ALETH / LIFESCI-BRIEF / 2026-04-03 / US PUTS 100% TARIFF ON PATENTED DRUGSThe Aleth Briefs link to the sources behind the stories and show how the week unfolded.
The week in five lines:
The White House put a 100% tariff on patented drugs.
Lilly and Centessa agreed a $6.3bn takeover.
The FDA approved Lilly’s Foundayo obesity pill.
Biogen and Apellis agreed a $5.6bn takeover.
The UK and US concluded their drug pricing deal.
Browse by day:
Weekend catch-up: Sarclisa · Otsuka · Takeda · Watchman · Impella · Insilico
Monday: Blackstone · Tyvaso · Spinraza
Tuesday: Lilly-Centessa · Biogen-Apellis · Tavneos · AstraZeneca
Wednesday: NICE Wegovy · Foundayo · Orca · Gilead
Thursday: US drug tariffs · UK-US deal · AstraZeneca · Immunovant
Weekend catch-up
The EU’s drug advisory committee (CHMP) recommended approval of a subcutaneous form of Sanofi’s Sarclisa (isatuximab) for multiple myeloma.
The opinion covers all of Sarclisa’s approved intravenous indications and rests on the phase 3 IRAKLIA trial. If approved, Sarclisa would be the first cancer drug given through an on-body injector. A final decision is due in the coming months.
Sarclisa subcutaneous formulation recommended for EU approval · Sanofi
Otsuka Pharmaceutical agreed to buy New York-based Transcend Therapeutics for $700m upfront, plus up to $525m in sales milestones.
Transcend’s lead drug TSND-201 is methylone, an MDMA analogue, for post-traumatic stress disorder. The deal, worth up to $1.23bn, should close in Q2 2026.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical to acquire Transcend Therapeutics · Otsuka
The US Patent and Trademark Office again ruled that the Broad Institute invented CRISPR/Cas9 editing in human cells first, Editas Medicine said.
It is the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s third decision for Broad in its interference with the University of California group (CVC). CVC can appeal to the Federal Circuit.
USPTO reaffirms its decision in favor of the Broad Institute · Editas Medicine
Iterum Therapeutics petitioned Ireland’s High Court to wind itself up after failing to sell its antibiotic.
Iterum cited modest sales of Orlynvah (sulopenem etzadroxil and probenecid), and talks with two potential buyers of sulopenem fell through. Provisional liquidators are in place, and the court hears the petition on 13 April.
Iterum Therapeutics announces filing of winding up petition · Iterum Therapeutics
Takeda’s oral TYK2 inhibitor zasocitinib beat placebo and Otezla (apremilast) in two phase 3 psoriasis trials.
On Saturday at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting, Takeda said 71.4% and 69.2% of patients had clear or almost clear skin at week 16, against 32.1% and 29.7% on Otezla. PASI 90 rates were 61.3% and 51.9%.
Zasocitinib delivered rapid and durable skin clearance in phase 3 trials · Takeda
Boston Scientific’s Watchman FLX implant cut bleeding against blood thinners and met its composite efficacy endpoint in the CHAMPION-AF trial.
The trial randomised 3,000 patients with atrial fibrillation. At 36 months, non-procedural major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding was 10.9% with the device against 19.0% on newer oral anticoagulants. The composite of stroke, cardiovascular or unexplained death and systemic embolism was 5.7% against 4.8%, which met the non-inferiority test. The results were presented on Saturday at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting and published in NEJM.
CHAMPION-AF study of Watchman FLX meets all endpoints · Boston Scientific
Left atrial appendage closure or anticoagulation (CHAMPION-AF) · NEJM
Johnson & Johnson’s Impella heart pumps failed to show a benefit in two randomised trials presented at ACC.
In the 300-patient UK trial CHIP-BCIS3, patients without the pump did better in 43% of matched pairings against 37% with it, a difference that was not significant. In STEMI-DTU, using the pump before stenting did not shrink heart attack damage: 30.8% of heart muscle against 31.9%.
Left ventricular unloading in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention · NEJM
Flow pump does not improve outcomes for heart attack patients · Mount Sinai
Eli Lilly agreed to pay Hong Kong-listed Insilico Medicine $115m upfront in an AI drug discovery deal worth up to about $2.75bn.
Announced on Sunday, the deal gives Lilly exclusive worldwide rights to preclinical oral drugs for certain indications. The two will also work on targets Lilly chooses.
Insilico Medicine announces global R&D collaboration with Lilly · Insilico Medicine
Monday 30 March
Blackstone closed its sixth life sciences fund at its $6.3bn hard cap, which it said was the largest private life sciences fund raised.
Blackstone Life Sciences VI is nearly 40% larger than its predecessor. The unit committed nearly $2bn in new investments over the past 12 months.
Final close of record $6.3 billion life sciences fund · Blackstone
United Therapeutics’ Tyvaso (treprostinil) met its endpoints in a second phase 3 trial in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
In TETON-1, Tyvaso improved lung capacity (FVC) by 130.1 mL against placebo at week 52. United will seek priority review of a filing by the end of the summer.
TETON-1 pivotal study of Tyvaso meets primary endpoint · United Therapeutics
The FDA approved a high-dose regimen of Biogen’s Spinraza (nusinersen) for spinal muscular atrophy.
The regimen uses two 50 mg loading doses 14 days apart, then 28 mg every four months, against 12 mg before. It rests on the phase 2/3 DEVOTE study.
FDA approves new high dose regimen of Spinraza (nusinersen) · Biogen
Tuesday 31 March
Eli Lilly agreed to buy UK-based Centessa Pharmaceuticals for about $6.3bn in cash.
