Plus the top clinical trial flops of 2024

This Week

Feb 21, 2025

2 NIH leaders depart as White House cuts thousands of jobs across federal health agencies


After high-profile pledge to secure confirmation, RFK Jr. now says panel will review childhood vaccine schedules


SPECIAL REPORT—2024's top 10 clinical trial flops


Trump administration layoffs hit FDA's device center


ARPA-H director removed by Trump administration


With new FDA approval, GSK joins Pfizer in the 5-in-1 meningococcal vaccine ring


FDA signs off on Sanofi's insulin biosimilar, the first for Novo Nordisk's rapid-acting NovoLog

 

Featured

2 NIH leaders depart as White House cuts thousands of jobs across federal health agencies

The National Institutes of Health has lost two distinguished leaders as mass layoffs directed by the Trump administration hit federal health agencies.
 

Top Stories

After high-profile pledge to secure confirmation, RFK Jr. now says panel will review childhood vaccine schedules

After making a pledge on vaccines to Sen. Bill Cassidy during his confirmation process, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promptly reversed course. Now enthroned at the HHS, RFK Jr. has pledged to kick off an investigation into childhood vaccine schedules, mental health medications and more.

2024's top 10 clinical trial flops

Fierce Biotech recounts the top 10 clinical trial failures of 2024 that sent ripples across the industry.

Trump administration layoffs hit FDA's device center

It’s unclear how many staff at the FDA have been affected. There have also been estimates of thousands of dismissals spanning the NIH, the CDC and other agencies across the HHS.

ARPA-H director removed by Trump administration

Renee Wegrzyn, Ph.D., the inaugural head of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), has been let go, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson confirmed in an email to Fierce Biotech.

With new FDA approval, GSK joins Pfizer in the 5-in-1 meningococcal vaccine ring

The company's Penmenvy combines components of its established MenB and MenACWY vaccines Bexsero and Menveo, respectively.

FDA signs off on Sanofi's insulin biosimilar, the first for Novo Nordisk's rapid-acting NovoLog

The FDA has given a thumbs up to Sanofi’s Merilog as the first biosimilar substitute for Novo Nordisk’s NovoLog for patients with diabetes. It is delivered by a subcutaneous shot 5 to 10 minutes before mealtime to help patients manage glucose and limit blood sugar spikes.

Cell death biotech Kojin winds down, citing 4 funding challenges

Boston biotech Kojin Therapeutics is closing its doors, citing four funding challenges and a few valuable lessons learned. 

Moderna’s norovirus vaccine trial placed on FDA hold over reported case of Guillain-Barré syndrome

A trial of Moderna’s norovirus vaccine in the U.S. has been put on hold by the FDA over a reported case of neurological disorder.

Moderna shoulders $238M contract manufacturing cancellation charge in Q4

In 2024’s fourth quarter, Moderna’s cost of sales came out to $739 million, which included a major $238 million charge tied to the cancellation of a contract manufacturing agreement toward the end of the year.

UCB's Bimzelx outpacing AbbVie's Rinvoq, Skyrizi on awareness early in psoriatic arthritis launch: survey

UCB’s Bimzelx is firmly on physicians’ radars, with Spherix Global Insights finding that awareness of the drug was tracking ahead of AbbVie’s Rinvoq and Skyrizi three months into its psoriatic arthritis launch. Yet, the analysis suggests UCB has work to do to turn awareness into uptake.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

How do certified community behavioral health clinics work?

Certified community behavioral health clinics, or CCBHCs, provide evidence-based care for mental illness and substance use disorder. There are hundreds of these centers around the U.S. today.
 

Resources

Whitepaper

The Oncology Market: 2024 Year in Review

This paper reviews key developments in the oncology market during 2024 and outlines what they mean for the future.
Whitepaper

Standout in a crowded oncology landscape

There’s so much that goes into making sure your therapy maximizes impact every step of the way.
 

Upcoming Fierce Events

29-1
Apr-May
San Diego, CA
7-9
May
Free Virtual Event
14
May
Free Virtual Event
15-15
Aug-Nov
Submissions Open Early August
8-11
Sep
Philadelphia, PA

View all events