Drug Discovery & Development

Drug Discovery & Development magazine provides valuable insights into the entire spectrum of technologies, tools, and business and regulatory approaches that assist scientists and business leaders in speeding up the process and efficiency of drug research and development. The articles are brief and focused, aimed at delivering useful information for everyday technical and business choices.

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Trump’s drug‑pricing order extends small‑molecule runway four years

6 days ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

On the surface, President Donald Trump’s latest drug‑pricing order looks like a populist coup. The White House says it will “put American patients first once again,” capping insulin at three cents and promising deeper Medicare savings. Yet nested in the fine print is a directive for HHS to work with Congress to delay Medicare’s power to negotiate pill prices to 13 years post‑approval (up from nine).
Top 25 drugs by sales

1 week ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

In 2024, Merck’s Keytruda continued its reign with nearly $29.5 billion in sales, posting solid 17.9% growth over 2023. However, the pharmaceutical landscape is shifting rapidly. The combined forces of GLP-1 receptor agonists used for diabetes and weight loss are mounting a serious challenge; Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic surged 25.8% to $17.5 billion, its sibling Wegovy grew an impressive 85.7%, and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro exploded with 123.5% growth to reach $11.5 billion.
Oncology leads with $110B in sales; GLP-1s continue rise

1 week ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

With the $30B Keytruda franchise leading, Oncology maintained its top position among the top 50 drugs in FY2024, but significant shifts occurred across therapeutic areas. Metabolic Diseases saw major growth, as GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic (+26%), Mounjaro (+124%), and Wegovy (+86%) reshaped the diabetes and obesity markets. Landmark trials from late 2023 to present also confirmed their cardiovascular benefits as next-generation incretins advance.
STITCHR retrotransposon-based gene editor enables large, scarless DNA insertions

2 weeks ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

A novel gene editing tool named STITCHR, developed at Mass General Brigham and collaborating institutions, overcomes central limitations of current technologies by enabling the scarless insertion of entire genes or large DNA fragments up to 12.7 kb. Based on reprogrammed retrotransposon activity guided by a Cas9 nickase and using RNA templates, STITCHR shows potential for developing “one-and-done” therapies for genetic diseases involving multiple mutations or requiring whole-gene replacement.
Recce targets A$15.8M to advance anti-infectives into confirmatory trials

2 weeks ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

Sydney-based Recce Pharmaceuticals has secured A$5.0 million via private placement and launched a A$10.8 million entitlement offer to support Phase 3 trials of its synthetic anti-infectives for diabetic foot infections (DFI) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).
Cellares and UW-Madison partner to automate CAR-T manufacturing

2 weeks ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

Cell therapies hold immense promise but, traditionally, carry a similarly large price tag often linked to complex, manual manufacturing. In its latest move to help make these life-saving and -enhancing treatments more scalable and potentially accessible, Cellares is partnering with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health to automate the clinical-scale manufacturing of UW-Madison’s novel CRISPR-edited GD2 CAR-T therapy.
Why peptide drug discovery is experiencing a resurgence

2 weeks ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

Peptides are currently experiencing a surge of interest in drug discovery and developmentd. With more than 170 peptides currently in active clinical development1 and many more in preclinical studies2, the global market for peptide-based therapeutics is expected to grow to approximately $80 billion by 2032.3 But while the use of peptides within pharmaceuticals has been established for decades,4 the field has remained relatively under-developed until recently.
Top 25 investors in pharma R&D in 2024

2 weeks ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

Merck & Co. has secured the top spot for pharmaceutical R&D investment again in 2024 after topping the list last year by a wide margin. While continuing to channel resources into expanding Keytruda’s oncology indications (with a 2025 patent cliff looming), Merck is also expanding beyond oncology. In cardiovascular, it launched Winrevair for pulmonary arterial hypertension with $419 million in sales.
Top 25 drugs by sales

2 weeks ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

In 2024, Merck’s Keytruda continued to dominate with $29.5 billion in sales, growing 18% over 2023’s $25 billion in sales. Yet the GLP-1 class is nipping at Keytruda’s heels and a patent expiry threatens the oncology stalwart’s reign. Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic surged 38% to $17.5 billion while Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro exploded with 969% growth to $11.5 billion. Outside of those areas, immunology remained resilient.
Xaira taps scGPT pioneer Bo Wang to lead biomedical AI

3 weeks ago | drugdiscoverytrends.com | Brian Buntz

Bo Wang, Ph.D., is a Xairanaut. That is, he’s the latest high-profile scientific leader to join the unicorn Xaira Therapeutics, taking the helm as SVP and Head of Biomedical AI. Wang has experience as Assistant Professor in the Departments of Computer Science and Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, Temerty Professor in AI Research and Education in Medicine, Chief AI Scientist at the University Health Network (UHN), and CIFAR AI Chair at the Vector Institute.