Industry News

Merck KGaA has signed a definitive agreement to acquire U.S.-based life sciences company Bio-Techne in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately USD 11.3 billion (EUR 9.9 billion). The acquisition is expected to significantly strengthen Merck's position in rapidly growing life sciences segments, including multi-omics, spatial biology, precision diagnostics, and cell & gene therapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new indication for Pfizer's IBRANCE (palbociclib), allowing its use in combination with trastuzumab, with or without pertuzumab, and endocrine therapy as maintenance treatment for adults with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer following induction therapy. The approval marks a significant expansion for the widely used CDK4/6 inhibitor.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken another significant step toward strengthening the quality, safety, and regulation of herbal medicines by advancing the development of an International Herbal Pharmacopoeia (IHP). During the 5th WHO Expert Meeting held in Hong Kong SAR (China) from 16–18 June 2026, experts from all six WHO regions met to accelerate the creation of globally harmonized standards for herbal medicines.

The European Union has awarded 15 million euro under its Horizon Europe research and innovation program to launch REPhRAME, an ambitious international project aimed at developing a new treatment strategy for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Coordinated by Universitätsmedizin Frankfurt under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Maria J.G.T. Vehreschild, the five-year project will evaluate phage therapy as a potential alternative to antibiotics in patients suffering from recurrent bacterial infections.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has announced the acquisition of Innovcare Lifesciences Private Limited. The deal, valued at approximately ₹271.2 crore, will give Sun Pharma complete ownership of the Mumbai-based healthcare company.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Antimicrobial & Antiparasitic has asked M/s Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited to revise its proposed Active Post-Marketing Surveillance (PMS) protocol for Liposomal Amphotericin B Injection 50 mg/vial (Lyophilized) before it can be considered further.

The recommendation was made during the 6th SEC (Antimicrobial & Antiparasitic) meeting of 2026, held on June 11, 2026, at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) headquarters in New Delhi.

In a significant development in the biosimilar segment, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Dermatology & Allergy has recommended granting permission to M/s Kemwell Biopharma Private Limited to conduct a comparative pharmacokinetic clinical study for its proposed Dupilumab biosimilar, ASP100.

The recommendation was made during the 6th SEC (Dermatology & Allergy) meeting of 2026, held on June 11, 2026, at the CDSCO Headquarters in New Delhi.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited has announced that it has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Binimetinib Tablets, 45 mg. The company had earlier secured tentative approval for the 15 mg strength of the same drug.

The approved generic product is therapeutically equivalent to Mektovi Tablets, 15 mg, marketed by Array BioPharma. Binimetinib is a kinase inhibitor used in combination with encorafenib for the treatment of patients with specific forms of advanced cancer.