CHMP rejects Sarepta’s Elevidys, changes mind on Lilly’s Kisunla
After a tough few weeks for Sarepta Therapeutics Inc., the EMA dealt another blow on July 25, announcing it will not be approving the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec). Re-examination of the file led to a happier outcome for another drug that has attracted considerable controversy, Eli Lilly and Co. Inc.’s Kisunla (donanemab) for treating the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

CHMP rejects Sarepta’s Elevidys, changes mind on Lilly’s Kisunla
After a tough few weeks for Sarepta Therapeutics Inc., the EMA dealt another blow on July 25, announcing it will not be approving the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec). Re-examination of the file led to a happier outcome for another drug that has attracted considerable controversy, Eli Lilly and Co. Inc.’s Kisunla (donanemab) for treating the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Memo's potravitug reduces BK viral load in kidney transplant
Memo Therapeutics AG is laying plans to advance its BK polyomavirus neutralizing monoclonal antibody potravitug into phase III development after reporting positive phase II results in treating infections in immunocompromised kidney transplant patients.
Brandon Capital closes sixth life sciences fund at AU$439M
Brandon Capital Partners Pty Ltd., Australia’s largest life sciences venture capital firm, announced the final close of its sixth fund at AU$439 million (US$288 million), the VC’s largest fund to date.
Today's news in brief
BioWorld briefs for July 25, 2025.
Device, drug makers weigh in on Janssen’s FCA case
Janssen Pharmaceutical’s loss in a False Claims Act (FCA) case for the company’s HIV treatments resulted in judgments of roughly $1.6 billion – an outcome the company appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Two cancer drugs combined modify Alzheimer’s disease in mice
Current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease have limited effects. While they can slow cognitive decline or alleviate symptoms, they do not reverse this complex neurodegenerative condition caused by multiple factors. Researchers from the Gladstone Institutes and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have screened FDA-approved drugs in search of agents that could potentially modify the disease.
Biopharma busy with numerous clinical successes last month
In June 2025, BioWorld tracked 254 clinical trial updates across phases I to III, up from 223 in May, 151 in April and 197 in March. Of the June updates, 24 trials reported positive phase III results, while only one was reported as a failure.

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Analysis and data insight

South Korea hits record $23B pharma production; 2024 exports up 28%
Biosimilar
South Korea’s pharmaceutical manufacturing reached an all-time high of ₩32.86 trillion (US$23 billion) in 2024, representing a 7.3% increase from 2023 and the highest on record since the country began count in 1998.
Rett bet set includes Neurogene, Taysha gene therapies
Clinical
Neurogene Inc.’s disclosure June 30 of its registrational trial design in Rett syndrome (RS) added spice to the space, where Taysha Gene Therapies Inc. is another closely watched player. The New York-based firm said Embolden will test NGN-401, a gene therapy for the treatment of females age 3 and...
For big pharma, China is a shopper’s dream
Deals and M&A
Big pharma is increasingly shopping in China to fill its pipelines as it faces looming patent cliffs on major blockbusters coupled with growing pricing pressures on drugs. China’s out-licensing deals grew to represent 32% of global deals in the first half of 2025, according to a Jefferies report...
June FDA approvals jump, led by three new NMEs
Regulatory
The U.S. FDA approved 22 drugs in June, tying with March for the highest number of approvals and a jump from 15 approvals in May. The FDA approved 107 drugs in the first half (H1) of 2025, making it the third-highest total for this period in BioWorld’s records, trailing 118 approvals in 2024 and...

Financings

Amplia raising AU$27.5M to advance FAK inhibitor narmafotinib
Cancer
Amplia Therapeutics Ltd. is raising AU$27.5 million (US$18.12 million) to advance lead compound narmafotinib (AMP-945), a focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor, into new indications beyond pancreatic cancer.

Science

A fresh look at 1000 Genomes is more detailed, and more panoramic
Genomics
The human genome has yielded another round of secrets with the publication of two back-to-back papers in Nature on July 23, 2025. Both studies re-sequenced probands from the open-access 1000 Genomes Project, which was one of the first projects to sequence individuals from diverse populations. While...

Coinfections and diversity paint the many shades of HIV cure
Conferences
We all look different to HIV, a virus that destroys the immune system. The defensive cells record every interaction with foreign agents, infections from viruses and bacteria, but also with mechanisms occurring within the body, such as microbiome metabolism, the effects of aging, or the development...
IAS 2025: Cheat, parasitize, break the virus – fresh ideas fuel HIV research
Conferences
There is still no effective vaccine or cure for HIV. Scientists are considering options ranging from longer-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) that space out injections by several years to long-lasting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that acts as a vaccine while immunization is achieved. What else...

