Recon: Pfizer, Novo escalate bidding war over Metsera; Merck lands $700M from Blackstone to develop investigational cancer drug

• Experts worry FDA’s credibility is being shredded by scandal and ‘soap opera’ (STAT)
• Bidding war between Pfizer, Novo Nordisk for obesity startup Metsera escalates (STAT)
• Breaking: Lilly and Novo near White House deal on obesity drug prices (Endpoints)
• That $40 Billion Tylenol Deal Is Both Cheap and Risky (Bloomberg)
• Amgen profit beats estimates, weight-loss data due by year-end (Reuters)
• Prescription Pulse: More Tidmarsh Fallout (Politico)
• New FDA turmoil throws agency's reliability into question (Axios)

• Swiss biotech returns to Boehringer Ingelheim to partner on autoimmune T cell engager (Endpoints)
• US, Canada Face Unwelcome Measles Milestone Due to Outbreaks (Endpoints)
• Mandatory bird housing imposed in England as bird flu spreads (Reuters)
• EU Biotech Act: Careful Drafting Needed To Protect SMEs From ‘Over-Regulation’ (Pink Sheet)

• Sarepta Therapeutics’ dismal quarter marred by drug failures and a long list of excuses (STAT)
• A miracle pill for Parkinson’s is 50 years old. Why can’t most of the world get it? (STAT)
• As pharma pour billions in US manufacturing, CDMOs see future opportunities (Endpoints)
• Alvotech plant issues foil another FDA review, this time for Teva-partnered Simponi biosimilar (Fierce Pharma)
• The Tests They Are A-Changing: FDA Takes Action on Biosimilars (FDA Law Blog)
• Compass Pathways expects earlier FDA approval decision on its psilocybin drug (STAT)
• Microdosing aims to extend the lifespan of the GLP-1 compounding market (STAT)
• Jennifer Doudna spinoff aims to turn patients’ immune cells into CAR-T fighters with single shot (STAT)
• Incyte, Prelude ink rare blood cancer pact; Merck takes back rights to Prometheus asset (Endpoints)
• Pfizer cuts 11 R&D programs, reports revenue decline (Endpoints)
• Blackstone to pay Merck $700M to fund development of antibody-drug conjugate (Endpoints)
• Vertex’s Cystic Fibrosis Sales Beat, as Newer Drugs Miss (Bloomberg)
• Epilepsy Cell Therapy NRTX-1001 Among Trio Of Drugs To Win EMA PRIME Designations (Pink Sheet)
• Arcutis adds '90210' star power to skin condition awareness push (Fierce Pharma)
• Insulet campaign takes aim at workplace challenges for people with diabetes (Fierce Pharma)

• Philips New Orders Rise on Robust Demand in North America (Bloomberg)
• Dexcom recalls G6 CGM app over software problem (MedTech Dive)
• Neuromodulation Tech Raises Billions Despite Commercial Uncertainty (MedTech Insight)
• Surgery-Imaging Firm Ultragreen.ai Starts Gauging Interest for Singapore IPO (Bloomberg)

• Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded in November (STAT)
• Brashears gets confirmation hearing for USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety appointment (Food Safety News)

• UnitedHealth pays its own physician groups 17% more than outside ones, study shows (STAT)
• GoodRx wants in on TrumpRx as it grows its work with pharmaceutical manufacturers (Endpoints)
• Florida’s vaccine mandate rollback stirs fear for immunocompromised (The Hill)