Bird Flu Vaccines, Autoimmune Cell Therapy, and Obesity Drugs: Pharma and Biotech Updates for 2025

Pharma and BioTech Daily

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma e Biotech world.Moderna has received nearly $600 million in funding from HHS for mRNA-based bird flu vaccines, with the goal of having these vaccines ready before potential human outbreaks. As 2025 begins, there is a predicted shift towards investments in immunology, inflammation, obesity, neuromuscular, kidney, and cardiovascular diseases. Sage is suing partner Biogen after an unsolicited takeover offer, and Astrazeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's ADC has won its first approval despite mixed data. Analysts and biotech executives also highlight a pivot towards cell therapy for autoimmune diseases and continued interest in next-generation obesity drugs.Analysts and biotech executives predict a focus on immunology, inflammation, obesity, neuromuscular, kidney, and cardiovascular diseases in 2025. Cell therapy is shifting towards autoimmune diseases. Key stories include setbacks for the Astrazeneca/Daiichi Sankyo antibody-drug conjugate, new treatments for celiac disease gaining traction, and advancements in reframing multiple myeloma from fatal to treatable. Novo Nordisk's high-dose Wegovy shows increased weight loss in a Phase III trial, AstraZeneca receives full FDA approval for a lymphoma treatment, and Pfizer is optimistic about an obesity pill. Johnson & Johnson makes a major neuro play with a $14.6 billion buyout.