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Editor's Notes: We're excited to announce that we've officially launched our new Fierce Life Sciences podcast, The Top Line. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech and Fierce Pharma will recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We’ll also analyze the week’s biggest business news – from mergers and marketing to drug R&D and device development. You'll find the first installment below.

Today's Rundown

Dupixent retakes TV ad spending crown but overall outlay for the top 10 remains low
Biogen syncs up with MedRhythms for music-based walking app in MS
'Lives could be at stake': Biden officials, advocates rebuke Roe v. Wade draft opinion
After 2 years, Sanofi's drug ingredients spinoff takes flight
UPDATE: VistaGen says regulators couldn’t sniff out abuse potential of its nasal spray for social anxiety
UnitedHealthcare rolls out new virtual physical therapy program
Back where it started: FDA restricts use of J&J's COVID-19 shot because of blood clot threat
After layoffs, BridgeBio turns to dealmaking for up to 6 drugs
Illumina steps deeper into drug discovery with Deerfield, Janssen partnerships
AstraZeneca, GSK's cancer rival Clovis quietly unveils crippling FDA delay as its troubles deepen
Tempus inks partnership with VA to scale up precision medicine for veterans with cancer
'The Top Line' podcast: Biogen's overhaul reaches CEO level; the most influential people in biopharma; plus this week's headlines

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Dupixent retakes TV ad spending crown but overall outlay for the top 10 remains low

By Ben Adams

It’s all change in April for pharma’s top 10 ad spenders as Sanofi and Regeneron’s immunology blockbuster Dupixent regains the top spot and March’s leader, AbbVie’s rival drug Rinvoq, tumbles down the order to fifth place.

Biogen syncs up with MedRhythms for music-based walking app in MS

By Conor Hale

Biogen is looking to employ a music-based digital therapeutic to help improve the strides of multiple sclerosis pateints who may have trouble walking.

'Lives could be at stake': Biden officials, advocates rebuke Roe v. Wade draft opinion

By Anastassia Gliadkovskaya

Drafts like this sow fear and confusion, experts say, and could lead to a spike in unsafe abortions despite the right to abortion still being protected.

After 2 years, Sanofi's drug ingredients spinoff takes flight

By Fraiser Kansteiner

It’s official: Two years and one pandemic after Sanofi unveiled plans to spin off its European drug ingredients business, EUROAPI has debuted on the Euronext exchange. Shares in the new active pharmaceutical ingredient outfit rose despite a wider market slump.

UPDATE: VistaGen says regulators couldn’t sniff out abuse potential of its nasal spray for social anxiety

By Max Bayer

Regulators gave VistaGen the green light to continue developing its nasal spray to treat social anxiety without an additional trial to measure its abuse risks. VistaGen is expecting data from its first phase 3 trial in the coming weeks.

UnitedHealthcare rolls out new virtual physical therapy program

By Paige Minemyer

The program aims to offer 24/7, on-demand exercise feedback to eligible members with musculoskeletal conditions, the health insurance giant said.

Back where it started: FDA restricts use of J&J's COVID-19 shot because of blood clot threat

By Kevin Dunleavy

The FDA has restricted the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine because of the threat of rare but serious blood clots. The U.S. regulator is limiting use of the shot to those 18 and older who cannot access other vaccines or those who “elect to receive the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine because they would otherwise not receive a COVID-19 vaccine.”

After layoffs, BridgeBio turns to dealmaking for up to 6 drugs

By Gabrielle Masson

After two recent layoff rounds, BridgeBio Pharma is looking to out-license six of its candidates to save capital. The biotech has been hit by the burden of the bear market after disclosing disappointing phase 3 results last year.

Illumina steps deeper into drug discovery with Deerfield, Janssen partnerships

By Conor Hale

The DNA sequencing giant will partner with the investment firm Deerfield Management to tackle the genetic underpinnings of disease, and it will also work with J&J's Janssen on cancer tests and research.

AstraZeneca, GSK's cancer rival Clovis quietly unveils crippling FDA delay as its troubles deepen

By Angus Liu

Declining sales of its lead cancer drug, a need to raise additional capital and a 30% stock price plunge depict the nightmare Clovis Oncology is living through right now. But that’s not all.

Tempus inks partnership with VA to scale up precision medicine for veterans with cancer

By Heather Landi

Tempus, a company that uses artificial intelligence to advance precision medicine, has notched a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide patients with cancer access to cutting-edge genetic testing to improve treatment.

'The Top Line' podcast: Biogen's overhaul reaches CEO level; the most influential people in biopharma; plus this week's headlines

By Teresa Carey

This week on "The Top Line," we discuss why Biogen’s overhaul reached the CEO level and dive into next steps at the company. We also discuss the most influential people in biopharma and the week's biggest headlines.

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