Healthcare news summaries
Essential facts and source links for recent healthcare stories.
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GSK to acquire global rights to Chimagen myeloma drug for up to $750 million
GSK agreed to acquire full global rights to Chimagen Biosciences’ experimental trispecific T-cell engager for multiple myeloma in a deal worth up to $750 million. The drug has not entered human trials; GSK expects Phase I testing to begin in 2027. -
AstraZeneca's camizestrant misses primary endpoint in SERENA-4 trial
AstraZeneca said Phase III SERENA-4 missed its primary endpoint: camizestrant plus palbociclib did not significantly improve progression-free survival over anastrozole plus palbociclib in first-line ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. -
Apollo reportedly in talks to buy J&J’s DePuy Synthes for nearly $20 billion
Bloomberg reported Sept. 11 that Apollo Global Management is in talks to buy Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Synthes orthopedics unit for close to $20 billion. The business generated $9.3 billion in 2025 revenue; J&J had announced plans to separate it within 18 to 24 months. -
Novo Nordisk shares fall nearly 8% after CEO discusses semaglutide patent risk
Novo Nordisk's American depositary shares fell nearly 8% after CEO Mike Doustdar addressed semaglutide's loss-of-exclusivity risk at a London investor day. Its U.S. patent expires in 2032, and Wegovy and Ozempic account for about 75% of revenue. -
Blue Cross report says AI may add nearly $1bn to US healthcare costs
A Blue Cross Blue Shield Association report says healthcare AI may add nearly $1 billion to US health costs. Blue Cross companies’ costs rose $653 million from 2024 to 2025; hospitals received nearly $12,000 more per case on average through AI coding. -
GSK licenses HUTCHMED's HMPL-A830 outside Greater China
HUTCHMED granted GSK exclusive rights to HMPL-A830 outside Greater China for colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancers. HUTCHMED will receive $110 million upfront, up to $1.3 billion in potential milestones and tiered royalties, and run global Phase I trials from H2 2026. -
Medtronic adds Cornerstone’s Sentire robot in $700 million deal
Medtronic’s Sept. 1 $700 million partnership with Hong Kong-based Cornerstone Robotics gives it rights to distribute Sentire in select markets outside the U.S. where the system is approved. Medtronic will offer the surgical robot alongside Hugo in Europe, China and Singapore. -
FDA approves Pfizer-BioNTech’s XFG COVID vaccine for 2026–27
The FDA approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s 2026–27 COMIRNATY XFG COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older and people ages 5–64 with high-risk conditions. The article says the update may protect recurring seasonal revenue, but normalized booster demand limits growth. -
Motley Fool favors AbbVie over Lilly for value in 2026
The Motley Fool calls AbbVie the more sensible 2026 buy on valuation, although Eli Lilly is growing faster on demand for weight-loss and diabetes drugs. Lilly’s forward P/E and price-to-sales ratios are 24.8 and 13.2, versus 16.4 and 7.3 for AbbVie. -
Investor letter flags slow Abbott nutrition recovery and tougher device competition
Tributary Capital Management’s Q2 2026 letter said Abbott Laboratories’ nutrition recovery is slow and competition is intensifying in Structural Heart and continuous glucose monitoring. It said those pressures appear to outweigh the growing tailwind in electrophysiology. -
A Motley Fool stock comparison favors Vertex over CRISPR in 2026
The Motley Fool article’s author favors Vertex Pharmaceuticals over CRISPR Therapeutics for 2026, citing Vertex’s nearly $12.1 billion in FY2025 revenue and 32.7% net margin, versus CRISPR’s approximately $581.6 million loss as it invests in research. -
Pfizer gets the long-term nod over Bristol Myers Squibb in 2026 stock analysis
The article favors Pfizer for long-term investors, citing its $10 billion Metsera deal and obesity pipeline; it sees Bristol Myers Squibb as stronger near term after raising its full-year revenue outlook and reporting growth in newer brands and Eliquis. -
Atavistik-Roche pact sets $70 million upfront and up to $1.9 billion in milestones
Atavistik Bio signed a Roche deal to develop oral drugs for cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic diseases. It will receive $70 million upfront and could earn up to $1.9 billion in research, development and commercial milestones, plus royalties on sales of approved drugs. -
