Biopharmaceuticals

Plainsboro, New Jersey – – September 30, 2026 -- Adults with overweight or obesity who switched from injectable GLP-1 therapies to the oral Wegovy pill lost an average of 4.0 kg (8.8 lb) over three months, according to new real-world data from Novo Nordisk's OCTANE study presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Milan on September 30, 2026.

Patients switching to the oral formulation saw rapid weight-loss gains after three months

The retrospective analysis of 194 patients on the Ro telehealth platform found that 40.7% achieved weight loss of 5% or more within three months of switching from injectable semaglutide or tirzepatide to once-daily oral semaglutide (p0.001). The proportion of participants classified with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher fell by 21.6 percentage points, dropping from 87.1% at baseline to 65.5% at the three-month mark.

Groton, Conn. – September 30, 2026 -- Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. has closed a $9.5 million Series B financing round to advance Phase 2 development of AST-004, its cerebroprotective therapy for concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. The round brings total capital raised by the clinical-stage biotech, including grants, to $40 million.

DeepWork Capital leads financing with four new investors joining the round

The Series B was led by DeepWork Capital, with continued backing from existing investors and new participation from MintPharma Capital, Waterstar Capital, Dynagrow Capital and Angel Star Ventures. Jackson Streeter, M.D., Venture Partner at DeepWork Capital, said the firm has been impressed by the consistency of Astrocyte's science and the progress of its clinical programs.

Stockholm – – September 30, 2026 -- EQT Foundation has committed more than EUR 1 million to 11 research projects across 10 institutions aimed at solving one of neuroscience's most persistent commercial barriers: getting therapeutics past the blood-brain barrier and into the central nervous system.

Eleven projects target the blood-brain barrier from different scientific angles

The funded research spans engineered biological carriers, molecular shuttles, gene therapy vectors, nanoparticles and AI-designed delivery technologies. Institutions involved are located in the Netherlands, Belgium, the United States and Canada, with initial disease applications including brain cancer, ALS and rare genetic disorders.

London – September 30, 2026 -- Clarenta Group has taken a majority stake in Leads To Development (L2D), a Paris-based preclinical and regulatory consultancy, expanding its reach into early-stage drug development ahead of first-in-human trials.

Clarenta adds non-clinical and manufacturing expertise to its clinical development platform

L2D specializes in defining development pathways, assessing preclinical evidence, troubleshooting manufacturing processes, and building regulatory strategies for biotech and pharmaceutical sponsors. The addition connects this early-stage scientific work directly to Clarenta's existing Early Phase Unit and clinical consulting capabilities.

Cambridge, Mass. – September 30, 2026 -- Insilico Medicine (HKEX: 3696) has nominated ISM1354, an AI-designed small molecule GIPR antagonist, as a preclinical candidate for obesity, type 2 diabetes and potential cardiovascular applications tied to obesity-associated heart failure.

ISM1354 improves on Insilico's earlier GIPR candidate ISM0676

Washington – September 30, 2026 -- Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: VNDA) reported positive topline results from a pivotal Phase III study of HETLIOZ® (tasimelteon) 20 mg in adults with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (DSWPD), setting up a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Trial meets primary endpoint with statistically significant sleep-timing shift

The study, VP-VEC-162-3502 (NCT04652882), shifted sleep onset 42.5 minutes earlier in the HETLIOZ® arm (n=20) versus 5.4 minutes on placebo (n=20), a 37.1-minute difference (p=0.022). In an exploratory responder analysis, 60% of tasimelteon-treated participants (12/20) advanced sleep onset by at least 30 minutes, compared with 15% on placebo (3/20) (p=0.008).

Richmond, Va. – September 30, 2026 -- Activation Capital, the operating name of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority, has elected Paul Nolde as chair of its Authority Board, succeeding Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao, Ph.D., who held the role since 2009. Rao will remain an active board member.

Nolde takes over after serving as vice chair since January 2025

Nolde is President and CEO of 757 Collab and Executive Director of 757 Angels, a venture platform funding high-growth startups in Hampton Roads and across Virginia from post-ideation through seed stage. He previously served as Executive Managing Director of Richmond-based accelerator Lighthouse Labs, Fund Manager and Managing Director of Riverflow Growth Fund, a healthcare-focused seed fund, and as a director at early-stage venture firm NRV.

Indianapolis – September 30, 2026 -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) reported that its investigational triple hormone receptor agonist retatrutide produced an average weight loss of 49.6 lbs (20.8%) over 80 weeks at the 12 mg dose in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, with more than half of participants no longer meeting BMI criteria for obesity. The Phase 3 TRIUMPH-2 results were presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Milan and simultaneously published in The Lancet.

Highest dose delivers weight loss up to 23.4% in heavier patients

Across the three tested doses, participants lost an average of 29.8 lbs (12.7%) at 4 mg, 45.4 lbs (19.1%) at 9 mg, and 49.6 lbs (20.8%) at 12 mg. Among patients with a baseline BMI of 35 or higher, the 12 mg dose produced an average loss of 60.8 lbs (23.4%), with 59.5% of all 12 mg participants no longer classified as having obesity by trial end.

Washington – September 29, 2026 -- The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has named former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor as its next president and chief executive officer, effective November 9. Cantor succeeds Stephen J. Ubl, who has led the trade group since 2015 and will remain as a strategic advisor through January 15, 2027.

Pittsburgh – September 29, 2026 -- Viatris Inc. (Nasdaq: VTRS) has been named to Forbes' World's Best Employers list for the sixth consecutive year, based on an independent survey of more than 300,000 employees across over 50 countries.

Forbes and Statista ranked 900 companies using employee trust and workplace culture data

The 2026 ranking, compiled by Forbes and Statista, drew on respondents who rated their willingness to recommend their employer on a 1-to-10 scale. Participants evaluated current and former employers across multiple workplace factors and could also weigh in on other companies within their country and industry.

Viatris cites the recognition as validation of its global workforce strategy

Lara Ramsburg, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer at Viatris, said the sixth straight placement reflects the contributions of colleagues worldwide who help the company support patients while fostering a collaborative culture.