If this fall is like the last two, it'll bring a new wave of COVID cases. To prepare for that—and tamp it down as much as possible—an FDA advisory panel resoundingly recommended that the agency require future boosters to include some component of the omicron variant. But the expert advisors were wrestling with some patchy data, so it remains to be seen just what the FDA will decide about the next round of shots. We'll discuss how the committee came to its decision and what the future holds.
But that's not all. Two reports—one from the analysts at Moody’s and the other from consulting firm PwC—discuss the outlook for biopharma dealmaking. Both reports point to an uptick in M&A activity in the short- and long-term. We'll discuss why the time is right and which companies have the need, and the financial flexibility, to make some moves.
Plus, a few of this week's headlines, featuring Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Lundbeck, Otsuka and Clover Biopharmaceuticals.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:
- 'Science at its hardest': FDA panel recommends incorporating omicron variant into future COVID boosters
- Pfizer joins the omicron data party, linking adapted vaccine to increased immune response ahead of FDA meeting
- M&A is down, but Big Pharma likely to line up 'multiple shots on goal' in 2nd half, PwC says
- BMS, Pfizer and Merck face steep patent cliffs but all have the financial flexibility for M&A: Moody's
- Lundbeck, Otsuka to seek new FDA approval for Rexulti after it reduced agitation in Alzheimer's patents
- Clover's COVID booster bolsters antibody levels against omicron
- 'Leaner and simpler': Novartis details plans to cut 8,000 jobs worldwide
- After phase 2 flop, Novo Nordisk says its NASH work is 'still very much on track'
The Top Line is produced by senior multimedia producer Teresa Carey with editor-in-chief Tracy Staton, managing editor Querida Anderson and senior editors Annalee Armstrong, Ben Adams, Conor Hale and Eric Sagonowsky. The sound engineer is Caleb Hodgson. The stories are by all our “Fierce” journalists. Like and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.