Plus deals involving Avalo/AlmataBio, AbbVie/Parvus, NovaBay/Eyenovia, Bayer/Aignostics, Merck & Co./Pearl, tech transfer agreements and deals in brief.

Pipeline is concentrated around Phase II, but sponsors have a few chances to see how FDA handles its ‘foundational constructs’ for psychedelic drugs, led by Lykos’ pending NDA for PTSD and Compass Pathways’ Phase III synthetic psilocybin COMP360 for treatment-resistant depression.

More than 100 biopharma executives and experts told Scrip their predictions for therapeutic area advances in the coming year. The recent commercial success of GLP-1s in diabetes and obesity and their potential in further disease areas fuelled excitement around the metabolic space. Expectations were also positive in neurology following the launch of Leqembi for Alzheimer’s disease in 2023, while the multiple opportunities to improve cancer treatment kept oncology top of the pile overall.

Looking ahead on manufacturing and supply-related issues in 2024, respondents told Scrip to expect companies to bring their supply chains closer to home, improvements for delivery of cell and gene therapies, a focus by contract manufacturers and developers on sustainability and continued emphasis on access to critical drugs.