Researchers at Griffith University’s are on the cusp of a significant breakthrough in the development of a vaccine for the chikungunya virus.

India has unveiled Biopharma SHAKTI, a strategic roadmap backed by a $1.1bn financial investment over five years.

In this news roundup, take a look back at top moments from the pharmaceutical industry in January 2026.

The UK and Japanese governments have announced a sweeping pharmaceutical and technology partnership.

The programme will focus on pancreatic, ovarian and oesophageal cancers – three indications that often spread silently.

With two new Nipah virus cases confirmed, the pressure is mounting on the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture a vaccine.

Pascal Soriot, CEO, AZ, hailed the investment as the start of “an exciting next chapter” for the company in China.

The Office of Inspector General’s bulletin provides a framework for pharma companies selling prescription drugs direct-to-consumers (DTC).

The CMS has unveiled the 15 high-cost medications selected for the next phase of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program.

A new study shows how limitations in electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) are driving pharma R&D teams to use AI tools, raising privacy concerns.

A growing number of Gen Z are turning to AI chatbots for sexual health advice, including the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections.

This first-of-its-kind global consortium aims to accelerate the discovery of treatments for the world’s most resistant pathogens.

Currently in phase 2 trials, BB-031 is the first new mechanistic approach to ischemic stroke treatment in nearly 30 years.

A review has provided evidence debunking claims that acetaminophen (paracetamol) use during pregnancy increases the risk of ASDand ADHD.

The FDA has directed pharma companies of influenza vaccines to update their product labelling to include the risk of fever-induced seizures.

The 9% growth in 2025 could signal that the country is on track to become a more attractive destination for pharamceutical R&D.

In this monthly news roundup, we take a look back at top moments from the pharmaceutical industry. It’s time to reflect on December 2025.

Eli Lilly and NVIDIA have unveiled a first-of-its-kind AI co-innovation lab, aiming to solving the most complex bottlenecks in pharma.

The pharmaceutical industry is calling on the FDA to modernise how it tracks the long-term safety and efficacy of cell and gene therapies.

J&J successfully acquired Halda Therapeutics for $3.05bn integrating Halda’s RIPTAC platform into J&J’s oncology portfolio.

GSK announced in January that its novel chronic hepatitis B successfully met primary goals in two pivotal phase 3 trials.

CDC has formally reduced its routine childhood vaccine recommendations from 17 to 11, marking a major shift in US healthcare, read more.

President Donald Trump has unveiled a new set of sweeping pricing deals with nine large drugmakers, according to a White House press release.

GSK has struck the collaboration to accelerate development of RNA-based therapies for neurodegenerative and renal disorders.

His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the organisation, as NICE prepares to help deliver the 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS.

Industry leaders cautiously welcome the step but warn that more reform is needed if the UK is to regain its competitive edge.

Last week, the UK and US signed a zero tariff pharmaceuticals deal, but what will the deal deliver in the long term, and is all as it seems?

In this monthly news roundup, we take a look back at top moments from the pharmaceutical industry. It’s time to reflect on November 2025.

According to the body, patient participation in industry-sponsored trials has fallen by 25% between 2022/23 and 2024/25.

Crucially, 41% of these candidates target pathogens for which no vaccines or prophylactic monoclonal antibodies are currently registered.

A wearable device that can alert patients and caregivers minutes before a seizure occurs is set to launch across Europe.

The two companies have launched a collaborative research initiative to investigate anhedonia in depression, hoping to solve huge unmet needs.

Scotland has announced a major new plan to grow its life sciences sector, aiming to boost economic growth and healthcare innovation.

Novartis is the latest pharma company to announce a new plant in the US, selecting North Carolina’s ‘Research Triangle’ district as its home.

AbbVie has released ‘Second Winds’, which captures the lived experience of three people diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The Internationalisation Award of the President of the Republic of Finland was given to Orion after a year of global expansion.

New study reveals Epstein-Barr virus’s key role in lupus. Find out what this means for vaccine research and development.

Produced by the ABC Global Alliance and VML Health, the study highlights scientific progress, yet gaps in treatment options and outcomes.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have made deals with President Trump to make their obesity medicines cheaper and easier to obtain in the US.

Frontier Scientific launches EU–US air corridor for life sciences, ensuring faster, safer delivery of temperature-sensitive medicines.

FDA will undertake steps to accelerate the process of developing biosimilars, while also reducing development costs. 

Read this month’s pharma news roundup, featuring brain-computer interfaces, a new world record and a cost-effectiveness conundrum.

The UK government has extended the deadline for organisations to submit notice to leave the scheme by two weeks.

Novartis to acquire Avidity Biosciences for $12bn, boosting its RNA neuromuscular pipeline as pharma M&A heats up in the RNA space.

Google’s Quantum Echoes breakthrough could revolutionise drug discovery, offering faster, more precise ways to design new medicines.

CSL Seqirus real-world study finds cell-based flu vaccines offer stronger protection than egg-based options in 2023/24 season.

Lundbeck is partnering with Contera Pharma to accelerate RNA-targeted drug discovery for serious neurological conditions.

Injectable HIV PrEP marks a breakthrough in prevention, providing a new option for patients in England unable to take daily pills.

Roche has set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest DNA sequencing of a human genome, marking a major milestone in genomic innovation. 

AstraZeneca joins Trump’s drug pricing plan, pledging $50bn US investment and discounts of up to 80% to cut prescription medicine costs.

The UK’s NIHR has invested £1.5M in digital health to cut paediatric mental health waiting times.

A new biotech company in New York, Nilo Therapeutics, believes the brain could hold the key to treating immune diseases.

ABPI calls for NICE to raise its cost effectiveness threshold for new medicine, which hasn’t raised in 20 years and is not linked to inflation.

