Pharmaceutical Industry Update: Major Acquisitions, Collaborations, and Advancements in Oncology and Cell Therapy

In a week marked by significant developments, the pharmaceutical industry has seen notable acquisitions, strategic collaborations, and advancements in oncology and cell therapy. From Takeda's renewed focus on oncology to Sun Pharma's acquisition of Checkpoint Therapeutics, companies are making bold moves to strengthen their positions in key therapeutic areas.

Oncology Takes Center Stage with Major Deals and Partnerships

Takeda Pharmaceutical is sharpening its oncology focus as part of a broader R&D restructuring effort. In an interview, oncology leaders Teresa Bitetti and P.K. Morrow, M.D., outlined the company's cancer drug strategy, emphasizing that while Takeda is still advancing an allogeneic gamma delta T-cell therapy in acute myeloid leukemia, it is unlikely to pursue additional cell therapy development deals in the near future. The company also remains open to partnering opportunities in China, despite geopolitical risks.

In a significant move, Sun Pharma has agreed to acquire Checkpoint Therapeutics for $355 million upfront, with potential additional payments bringing the total deal value to approximately $416 million. This acquisition bolsters Sun Pharma's oncology-dermatology franchise, adding Unloxcyt, a PD-L1 inhibitor recently approved by the FDA for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, to its portfolio.

Japan's Ono Pharmaceutical has entered into a substantial deal with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, paying $280 million upfront for the antisense oligonucleotide sapablursen. The drug, designed to reduce the production of the TMPRSS6 protein, is currently in a phase 2 trial for the rare blood condition polycythemia vera. The agreement includes up to $660 million in potential milestone payments.

Cell Therapy and AI Drive Innovation and Investment

Legend Biotech and Johnson & Johnson are investing $150 million to expand their cell therapy facility in Belgium, known as Tech Lane. The plant is set to begin clinical production of Carvykti in the coming weeks, with further expansion planned to increase manufacturing capacity. This move comes as Gilead Sciences and Arcellx's rival BCMA CAR-T therapy, anito-cel, is expected to enter the market in 2026.

In the realm of artificial intelligence, Hong Kong-based Insilico Medicine has raised $110 million in a series E funding round led by Value Partners. The funds will be used to advance the company's AI-powered drug design platforms and support pivotal clinical trials of its lead drug candidate, rentosertib (ISM001-055), in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Singapore's Hummingbird Bioscience has joined forces with Frazier Life Sciences and other venture capital funds to create Callio Therapeutics. The new company has launched with a $187 million series A funding round and a phase 1-ready HER2-targeted dual-payload antibody-drug conjugate licensed from Hummingbird.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, these developments underscore the growing importance of innovative technologies, strategic partnerships, and targeted acquisitions in driving progress in critical therapeutic areas such as oncology and cell therapy.