Welcome back to your monthly news roundup, where we take a look back at the top moments to hit the pharma headlines. It’s time to reflect on March 2026
Takeda’s big reset
With a new CEO preparing to take the reins at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a sweeping restructure was first on the agenda. In a letter sent to US employees on 25 March, the company revealed plans to cut more than 600 jobs, aiming to reduce roughly \$1.25bn in operational costs by 2028. Expected changes include streamlined management layers, greater AI-driven automation and a sharper focus on rare diseases, all intended to free up capacity for R&D investment. The timing could not be more salient. Incoming CEO Julie Kim steps in just as vedolizumab, the company’s flagship immunology product currently generating \$6bn a year, nears a key patent cliff. Seeking Alpha analysts warn Takeda’s pipeline successors are likely to deliver \$1-2bn in revenue at best, sharpening the need for replacement growth.
Pharma heads to orbit
Over on UK soil – or perhaps more accurately, in its airspace – life sciences leaders were not just thinking outside the box; they were thinking beyond the atmosphere. A March regulatory roadmap for drug manufacturing in space could pave the way for making medicines in orbit. It is not such a moonshot, however: Japanese firm JAXA has already shown that monoclonal antibodies grown in microgravity can form tighter structures, potentially improving efficacy. This works by preventing proteins from clumping or settling, allowing larger, more uniform crystals that enhance drug solubility and delivery. Still, questions remain over cost versus benefit, with only ultra-high-value biologics likely to justify the investment.
Cold chain, on notice
From intergalactic innovation to advances closer to home, Stablepharma’s thermostable vaccine could mark the end of the unpredictable cold chain era. In March, early trial results showed that the company’s tetanus and diphtheria vaccine, SPVX02, remained potent at 30°C for two years, hinting a potential turning point for a major supply chain challenge. According to the WHO, up to 50% of vaccines are lost before use because of cooling failures, while UNICEF estimates that around 20% of children still miss out on routine vaccines in hard-to-reach, conflict-affected settings. A shot that can withstand heat, delays and long transportation routes could simplify supply chains – and save lives.
Honourable mention of the month
Finally, last month, BioNTech co-founders Prof Ugur Sahin and Prof Özlem Türeci announced they would step down by the end of 2026 to launch a new mRNA spin-off, allowing the company to focus on its 15 phase 3 oncology trials. BioNTech will seed the startup with mRNA technology rights in exchange for a minority stake and royalties. The pair – who have led the company since its founding in 2008 – leave behind a legacy of delivering the world’s first mRNA vaccine with Pfizer in record time during the pandemic.
