Bayer announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved elinzanetant as the first dual neurokinin (NK) targeted therapy(1), neurokinin 1 (NK1) and neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist, under the brand name Lynkuet™ for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS, also known as hot flashes) due to menopause. Inhibition of Substance P and Neurokinin B through antagonism of NK1 and NK3 receptor signaling on kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons with elinzanetant can modulate neuronal activity in the thermoregulation associated with hot flashes.

Novartis announced that Rhapsido® (remibrutinib) received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as an oral treatment for adult patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment. Rhapsido is a pill taken twice daily and does not require injections or lab monitoring. It is the first FDA-approved Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) for CSU.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and Metsera, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTSR) announced the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Pfizer will acquire Metsera, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company accelerating the next generation of medicines for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. The acquisition brings deep expertise and a portfolio of differentiated oral and injectable incretin, non-incretin and combination therapy candidates with potential best-in-class efficacy and safety profiles.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire 89bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ETNB), a publicly listed clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of innovative therapies for the treatment of liver and cardiometabolic diseases. 89bio’s pegozafermin is a FGF21 analog currently in late-stage development for MASH in moderate and severe fibrotic patients (F2 and F3 stages) as well as cirrhotic patients (F4 stage).

Novartis has entered into an agreement to acquire Tourmaline Bio, Inc. ("Tourmaline") (Nasdaq: TRML), a New York-based, publicly traded clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing pacibekitug, an anti-IL-6 mAb, as a treatment option for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Pacibekitug complements Novartis’ cardiovascular strategy by targeting IL-6, a key upstream cytokine that promotes systemic inflammation, thus addressing a critical unmet need.

Novartis announced positive results from V-DIFFERENCE, a Phase IV study evaluating Leqvio® (inclisiran) compared to placebo, both administered on top of individually optimized lipid-lowering therapy (LLT), in patients with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) who have not achieved guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals.

Bayer and Kumquat Biosciences Inc., a clinical-stage biotech company founded by pioneers of the KRAS pathway, have entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration to develop and commercialize Kumquat's KRAS G12D inhibitor. Under the agreement, Kumquat is responsible for the initiation and completion of the Phase Ia study, while Bayer will complete development and commercial activities.