Global Scans · Pharmaceuticals · Weekly Summary

• [New] For instance, only 7% of low-sales biologics have currently biosimilar candidates in development, potentially leading to €15 billion in missed savings in Europe by 2032. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] FDA will release new draft guidance for biosimilar development, saying companies need not conduct large, expansive, comparative human trials in lieu of advanced testing to determine equivalence. Pharmacy Times
• [New] Major pharmaceutical companies are expected to spend $5.2 billion on green chemistry initiatives in 2025, a 300% increase from 2020. store.frost.com
• [New] The late-2025 / early-2026 layoff wave in the pharmaceutical and CRO industries marks a significant turning point. IntuitionLabs
• [New] Uncertainty surrounding drug regulation and pricing, as well as competitive threats from China's fast-growing biotech ecosystem have added more recent challenges for young companies, too. BioPharma Dive
• [New] The policy shift should make biosimilar development faster and cheaper, estimating that companies could now save $100 million in development costs per product. BioPharma Dive
• [New] Investors remain selective, and sustained confidence heading into 2026 will depend on the biopharmaceutical sector's ability to mitigate Trump's tariffs and drug pricing pressures, as well as the US Federal Reserve's continued commitment towards interest rate cuts. Pharmaceutical Technology
• [New] Economic Impact: McKinsey & Company estimates that generative AI could generate $60 to $110 billion in value annually for the pharmaceutical industry, while overall development costs are being reduced by up to 70% through better compound selection and virtual screening capabilities. Sully.Ai
• [New] President Trump has threatened to impose heavy tariffs, as high as 250% (as quoted on CNBC) on pharmaceutical imports over time. Nasdaq
• [New] In pharmaceutical R&D, companies like Insilico Medicine use generative models to design novel protein structures with therapeutic potential by reducing discovery time from years to weeks. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer in England are to be offered a drug that can halve the risk of death. The Guardian
• [New] 15-100% EU / foreign drug tariffs drive $50 B + reshoring investments by AstraZeneca, straining smaller firms amid supply chain disruptions. Ainvest
• [New] As early as 2026, Americans could pay lower drug prices. Wbur
• [New] In 2026, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, people with Medicare prescription drug coverage will benefit from a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on their annual prescription drug costs, further making prescription drugs more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities. KRSL.com
• [New] People with Medicare prescription drug coverage who fall into the catastrophic phase of the prescription drug benefit will not have to pay anything out of pocket for covered Medicare prescription drugs. KRSL.com
• [New] J&J outlined expectations for faster growth into 2026, driven by new drug launches and a strengthened medical devices portfolio. CNBC
• [New] Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, it has gained global attention for appetite suppression and weight loss, with some heralding it as a miracle drug, and predicting it will end the obesity epidemic. SpringerLink
• [New] The class of drugs, approved only four years ago by the Food & Drug Administration for weight loss, are expected to reach worldwide sales of $150 billion in 2035. Yahoo News

Last updated: 04 November 2025