Biogen strikes Cannes gold with comedy

Today’s Big News

Jun 20, 2025

Industry deeply disappointed as FDA reportedly puts cell and gene therapy chief on leave


Adjusted ACIP agenda omits anticipated votes, revives talks on vaccine ingredient erroneously linked to autism


Humor in drug ads? Biogen, 21Grams make it work with gold-winning campaign at Cannes Pharma Lions


Abbott lines up insulin pump collabs for its upcoming glucose-ketone sensor


A waste business buy, slashing salaries for all staff: 4 strange strategies biotechs are using to stay alive


Europe's CHMP gives thumbs up to ExCellThera's blood cancer cell therapy Zemcelpro


Prothena lays off 63% of employees in fallout from phase 3 amyloidosis drug fail

 

Featured

Industry deeply disappointed as FDA reportedly puts cell and gene therapy chief on leave

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine has voiced deep disappointment about reports that the FDA has put the director of its cell and gene therapy office on administrative leave and escorted her out of the agency.
 

Top Stories

Adjusted ACIP agenda omits anticipated votes, revives talks on vaccine ingredient erroneously linked to autism

In the wake of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s abrupt revamp of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, details from the panel’s planned meeting next week are confirming many industry watcher’s concerns about potential vaccine meddling by the Trump administration.

Humor in drug ads? Biogen, 21Grams make it work with gold-winning campaign at Cannes Pharma Lions

The company and ad agency 21Grams explained how to approach comedy in drug advertising during a session at this year’s Cannes Lions festival called "Laughing at Doom: Using Humor to Talk about Illness/Hellscapes."

Abbott lines up insulin pump collabs for its upcoming glucose-ketone sensor

The announcements come in the lead up to the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association, being held this weekend in Chicago.

A waste business buy, slashing salaries for all staff: 4 strange strategies biotechs are using to stay alive

Biotech has always been a little unconventional, but, as the industry’s bear market drags on, efforts to stay afloat are reaching a whole new level.

Europe's CHMP gives thumbs up to ExCellThera's blood cancer cell therapy Zemcelpro

Among its positive recommendations this month, Europe’s CHMP has endorsed marketing authorization for ExCellThera’s Zemcelpro. The medicine is a stem cell transplant treatment for adults with blood cancers that require an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after myeloablative conditioning for whom no other type of suitable donor cells is available.

Prothena lays off 63% of employees in fallout from phase 3 amyloidosis drug fail

Prothena is laying off almost two-thirds of its workforce as the Irish biotech navigates the fallout from giving up on its failed amyloidosis drug.

Miniature robot maker Virtual Incision nabs new CEO

Jim Alecxih was most recently chief of the AI diagnostic company DH Medical, and has held roles at multiple medtechs throughout his career, including at Intuitive Surgical as a U.S. sales VP.

Regulatory tracker: Dupixent scores FDA approval to treat bullous pemphigoid

In this tracker, Fierce Pharma is recording the regulatory progress of in-market products, including expansions into key geographies and new indications. Some of these updates may not meet the bar for standalone stories, but we think they are still worth mentioning.

FDA blocks new clinical trials that ship cells from US to China

The FDA has stopped new clinical trials that export American citizens’ living cells from the U.S. to “China and other hostile countries for genetic engineering and subsequent infusion” back into American patients.

Fierce Pharma Asia—AZ-CSPC deal; FDA's American cell shipping ban; China's trial review acceleration plan

AstraZeneca has penned a drug discovery pact focused on chronic diseases with China's CSPC Pharma. The FDA has halted new trials that export U.S. individuals' living cells to China. Chinese regulators are proposing to shorten clinical trial review times for novel medicines. And more.

Chutes & Ladders— BMS banks on Wall Street vet for long-term strategy guidance

BMS didn’t want to choose between clinical expertise and financial know-how when selecting a new strategy leader. The Big Pharma has hired physician-turned-analyst Chris Shibutani, M.D., as executive vice president and chief strategy officer.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

AbbVie, ADCs and the future of cancer care

This week on "The Top Line," AbbVie’s Daejin Abidoye, M.D., joins us to discuss the future of antibody drug conjugates.
 

Resources

Executive Summary

Specialized Support to Accelerate Biotech Success

Biotech innovation doesn’t slow down—and neither should your lab partner. This brief outlines how early scientific engagement, operational transparency, and integrated global lab services help reduce risk, stay on schedule, and deliver results. Whether you're navigating your first trial or scaling a growing pipeline, see how a purpose-built lab model can help you move smarter and faster.
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Building Peak Performance Go-to-Market Operations

We analyzed ~300 launches to identify the factors most correlated with commercial success & built a framework for peak go-to-market performance.
 

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