The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to July 28, 2023

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Last week’s deal-making news featured Swiss pharma giant Roche announcing a licensing agreement for Alnylam’s hypertension candidate zilebesiran that could earn the US biotech as much as $2.8billion. US biotech Biogen released second-quarter 2023 financial results along with a cost-saving plans and prospects for the new fully-approved Alzheimer’s disease drug Leqembi, developed and marketed with Japan’s Eisai. Eli Lilly released further encouraging Phase III data for its candidate tirzepatide in weight loss. The drug is already marketed under the trade name Mounjaro for diabetes. Also. On Friday, Biogen entered into an agreement to acquire Reata Pharma, and its newly-approved rare disease drug Skyclarys, for $7.3 billion.

A smart deal: strong economics and favorable operating model for Alnylam