Pharmaceutical Industry Roundup: Major Collaborations, Investments, and FDA Approvals

Strategic Partnerships and Investments Reshape the Landscape

Iambic Therapeutics, an AI-driven biotechnology company, has announced a research collaboration and drug supply agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals. The partnership will focus on studying a combination of Jazz's HER2-targeted bispecific antibody Ziihera with Iambic's experimental brain-penetrating tyrosine kinase inhibitor IAM1363. This combination will be evaluated in HER2-positive breast cancer patients previously treated with Enhertu.

In a significant move, Merck & Co. has broken ground on a new $3 billion manufacturing facility in Elkton, Virginia. This 400,000-square-foot site, dubbed a "Center of Excellence," is part of Merck's larger $70 billion investment in domestic manufacturing and R&D expansion. The facility is expected to create over 500 full-time roles and 8,000 construction jobs, highlighting the company's commitment to bolstering its U.S. presence.

DRI Healthcare Trust has entered into a potentially $300 million deal with Viridian Therapeutics for royalty rights to two experimental thyroid eye disease drugs. The agreement includes an upfront payment of $55 million and up to $115 million in near-term clinical and regulatory milestone payments for veligrotug and VRDN-003, both currently in Phase 3 trials.

Lundbeck and Contera Pharma have forged a strategic research collaboration to accelerate the development of oligonucleotide-based medicines for neurological conditions. Contera will provide its RNA discovery platform, receiving an upfront payment and research funding, while Lundbeck retains options for later-stage development and global commercialization.

FDA Approvals and Clinical Advancements

The FDA has approved Roche's lymphoma drug Gazyva for the treatment of lupus nephritis, a kidney-related complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. This approval offers patients a new treatment option to be used alongside steroids and other immunosuppressants. The decision was based on a Phase 3 trial where Gazyva, when added to standard therapy, showed a 46% renal response rate compared to 33% in the placebo group.

Viridian Therapeutics is anticipating topline results for its thyroid eye disease drug VRDN-003 in the first half of 2026. If positive, the company aims to seek FDA approval by the end of that year, potentially bringing a new treatment option to market for this condition.