Lilly pays $38 a share, and each Centessa share also gets a contingent value right (CVR) worth up to $9, paid on US approvals of its sleep drugs ORX750 or ORX142. That includes $5 for idiopathic hypersomnia and $2 for narcolepsy type 2.
Lilly puts the CVRs at up to about $1.5bn more. It will buy the England-registered company through a UK scheme of arrangement.
Lilly to acquire Centessa to advance treatments for sleep-wake disorders · Lilly
Biogen agreed to buy Apellis Pharmaceuticals for $41 a share, about $5.6bn upfront.
Biogen gets two marketed versions of pegcetacoplan: Empaveli, approved in three indications including two rare kidney diseases, and Syfovre, approved in the eye disease geographic atrophy. Their combined 2025 net product revenue was $689m.
The cash price is an 86% premium to Apellis’ 90-day volume-weighted average share price. Each share also gets a CVR paying $2 if Syfovre reaches $1.5bn of annual sales in any year from 2027 to 2030, and $2 more at $2bn. If neither is paid, the CVR pays $4 if Syfovre reaches $2bn in 2031. Closing is expected in Q2 2026.
Biogen to acquire Apellis · Biogen
The FDA linked Amgen’s Tavneos (avacopan) to 76 cases of drug-induced liver injury, eight of them fatal.
Most cases were reported from Japan. Liver toxicity is already on the label, but the FDA called the fatal cases and vanishing bile duct syndrome new safety concerns.
FDA identifies cases of serious liver injury in patients taking Tavneos · FDA
AstraZeneca’s enzyme replacement therapy efzimfotase alfa missed its primary endpoint in adolescents and adults with hypophosphatasia.
The phase 3 HICKORY trial showed only a numerical improvement. MULBERRY met its goal in untreated children, and in CHESTNUT children switched from Strensiq (asfotase alfa) kept their benefit.
Efzimfotase alfa demonstrated positive results in hypophosphatasia · AstraZeneca
Wednesday 1 April
NICE recommended Novo’s Wegovy (semaglutide) in final draft guidance to prevent heart attacks and strokes in >1m people.
The final draft guidance covers adults with a body mass index of at least 27 who have had a heart attack, a stroke or peripheral arterial disease. NICE said the trial benefit appeared before significant weight loss.
Injection to help prevent heart attacks and strokes recommended · NICE
The FDA approved Eli Lilly’s obesity pill Foundayo (orforglipron) 50 days after filing.
It is the first new molecular entity cleared under the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher pilot, and the fastest approval of a new molecule since 2002, the FDA said. It is Lilly’s second approved obesity drug. Adults on the highest dose who stayed on treatment lost 27.3 lb on average over the 72-week ATTAIN-1 trial. Lilly will sell it through LillyDirect to self-pay patients from $149 a month for the lowest dose.
FDA approves first new molecular entity under priority voucher program · FDA
FDA approves Lilly’s Foundayo (orforglipron) · Lilly
The FDA pushed its decision on Orca Bio’s blood cancer cell therapy Orca-T back three months to 6 July.
The delay follows manufacturing data Orca filed at the agency’s request. The FDA has not asked for more clinical data, Orca said.
Orca Bio announces FDA review extension of BLA for Orca-T · Orca Bio
Gilead ended its phase 2/3 Wonders-2 trial of two experimental HIV drugs, which have been on FDA clinical hold since June 2025.
The hold followed falls in CD4+ T-cell counts in some patients on the GS-1720 and GS-4182 combination. Wonders-2 had enrolled 73 people. Its sibling trial Wonders-1, with about 675, remains paused.
Gilead cancels midstage HIV trial as FDA’s clinical hold remains · Fierce Biotech
Wonders-2 (NCT06613685), status terminated · ClinicalTrials.gov
Thursday 2 April
The White House imposed a 100% tariff on patented drugs and their ingredients.
The Section 232 tariffs take effect in 120 days for certain large companies and 180 days for smaller ones. Products from the EU, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and Liechtenstein face 15%, and UK products a lower rate under the new UK deal.
Companies with MFN pricing deals with the Department of Health and Human Services and onshoring deals with the Department of Commerce pay 0% until 20 January 2029. Onshoring alone earns a 20% rate. Generics and biosimilars are exempt for now. Orphan drugs, animal-health drugs and certain other specialty products are exempt if they come from trade-deal countries or meet an urgent public-health need.
Fact sheet: imposing tariffs on patented pharmaceutical products · The White House
The UK and US concluded their arrangement on pharmaceutical pricing.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the arrangement with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The UK government published the text, which records an understanding first reached on 1 December 2025. The deal gives UK medicines 0% US tariffs for at least three years, in return for a 25% rise in the net price the NHS pays for new treatments. The rise comes through a higher NICE cost-effectiveness threshold.
United States–United Kingdom arrangement on pharmaceutical pricing · USTR
UK-US arrangement on pharmaceutical trade and pricing · GOV.UK
UK signs off on US pharma deal, ensuring tariff reprieve · Fierce Pharma
AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi and Imjudo, with Lenvima and chemoembolisation, delayed liver cancer progression in the phase 3 EMERALD-3 trial.
The regimen improved progression-free survival against chemoembolisation alone in patients eligible for it. Overall survival trended in its favour at interim.
Imfinzi plus Imjudo improved progression-free survival in EMERALD-3 · AstraZeneca
Immunovant’s FcRn inhibitor batoclimab failed both of its phase 3 trials in thyroid eye disease.
Neither study met its primary endpoint, an eye-bulging improvement of at least 2 mm at week 24. Immunovant is concentrating on its next FcRn blocker, IMVT-1402, with Graves’ disease data due in 2027.
Phase 3 study results for batoclimab in thyroid eye disease (TED) · Immunovant
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