Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a New Drug Application (NDA) for an Evrysdi® (risdiplam) tablet for people living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Evrysdi is the only non-invasive disease-modifying treatment for SMA. The 5 mg Evrysdi tablet can either be swallowed whole or dispersed in water.

AskBio Inc. (AskBio), a gene therapy company wholly owned and independently operated as a subsidiary of Bayer AG, today announced that investigational gene therapy AB-1005 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) has been granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As leaders gather for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Leaps by Bayer, the impact investing arm of Bayer, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) announced the launch of one of the largest surveys examining global public sentiment towards transformative technology. The field work was conducted by market research company Ipsos.

Bayer is today announcing that it plans to acquire HiDoc Technologies GmbH in the first quarter of 2025 and to start commercialization of the digital health application, Cara Care®. Cara Care® is the first prescribed digital health application for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and offers a novel, holistic therapeutic approach for patients with IBS.(1)

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome have generally already been through a lot by the time they receive a formal diagnosis, and they face numerous daily challenges and obstacles associated with their symptoms that impair their quality of life.

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded prequalification to tafenoquine, the first single-dose medicine for the prevention of relapse of Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria. Tafenoquine, co-administered with chloroquine, is now also included in WHO's updated Guidelines for malaria, in South America, marking the first time the medicine has been recommended by WHO. This milestone is a significant step toward closing the treatment gap for P. vivax malaria.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced that after a comprehensive internal and external selection process, the company is appointing Chris Boshoff, M.D., PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer and President, Research & Development effective January 1, 2025. Dr. Boshoff, who most recently served as Chief Oncology Officer and Executive Vice President, will succeed Dr. Mikael Dolsten whose departure from Pfizer was announced earlier this year. In his new role, Dr. Boshoff will remain a member of Pfizer's Executive Leadership Team reporting to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Albert Bourla, and he will oversee all functions of Research & Development across all therapeutic areas.

AstraZeneca has announced $3.5 billion of capital investment in the United States focused on expanding the Company's research and manufacturing footprint by the end of 2026. This includes $2 billion of new investment creating more than a thousand new, high-skilled jobs contributing to the growth of the US economy.