Bristol Myers Squibb and Hengrui Pharma signed a massive deal worth up to $15.2 billion. Takeda aims to cut 4,500 jobs in fiscal year 2026. Daiichi Sankyo aims to be a global top-5 oncology player while expanding beyond antibody-drug conjugates. Plus more.
1. Bristol Myers Squibb inks $15B biobucks deal to bag Hengrui assets, tap China’s R&D speed
Bristol Myers Squibb and Hengrui Pharma have entered a broad collaboration potentially worth $15.2 billion. The deal covers four oncology/hematology assets from Hengrui, four immunology assets from BMS and five others to be jointly discovered and developed by both. BMS gains ex-China rights to the Hengrui programs, while Hengrui obtains Chinese rights to the BMS drugs.
2. Takeda, slimming down for 'new era,' plots 4,500 layoffs in latest restructuring drive
Takeda’s multiyear, 200-billion-yen ($1.26 billion) cost-savings plan by 2028 will lead to 4,500 job cuts during the 2026 fiscal year, the company revealed in its earnings report. The restructuring is also expected to cost Takeda about 170 billion yen and some 100 billion yen in gross savings for the year.
3. Daiichi Sankyo targets global top 5 oncology rank by 2035, $1.3B efficiency drive in new 5-year plan
Daiichi Sankyo takes $610M profit hit linked to ADC manufacturing overbuild
Daiichi Sankyo aims to become a top 5 oncology player worldwide by 2035. In its new five-year plan, the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) specialist envisions its revenues will reach more than 3 trillion yen ($19.1 billion) by 2030, up from 2.1 trillion yen in fiscal 2025. Besides next-generation ADC technologies, the company also has its eyes on multi-specific antibodies, target protein degraders and small interfering RNA as new platforms. Daiichi also aims to save 200 billion yen in cumulative costs over the five-year period, as it reworks its external and internal manufacturing capacity after an overbuild.
4. As Trump arrives in China, Big Pharma CEOs are notably absent
Pharma CEOs are notably missing from President Trump’s delegation to China, unlike recent state visits to the country by British and German leaders. During his two-day visit, Trump is focusing on trade “more than anything else,” he told reporters before leaving Washington. But the pharma industry’s relationship with China doesn’t seem to need that extra push.
5. Takeda 0 for 4 against nausea and vomiting after axing another asset
Takeda has scrapped its nausea and vomiting prospect, TAK-004, due to strategic considerations, even though a spokesperson said the company continues “to have interest” in the therapeutic area. The peptide agonist finished a phase 1 trial last year evaluating its safety and effect on heart rate and blood pressure in healthy adults.
6. Fosun pays $60M for option on AriBio’s phase 3 Alzheimer’s asset
Fosun Pharma paid $60 million for an option on AriBio’s phase 3 Alzheimer’s disease candidate, AR1001, a once-daily oral PDE5 inhibitor. Fosun may decide whether to exercise its option covering rights in the U.S., Europe, Japan and other global markets within 90 days after the phase 3 readout. Fosun already owns rights to the asset in China and certain South Asian countries through a previous deal.
Other News of Note:
7. Aptose, facing cash crunch, exits blood cancer pact after Hanmi buyout blocks development
8. Bora snaps up MacroGenics’ manufacturing, CDMO operations for up to $127.5M
9. Sun recalls US chemotherapy batch, citing glass particle contamination concerns
10. Dr. Reddy’s drops CAR-T, plans generic Ozempic launch in Canada (Reuters)