blockade as a foundational cancer treatment, altering therapeutic strategies across multiple tumor types.
Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, FAACR, Honored With the 2026 AACR-Margaret Foti Award
oncodaily - The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has named Antoni Ribas as the recipient of the 2026 AACR-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research, recognizing a […]
AI Summary: Antoni Ribas was honored with the AACR‑Margaret Foti Award in recognition of leadership and major contributions to cancer research. The award spotlights Ribas’ influence on immunotherapy development and cancer science translation, celebrating a career that has shaped both scientific agendas and clinical practice.
Skin protein K16 found to control inflammation in stressed skin
medicalxpress - Keratin is the fibrous, waterproof protein that builds everything from our hair and nails to a rhino's horn. However, a tiny glitch in it can have problematic outcomes. A new study has found that changes in a keratin gene called KRT16 can lead to a rare c…
AI Summary: Researchers identified keratin 16 (K16) as a molecular brake on skin inflammation: loss of K16 ramps up interferon-driven immune signals, while its presence calms stressed keratinocytes. The discovery points to new targets for inflammatory skin disorders and suggests modulating K16 pathways could yield therapies that actually treat inflammation, not just slap on a cream.
Gilead continues dealmaking streak with $3.15B Tubulis buy for ADCs
Kyle LaHucik / endpoints - In its third acquisition of 2026, Gilead is spending $3.15 billion upfront to snag a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate platform from German startup Tubulis. The California biopharma could pay out another $1.85 billion down the road ...
AI Summary: Gilead Sciences struck a multibillion-dollar acquisition to add Tubulis and bolster its oncology pipeline, buying into antibody-drug conjugate technology. The deal signals Gilead’s strategic pivot to expand beyond infectious disease into cancer therapeutics, accelerating access to novel modalities and reshaping competitive dynamics in biopharma.
An international mega-analysis of psychedelic drug effects on brain circuit function
Manesh Girn / nature - Nature Medicine, Published online: 06 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04287-9Analysis of neuroimaging datasets across five major psychedelics revealed a shared brain signature and provides a comprehensive insight into how these drugs reorganize brain a…
AI Summary: An international neuroimaging mega‑analysis traced psychedelic drugs’ effects on cortical networks, revealing consistent changes in brain connectivity that correlate with altered perception and cognition. The pooled study provides a stronger, replicated picture of how these compounds act on neural circuits, informing both therapeutic prospects and safety discussions.
Neurocrine Biosciences Acquires Soleno Therapeutics for $2.9B to Expand Rare Disease Portfolio
oncodaily - Neurocrine Biosciences has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Soleno Therapeutics, marking a strategic expansion into rare disease treatments and strengthening its late-stage pipeline. The deal signals continued consolidation […]
AI Summary: Neurocrine Biosciences agreed to acquire Soleno Therapeutics for $2.9 billion, picking up Soleno’s Prader‑Willi treatment candidate and bolstering its rare‑disease portfolio. The purchase folds Soleno’s clinical assets and research teams into Neurocrine, positioning the buyer to commercialize a potential high‑value therapy while shoring up long‑term pipeline growth.
Anthropic acquires stealth AI startup Coefficient Bio in $400M deal: reports
fiercehealthcare - AI powerhouse Anthropic is continuing its push into the healthcare arena with the acquisition of previously stealth AI startup Coefficient Bio in a $400 million stock deal, according to reporting from The Information and Eric Newcomer.
AI Summary: Anthropic has acquired stealth biotech Coefficient Bio in a reported $400 million deal, signaling a major push by an AI developer into drug discovery. The acquisition folds computational prowess into wet‑lab capabilities, reshaping who might lead future therapeutic discovery and prompting competitors to wonder if they missed the memo.
Common metabolic enzyme could predict cancer immunotherapy benefits—and help more patients respond
medicalxpress - Immunotherapies have transformed cancer treatment by helping the immune system recognize and attack tumors. They work for only about 20% of patients, though, and doctors still struggle to predict who will benefit.