New research from Precision Neuroscience shows its brain-computer interface can record high-resolution signals without invasive surgery.

UK pharma and healthcare stocks drive FTSE 100 to a record high, led by AstraZeneca, as trade policy shifts boost investor confidence.

Read this month’s pharma news roundup, featuring AI in healthcare risks, GLP-1 drug trials beyond obesity and Trump’s US tariffs.

England’s NHS is launching NHS Online, a fully digital hospital, to speed up specialist appointments, cut wait times and improve care access.

Donald Trump has threatened sweeping new trade measures on the pharma sector unless manufacturers commit to producing in the US.

Sanofi has committed $625m to its corporate venture capital arm, Sanofi Ventures, for funding biotech and digital health companies.

Pfizer is claiming a space in the global obesity market as it announces plans to acquire weight loss drug developer Metsera for $4.9bn.

Roche acquires 89bio in a $3.5bn deal, adding a late-stage MASH therapy and expanding its focus on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Patients are increasingly turning to ChatGPT for medical advice, but new research warns it isn’t yet accurate enough to be relied on alone.

Phesi analysis shows GLP-1 therapies moving beyond diabetes and obesity into 100+ diseases, from cancer to cardiovascular conditions.

The latest ABPI and PwC Pharmaceutical Competitiveness Framework reveals the UK is losing ground in pharma R&D, investment, and clinical trials, with rankings slipping sharply since 2018.

Novo Nordisk announces 9,000 job cuts to streamline operations and reinvest in diabetes and obesity growth, aiming for long-term efficiency.

Lilly has launched TuneLab, giving biotech companies access to AI-powered drug discovery models based on over £1bn in research investment.

MSD has agreed to acquire UK biopharma company Verona Pharma in a $10bn deal, strengthening its cardio-pulmonary care portfolio.

A group of 300 middle schoolers are named in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge for STEM projects in AI to climate change.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funding Newcastle Univeristy’s work in emerging diagnostics, devices and more.

A £29.6 million government investment will establish the UK RNA Biofoundry in Darlington, providing manufacturing capacity to accelerate RNA therapies from lab to clinic.

Novo Nordisk partners with Replicate Bioscience in a $550M srRNA deal to develop new therapies for obesity, diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases.

From the latest in clinical evidence to new investments, there’s plenty to uncover.

AbbVie has announced the acquisition of Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals’ lead investigational drug – a next-generation psychedelic compound for moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder.

NICE unveils new type 2 diabetes guidance, promoting earlier access to advanced therapies such as SGLT-2 inhibitors and more.

Novartis is partnering with Atropos Health to develop AI models that accelerate rare disease diagnosis, starting with a rare blood disorder.

HonorHealth appoints Dr Nicholas Schork to lead AI-driven disease interception research, reflecting an industry shift towards prevention.

AstraZeneca and Viseven win the 2025 HBA ACE Awards for innovative workforce and community programmes shaping the future of healthcare.

AbbVie to invest $195m in manufacturing expansion as pharma rushes to boost domestic capacity ahead of expected drug import tariffs.

Bayer announces deal with Kumquat for a pancreatic cancer KRAS inhibitor, plus, promising mRNA vaccine research emerges from Phase 1 trial.

Ireland could become a global leader in FemTech innovation, but only if it acts now, claims a new report by Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

A patient case study has uncovered a potential link between beta-HPV and the common skin cancer, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

NHS launches the first gonorrhoea vaccine programme in England to reduce infections and tackle the rise of antibiotic resistance.

Two major health agencies are facing leadership reshuffles, with the resignations of the FDA’s Vinay Prasad and NICE’s Dr Sam Roberts. 

From concerning statistics on global health outcomes to new insights on AI and RWD, there’s plenty to discover.

Explore the evolving role of MDMA, LSD and psilocybin in traditional medical research, particularly in the realm of mental health.

Bristol Myers Squibb announces the appointment of Dr Cristian Massacesi as Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development.

Laura McMullin, General Manager, Daiichi Sankyo UK, has been appointed the new Vice President of the ABPI.

WHO and UNICEF report finds that global childhood vaccination coverage held steady in 2024, but that worrying gaps remain.

A new survey has found that the use of AI and real-world data (RWD) is on the rise across the biopharma industry, but hurdles remain.

While genomics is best known for its role advancing precision medicine, MGI Tech has pioneered a new use case in enviromental sustainability.

UNAIDS report warns the US funding collapse could risk millions of new infections and deaths unless countries transform their HIV responses.

Sanofi is sponsoring the event for the second year in a row, which brings together 1,000 transplant recipients and live donors to compete.

A report has found that while many in the UK live with rare diseases, systemic failures continue to restrict progress in treatment.

Explore the latest technology that is changing the pharma industry, and discover how these innovations could solve key health challenges.

From new industry M&As to insights on how to recruit Gen Z talent, there’s plenty to discover in our latest pharma news round up.

Rising one place to number one overall, the British drugmaker has overtaken the NHS as the preferred destination for these graduates.

Stefan Oelrich has been newly elected President of the EFPIA, as new leadership calls for action to restore Europe’s global leadership in pharma innovation.

The body is eliminating of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies for all currently approved BCMA- and CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapies.

Ascroft brings more than 30 years of industry experience, including senior roles at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

The US plans to stop its financial contributions to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, marking an end to an over 20-year partnership.

The survey found that, while 57% of patients support the use of AI in the examination room, they are less enthusiastic about diagnostics.

The FDA has launched an immediate review of clinical trials involving the export of American patients’ living cells to China and other “hostile countries”.

A UK project has received a £1.8m to transform how medicines are made, aiming to make drug manufacturing faster, cleaner and more responsive.

The UK government has set out a 10 Year Health Plan, promising to transform clinical trials and make the UK a scientific superpower.