Mid-stage Alzheimer’s psychosis trial falls short for Acadia’s remlifanserin
Acadia said remlifanserin missed a mid-stage trial’s main goal for Alzheimer’s psychosis: 60 mg improved hallucinations and delusions versus placebo, but not enough after six weeks. The result was statistically significant on a key secondary measure of psychosis severity. -
Grifols says Winnipeg plasma halt predated Health Canada license suspension
Health Canada suspended Grifols’ license to collect plasma at its Taylor Avenue centre in Winnipeg over quality-management concerns. Grifols says operations are unaffected because it had already voluntarily stopped collection there. -
IHH subsidiary appeals Tokyo ruling in Fortis-related damages claim against Daiichi
IHH Healthcare says its subsidiary Northern TK Venture has appealed a Tokyo court’s September 10 dismissal of a claim seeking up to 109.3 billion rupees ($1.14 billion) in damages from Daiichi Sankyo over NTK’s purchase of a stake in India’s Fortis Healthcare. -
PicPay targets insurance platform with Kovr deal and 53% Estrutural stake
PicPay’s Kovr acquisition and 53% controlling stake in Estrutural Corretora support its push for an end-to-end insurance platform. The plan pairs Kovr’s digital insurance and underwriting with Estrutural’s brokerage, aiming to give PicPay more control. -
An ER doctor's advice: use AI to understand results, not diagnose
An ER physician says AI chatbots can explain medical reports and help patients prepare for appointments, but should not replace a clinician for diagnosis or treatment decisions. In an Oxford study, people using AI identified relevant conditions in fewer than 35% of cases. -
Blue Cross study links AI use to $942 million in added care costs over two years
A Blue Cross Blue Shield Association study attributes $942 million in added insurer costs to more intensive care over 2024–25, compared with 2023; more frequent billing for secondary diagnoses accounted for $653 million, as providers used AI to identify them. -
Hims & Hers reports 38% revenue growth alongside $86 million GAAP loss
Hims & Hers revenue rose 38% year over year to $753 million. U.S. revenue rose 16% year over year, while Eucalyptus, acquired in June, contributed about $40 million in quarterly sales. The company reported an $86 million GAAP loss and $36 million in negative cash flow. -
Needham initiates GE HealthCare coverage with Buy rating, $93 target
GE HealthCare closed at $64.81 on September 21, 28% below its 52-week high. On September 22, Needham began coverage with a Buy rating and a $93 target, about 44% above the close, saying market skepticism had made the shares attractively valued. -
Establishment Labs raises 2026 revenue guidance after 31.7% quarterly growth
Establishment Labs’ second-quarter revenue rose 31.7% year over year to $67.5 million, while adjusted EBITDA turned positive at $3.7 million from an $8.5 million loss. It raised 2026 revenue guidance to $269 million-$271 million despite an $11.7 million net loss. -
Perdoceo agrees to buy South University, adding 11 campuses
Perdoceo Education agreed to acquire South University, adding 11 campuses and online programs in nursing, pharmacy and physician assistant studies. The deal still needs regulatory and accreditor approvals and could close as early as April 2027. -
Iambic's IPO filing coincides with AbbVie's multi-year AI drug pact
Iambic Therapeutics filed for a U.S. IPO on Sept. 21 and announced a multi-year research pact with AbbVie that day. Its AI platform will design small-molecule programs in immunology, neuroscience and oncology; NVIDIA and Qatar Investment Authority have backed the startup. -
Early retirement requires a health insurance plan before Medicare
Anyone planning to retire before 65 needs to price health coverage before leaving work: Medicare generally starts at 65, and without a spouse’s workplace plan, they may need to buy insurance themselves. Premiums may be much higher than expected and strain a retirement budget. -
Motley Fool puts potential value of Lilly’s retatrutide above $10 billion
The Motley Fool estimates Eli Lilly’s unapproved retatrutide could be worth more than $10 billion to the company, citing Phase 3 weight-loss results and potential use in severe obesity; Lilly plans to submit an approval application in the first quarter of 2027.