Newco news

In ongoing mRNA evolution, SML Biopharm sights new cancer vaccines
Clinical
SML Biopharm Co. Ltd. is harnessing mRNA technology to develop novel immunotherapy-based cancer vaccines, including two candidates for cervical and head and neck cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Renasant launches with $54.5M to develop drugs for a genetic kidney disease
Financings
Launched out of 5AM Ventures’ 4:59 Initiative, Renasant Bio Inc. has secured $54.5 million in seed funding to support development of treatments for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a genetic disease caused by mutations in the PKD1 and PKD2 genes, which encode polycystin...
Circode applies circRNA to heart disease drug R&D, in vivo CAR T
Cancer
Shanghai Circode Biomed Co. Ltd. is set to begin clinical trials of HM-2002, a circular RNA (circRNA)-based drug for ischemic heart disease, having gained IND clearance in China Jan. 10 and the U.S. on May 30, Circode CEO Chenxiang Tang recently told BioWorld.
Actithera raises $75M series A for FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals
Financings
Actithera A/S is poised to bring small-molecule pharmacokinetics to radiopharmaceuticals after closing a $75.5 million series A that will fund initial clinical development of a candidate targeting the elusive fibroblast activation protein (FAP).
Abvance Therapeutics secures seed funding to limit glucose lows
Financings
Abvance Therapeutics Inc. secured an undisclosed amount of capital in a seed round led by Zubi Capital to support development of an insulin and glucagon combination product that the company has been in the process of developing for approximately 18 months.

U.S.

Abivax’s obefazimod wows investors; stock climbs 500%+
Clinical
Abivax SA is positioning to change the treatment landscape in ulcerative colitis after delivering positive results and a favorable safety profile in two phase III trials of its orally available miRNA-124 enhancer, obefazimod. Abivax stock rocketed in Europe and the U.S. on news of the data. Shares...

Europe

Life sciences strategy to reduce UK approval costs by 25%
Regulatory
The U.K. government has committed to reduce the cost of drug and device approvals by 25% as part of a long-awaited life sciences strategy which sets out a 10-year plan for the sector.

Rx tariffs a few weeks away?
Regulatory
“Pharmaceuticals will be tariffed, probably at the end of the month,” U.S. President Donald Trump said, as he provided a few more details about his proposed global biopharma sector tariff. “We’re going to start off with a low tariff and give the pharmaceutical companies a year or so to build. And...
NIH capping science journal fees for open access published research
Regulatory
The National Institutes of Health has opened another front in its cost cutting drive, saying it will cap the fees science journals charge for publishing papers authored by researchers it funds.

Clinical

Phase III MG settee: Astrazeneca perched pretty with gefurulimab
Immune
Astrazeneca plc seems on the way to expanding its presence in myasthenia gravis (MG) with positive “high-level” results from a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial with once-weekly, self-administered gefurulimab in...
Livzon’s IL-17A/F meets phase III endpoints in plaque psoriasis
Immune
Livzon Mabpharm Inc.’s anti-IL-17A/F monoclonal antibody, LZM-012, met the primary endpoint in a phase III trial in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Conducted at Fudan University’s Huashan Hospital, the phase III multicenter, randomized,...
Still no scare for Ohtuvayre: Roche IL-33 COPD data mixed
Respiratory
The fate of IL-33-targeting astegolimab will be determined by talks with regulators, after Roche AG’s Genentech unit rolled out mixed results from a pair of studies testing the compound vs. placebo on top of standard-of-care (SOC) maintenance...
Australia awards AU$100M in grants to biopharma/med-tech incubators
Regulatory
The Australian government has awarded nearly AU$100 million (US$64.65 million) in grant funding to three biopharma/med-tech incubators to support emerging Australian biopharma and med-tech startups.
Imugene’s allogeneic CD19 CAR T sees 75% response rate
Cancer
Immuno-oncology company Imugene Ltd.’s allogeneic, off-the-shelf CD19 CAR T, azercabtagene zapreleucel (azer-cel), has resulted in seven complete responses and three partial responses in a phase Ib trial in relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma...
Hengrui/Kailera obesity asset delivers solid weight loss in phase III
Endocrine/metabolic
A glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor dual agonist developed by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and licensed by Kailera Therapeutics Inc. has shown a mean weight loss of 19.2% at the 6-mg dose...

podcast microphone, sound waves on purple background Breakthrough medicines, billion-dollar deals, spectacular clinical successes and crushing failures all play a part in biopharma’s dynamic story. Developers make scientific advancements with the potential to change everything, only to face regulatory conundrums and ever-fluctuating markets. BioWorld tracks key events in the fast-moving sector every business day. Now, the BioWorld Insider podcast lets you hear directly from the movers and shakers whose collective work is changing how we all live. Join us each week for a new conversation.

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