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The US has traditionally been the largest financial contributor to the WHO. Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images

The US is poised to leave the World Health Organization (WHO) as the one-year countdown of legal notice comes to an end, despite warnings from the agency’s chief on adverse public health consequences. 

President Donald Trump set the wheels in motion for the country’s departure back in January 2025, signing an executive order (EO) outlining his formal intention for the US to withdraw from the WHO on his first day in office. As per US law, a year’s notice is required before leaving, along with paying outstanding fees. 

According to news agency NPR, the US has failed to pay its WHO membership dues, which were a total of $260.6m for 2024 and 2025, contradicting the country’s original 1948 agreement with the health agency. 

A spokesperson for the US Department of State told Pharmaceutical Technology that the EO “explicitly pauses the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO.” 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has once again bested the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in terms of new drug approvals in 2025, the latter agency’s Human Medicines in 2025 report reveals. 

According to the EMA’s 2025 overview, which was released on 15 January, the regulator recommended 38 novel drugs for approval. This is eight fewer than the FDA, which approved 46 novel drugs in 2025. 

This is despite a tumultuous year for the FDA, which has been fraught with accusations of its politicisation, leadership changes, multiple staff exoduses, mass layoffs and drug review delays. 

While the FDA may have come out on top in terms of overall new drug approvals, the agency’s rate took a small downturn compared to 2024; a year in which it greenlit 50 novel drugs. This was again higher than the number of novel drugs approved by the EMA in the same year. 

Both the amount of equity financing and venture capital attracted by UK biotechs dropped in 2025, compounding concerns for the level of the country’s life science industry attractiveness on the international stage. 

As per a report from the BioIndustry Association (BIA), a UK-based trade association, equity financing and venture capital dropped 49% and 13%, respectively, in 2025 compared to 2024. While the amount of biotech funding is down globally, concerns about the UK’s capital flow are heightened due to the high-level of scientific expertise in universities and early-stage companies. 

A separate report by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) published in September 2025 said that the UK is at risk of losing its world-leading life sciences status due to investment being captured elsewhere on the international stage.

Merck & Co (MSD) is no longer in talks to acquire oncology biotech Revolution Medicines after negotiations hit a stumbling block over valuations, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). 

Citing people familiar with the matter, the WSJ said that the two companies could not agree on a price. MSD had been looking to complete a deal in the $28bn-$32bn range, according to a Financial Times (FT) report from 12 January. 

Despite MSD and Revolution not aligning so far, talks could restart. Negotiations could also continue with another party, should a suitor show acquisition interest. 

A Revolution spokesperson told Pharmaceutical Technology: “As a company policy, we do not comment on rumors or speculation”. MSD did not immediately respond. Talks over a potential deal for Revolution dominated the build-up to the 2026 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. 

On 7 January, the WSJ reported that AbbVie was in advanced talks to acquire Revolution in a deal worth more than $20bn.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the next 15 high-cost medicines up for price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The third cycle brings prescription drugs with high price tags, which have no biosimilar or generic competition, used by around 1.8 million patients with Medicare Part D or Part B between November 2024 and October 2025.

Drugs in price negotiations this year include Gilead’s blockbuster HIV pill Bitkarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide), Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug Trulicity (dulaglutide), and Roche’s asthma injection Xolair (omalizumab).

The list also includes cancer therapies from Novartis, Johnson & Johnson (J&J), and Eli Lilly. In addition, several anti-inflammatory medicines are up for price negotiation, such as Takeda’s inflammatory bowel disease drug Entyvio (vedolizumab) and Pfizer’s arthritis treatment Xeljanz (tofacitinib).