AI Summary: New research identifies a common metabolic enzyme as a potential biomarker predicting benefit from cancer immunotherapy, and investigators propose that controlling intracellular metabolite routing could enhance responses. Together, these findings suggest metabolic pathways are both useful predictors and actionable targets to convert non‑responders into responders.
- Metabolic signals predict and boost immunotherapy responses (5)
- Other related research and expert commentary (8)
- Scaling CAR‑T: access, effects, and biomarker collaborations (3)
- Unmasking tumors: epigenetic and immune reprogramming strategies (4)
- All Other Stories
Metabolic signals predict and boost immunotherapy responses
Other related research and expert commentary
Scaling CAR‑T: access, effects, and biomarker collaborations
Unmasking tumors: epigenetic and immune reprogramming strategies
All Other Stories
Rabi Hanna: First-in-Human CRISPR/Cas12a Therapy in Sickle Cell Disease
oncodaily - Rabi Hanna, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program Director, and Chairman at the Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and BMT at Cleveland Clinic, shared a post on LinkedIn: “I am excited […]
AI Summary: A first‑in‑human CRISPR/Cas12a therapy for sickle cell disease has treated initial patients, building on preclinical gene‑editing successes that reversed severe disease in models. The advance underscores rapid translation from lab to clinic and renews hope for durable cures—while reminding everyone that the safety and long‑term durability questions remain firmly on the table.
FDA identifies eight deaths tied to Amgen's Tavneos
Max Bayer / endpoints - The FDA on Tuesday flagged more than 70 cases of severe liver injury and eight deaths associated with Amgen’s autoimmune treatment Tavneos, but the company said it previously notified the agency about the risk of ...
AI Summary: The FDA has tied eight patient deaths to Amgen’s drug Tavneos, prompting heightened regulatory review and industry concern. Reports outline safety signals and agency actions as clinicians and manufacturers reassess risk‑benefit profiles, while regulators weigh labeling, monitoring or other interventions to protect patients.
Biogen to acquire Apellis for $5.6B
Elizabeth Cairns / endpoints - Biogen has made a $5.6 billion deal to acquire Apellis Pharmaceuticals, the companies announced Tuesday. The deal will allow Biogen to get hold of the kidney disease drug Empaveli and the eye disease therapy Syfovre ...
AI Summary: Biogen agreed to acquire Apellis Pharmaceuticals for $5.6 billion, a deal pitched as a strategic move to broaden Biogen’s pipeline and bolster its biopharma foothold. Analysts and company spokespeople framed the purchase as value‑accretive, even as skeptics question integration risks and the price tag in a cautious market.
White House floats 12.5% budget cut for HHS in FY2027, reiterates reorganization plan
fiercehealthcare - The requested budget cut is about half of what the administration asked, and was denied, last year. However, plans for reorganizing agencies under an Administration for a Healthy America persist, as do calls to eliminate various programs and centers the W…
AI Summary: The administration has floated a plan to cut HHS funding by roughly 12–12.5% in FY2027 while pursuing agency reorganization. The proposal targets discretionary programs including research funding, prompting scientific groups to urge Congress to reject the NIH reductions and warn of downstream impacts on biomedical research and patient care.
- Researchers, cancer groups warn NIH cuts will harm patients (6)
- White House pushes deep HHS cuts, agency reorganization (4)
- All Other Stories
Researchers, cancer groups warn NIH cuts will harm patients
White House pushes deep HHS cuts, agency reorganization
All Other Stories
Phase 3 ATOMIC trial Updates: Atezolizumab plus FOLFOX for Stage III dMMR Colon Cancer
oncodaily - Patients with stage III colon cancer are typically treated with surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with a fluoropyrimidine-plus-oxaliplatin regimen. However, approximately 30% of patients with stage III disease experience […]
AI Summary: Phase 3 ATOMIC updates show that adding atezolizumab to FOLFOX/mFOLFOX6 improves disease‑free survival in patients with Stage III dMMR colon cancer, with a substantial reduction in recurrence risk reported. The results suggest immunotherapy may become integral to adjuvant treatment for this biomarker‑defined subgroup.
