Merck, Novo Make Big Biotech Deals Amid Changing Market

Kodiak Sciences reported that its experimental vision-sparing treatment for age-related blindness achieved statistical equivalence to Eylea, a standard therapy, in a Phase 3 clinical trial.

Merck paid $400 million upfront to China's SciBrunch Therapeutics for global license rights to a preclinical cancer drug targeting tumors with KRAS G12D mutations. The deal is valued at $2.13 billion if all future milestones are achieved.

Novo Nordisk has shifted its marketing strategy for GLP-1 drugs, promoting them as consumer products for people seeking weight loss rather than treating chronic disease. Insurance coverage remains limited, leading to this new approach.