The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to June 23, 2023

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

M&A news last week saw US pharma major Eli Lilly announce its plan to acquire immunology company DICE Therapeutics for $2.4 billion. On the regulatory front, US biotech Arcellx suffered a setback, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put a hold on a clinical trial of its multiple myeloma candidate CART-ddBCMA. On a positive note, the FDA approved Belgo-Dutch firm argenx’ Vyvgart Hytrulo, the first subcutaneous injectable for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Also, the US medicines regulator granted accelerated approval for Sarepta Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) drug Elevidys, but in a narrower patient population than had been hoped.

DICE acquisition positive for immunology pipeline