- ATOMIC breakthrough: atezolizumab reduces recurrence in dMMR colon patients (3)
- From the wards: MSI-H immunotherapy expands beyond colon (3)
- On the frontline: colorectal biomarkers and therapy innovations (6)
- Other headlines: cancer research news outside ATOMIC focus (1)
- All Other Stories
ATOMIC breakthrough: atezolizumab reduces recurrence in dMMR colon patients
From the wards: MSI-H immunotherapy expands beyond colon
On the frontline: colorectal biomarkers and therapy innovations
Other headlines: cancer research news outside ATOMIC focus
All Other Stories
Eli Lilly’s Neuro Prospects Expand to Sleep Science With $6.3B Centessa Acquisition
Frank Vinluan / medcitynews - Centessa Pharmaceuticals’ cleminorexton is part of the orexin agonist drug class, which could introduce a new approach to the treatment of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. Acquiring Centessa brings Eli Lilly into a group of clinical-stage orexin agon…
AI Summary: Eli Lilly announced a $6.3 billion acquisition of Centessa to secure a promising narcolepsy/sleep-disorder candidate and expand its neuroscience portfolio. The deal fast-tracks Lilly into sleep science, buying late-stage assets rather than relying on in-house miracles — a tidy shortcut to diversifying its neurotherapeutics pipeline.
Eli Lilly Bets €2.4B on AI-Designed Drugs in New Insilico Medicine Deal
oncodaily - In a sweeping push to expand its pipeline and embrace artificial intelligence in drug discovery, Eli Lilly and Company has announced two major strategic moves: a multi-billion-dollar collaboration with Insilico […]
AI Summary: Eli Lilly struck a major partnership with Insilico Medicine to accelerate AI‑designed drug programs, providing a substantial upfront payment and committing to multiyear development milestones and potential payouts worth roughly in the billions. The deal expands Lilly’s AI drug discovery footprint and signals big pharma’s growing bet on algorithmic chemistry.
Kailera Plans IPO for Obesity Drug That Could Top Lilly’s Zepbound
Frank Vinluan / medcitynews - Kailera Therapeutics’ planned IPO will fund ongoing clinical development of a pipeline led by a drug that could rival Eli Lilly’s Zepbound in both efficacy and tolerability. Meanwhile, Renaissance Capital’s recap of first quarter 2026 IPOs shows slowing a…
AI Summary: Kailera announced plans for an initial public offering to fund late‑stage development of a Phase 3 obesity candidate licensed from Hengrui, positioning the program as a potential rival to Lilly’s Zepbound. The IPO aims to accelerate clinical work and commercial readiness as investors weigh market appetite for next‑generation weight‑loss therapies.
- Antimicrobial resistance risk found in South African wastewater (1)
- Financing rush: IPOs and venture cash fueling obesity drug race (4)
- New commercial models: subscriptions, telehealth, expanded patient access (4)
- Regulatory wins and science shaping next-generation weight-loss drugs (6)
- All Other Stories
Antimicrobial resistance risk found in South African wastewater
Financing rush: IPOs and venture cash fueling obesity drug race
New commercial models: subscriptions, telehealth, expanded patient access
Regulatory wins and science shaping next-generation weight-loss drugs
All Other Stories
NorthStar Trial Analysis at ELCC 2026: Local Consolidative Therapy in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC
oncodaily - The management of metastatic EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been transformed by the introduction of third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, particularly osimertinib. While systemic therapy achieves meaningful disease […]
AI Summary: ELCC 2026 brought together clinicians and investigators to present pivotal lung‑cancer studies, including localized consolidative therapy, SBRT sequencing with immunotherapy, and trials addressing under‑represented KRAS and EGFR populations. The conference highlighted survival and tumor‑control signals, networked international collaborators, and emphasized real‑world applicability — proving once again that conferences are where hope meets peer review.
- At ELCC: late‑breaking trials reshaping clinical practice (6)
- OTHER: misc lung oncology studies, regulatory and surgical updates (8)
- Precision push: molecular testing, KRAS degraders, ADC collaborations advancing care (6)
- Voices from ELCC: clinicians share breakthroughs and practical takeaways (17)
- All Other Stories