By Bahram Hassanpourfard, Epidemiologist
Weekly briefing · 25 September to 1 October 2026
The FDA approved AbbVie’s tavapadon, branded Juvmo, for adults with Parkinson’s disease1. The once-daily pill is a selective D1/D5 dopamine agonist, described as first in its class. It is expected to match the symptom relief of earlier dopamine agonists with fewer side effects, and the approval rested on a late-stage study in which it improved symptoms. The drug came to AbbVie through its acquisition of Cerevel, and the decision was read as that buyout paying off. For clinicians, the case for the drug rests on tolerability rather than a new kind of benefit.
Deal-making dominated the rest of the week, much of it aimed at early-stage assets and Chinese developers. Merck paid $400 million upfront, in a deal worth up to about $2.1 billion, for a preclinical KRAS G12D molecular glue from China-based SciBrunch2. Novo Nordisk agreed $300 million upfront, and up to $2.6 billion, for Hengrui’s preclinical oral GLP-1/GIP agonist, potentially dosed weekly, its fourth weight-loss pact of the year3. AstraZeneca took a $2 billion equity stake in Summit Therapeutics, with a collaboration to test the PD-1/VEGF bispecific ivonescimab alongside its antibody-drug conjugates but no ownership rights to the drug4. Roche added discovery deals with Atavistik Bio and Earendil Labs, the latter worth $55 million upfront and potentially over $1.5 billion5. In obesity, Lilly’s amylin-Zepbound combination eloraTZP produced weight loss of up to 23.3% in a mid-stage trial in type 2 diabetes, although high discontinuation rates raised tolerability questions6. The FDA approved Roche’s Gazyva as the first new treatment in 70 years for relapsing or steroid-dependent childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome7. Merck and Daiichi Sankyo, by contrast, withdrew an accelerated approval application for their B7-H3 conjugate in small cell lung cancer after the agency said the data fell short8. Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was named to lead PhRMA9. A poll found most rural voters who identify with MAHA do not see Trump’s health policies helping their communities10.
Among less-noticed items, the FDA approved Camzyos (mavacamten), first cleared for adults in 2022, as the first treatment for children with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, to improve functional capacity and symptoms11. It also approved Emcitate (tiratricol) as the first treatment for MCT8 deficiency, targeting peripheral thyrotoxicosis, an excess of thyroid hormone in the blood12. A JAMA study analysed the patent portfolios of all small-molecule drugs approved by the FDA between 1990 and 2019 and how they may be affecting generic competition13. NEJM published a paper on retatrutide, the triple hormone receptor agonist for obesity that Lilly’s new combination reportedly bettered in people with diabetes14.
References: 1. Endpoints News, STAT, MedPage Today and 5 more · 2. Endpoints News, MedCity News, Fierce Biotech and 3 more · 3. Endpoints News, BioPharma Dive, Fierce Biotech and 2 more · 4. Endpoints News, BioPharma Dive, STAT and 2 more · 5. Endpoints News, Fierce Biotech, Pharmaceutical Technology and 2 more · 6. STAT, Endpoints News, Fierce Biotech · 7. FDA, MedPage Today, Fierce Pharma · 8. Endpoints News, BioPharma Dive, Fierce Biotech and 2 more · 9. Endpoints News, STAT, Fierce Pharma · 10. KFF Health News, STAT, MedPage Today · 11. FDA · 12. FDA · 13. JAMA · 14. NEJM
Source: Life Sciences Hub – lifesciences.apotekanalytics.com
