Global Scans · Pharmaceuticals · Weekly Summary

• [New] Drug Discovery and the Life Sciences Revolution If there is one application domain where quantum computing could deliver its most profound societal impact, it is drug discovery and molecular science. Gray Group International
• [New] IBM publicly stated that 2026 will mark the first time a quantum computer outperforms a classical computer, unlocking breakthroughs in drug development, materials science, and financial optimization. Medium
• [New] The US Food and Drug Administration 's draft AI guidance will likely be finalised in 2026, requiring sponsors to develop credibility assessment plans for high-risk AI applications and submit detailed documentation on model architectures, training data and governance. Drug Target Review
• [New] The biologics & biosimilar segment is expected to witness growth with the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2035. Nova One Advisor
• [New] Production of the Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine is expected to commence this year through a partnership with an Indonesian pharmaceutical firm. Myjoyonline
• [New] Novo will be pinning hopes on next-generation obesity drug CagriSema to fill revenue gaps. Pharmaceutical Technology
• [New] Novo Nordisk's investigational obesity drug CagriSema, a once-weekly injectable combining the amylin analog cagrilintide with GLP-1 therapy semaglutide, is expected to face an FDA decision in 2026 and could push weight-loss results beyond what GLP-1 monotherapy has delivered. Drug Discovery News Magazine
• [New] Some retirees enrolled in Medicare Part D plans will see their GLP-1 weight-loss drug prices capped at $50 per month. Yahoo News
• [New] The FDA announced that it will take enforcement action against non-FDA-approved GLP-1 active pharmaceutical ingredients. DeBrunner & Associates
• [New] If America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the drug, which could happen early 2027, it would be the first psychedelic drug to become a fully licensed medicine. The Economist
• [New] In a surprising reality check issued concurrently with Lilly's guidance, Novo Nordisk projected a 5% to 13% decline in sales for 2026, citing intense pricing competition and production bottlenecks for its flagship drug, Wegovy. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] FDA is shifting its default standard for drug approvals, announcing that one adequate and well-controlled clinical trial will generally be sufficient for approvals. pharmexec
• [New] More drug resistant superbugs are spreading, and projections suggest that by 2050 they could be responsible for more than 10 million deaths worldwide each year. ScienceDaily
• [New] Eli Lilly announced it's working with Nvidia to build an AI factory for drug discovery and co-innovation lab in San Francisco that will create new scientific and technical roles. BioPharma Dive
• [New] Eli Lilly plans to open a $3.5 billion weight-loss drug manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, creating 850 permanent jobs. Ermer and Suter PLLC
• [New] The US Food and Drug Administration will now review Moderna's new, messenger RNA-based flu vaccine after all, reversing course on a decision that rocked the biopharmaceutical industry last week. American Chemical Society
• [New] The drug industry will have to wait and see whether the FDA's approach to promising experimental therapies changes. WPLG
• [New] The Food and Drug Administration plans to drop its longtime standard of requiring two rigorous studies to win approval for new drugs, the latest change from Trump administration officials vowing to speed up the availability of certain medical products. WPLG

Last updated: 03 March 2026