Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has acquired a UK-based biotech, Oxular, which specializes in retinal diseases to enhance its ophthalmology portfolio. The acquisition includes Oxular's proprietary ocular delivery technology and its Phase 2 therapy, OXU-001, which are currently under investigation for diabetic macular edema.

California-based, Lifecore Biomedical, has partnered with Nirsum Laboratories to provide CDMO services to support the clinical development of Nirsum's leading candidate for treating opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD), NRS-033. With the drug entering Phase 2 clinical trials, Lifecore will provide filled syringes for the studies.

Merck has entered into an exclusive global license agreement with China's Hansoh Pharma to develop and commercialize HS-10535. The investigational oral GLP-1 receptor agonist is currently in preclinical stages and adds to Merck’s existing obesity treatment portfolio.

2024 was a year marked by a significant increase in workforce layoffs, most notably for some of the major pharmaceutical companies. Bristol Myers Squibb announced plans to eliminate 2,200 jobs, primarily in the United States, whilst both Bayer and Pfizer each announced job cuts for 1,500 employees across various locations.

AI antibody therapeutics company, iBio, has entered a USD 29 mn agreement with AstralBio to develop a preclinical anti-myostatin antibody, IBIO-600, aimed at promoting weight loss while preserving muscle mass. Preclinical studies of IBIO-600 have already demonstrated the drug’s ability to inhibit myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle growth, thus suggesting its potential to enhance muscle preservation during weight loss.

Eli Lilly has requested to join a lawsuit opposing compounding pharmacies and the FDA over the agency's determination that Lilly's weight-loss and diabetes drugs are no longer in shortage.

Israeli biopharmaceutical company Scinai Immunotherapeutics has launched a U.S.-based CDMO subsidiary, Scinai Bioservices Inc., in Delaware, following the launch of its CDMO unit at the company's HQ in Jerusalem, Israel last year. CEO Amir Reichman announced the company’s first U.S. contract with Serpin Pharma for clinical manufacturing and expressed optimism about the growth potential of their U.S. presence.

South Korean Biopharma, Celltrion Group, is bolstering its CDMO services with a new research center in India which will operated by the newly established subsidiary Celltrion BioSolutions. With an initial capital of USD 6.9 mn, the manufacturing capacity will start at 100,000 liters to serve Celltrion's internal needs, with potential expansion to 200,000 liters. The company aims to recruit or internally train 500 Ph.D.-level scientists to support its sites in Korea, the U.S., Europe, and India.

ActiGraph, a leader in wearable digital health technology, has acquired Biofourmis Connect, a division of Biofourmis specializing in AI-driven digital trial platforms for life sciences.

In addition to rebranding itself from BioDuro-Sundia, BioDuro, the global contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) announced it has achieved Gold Medal ratings in the 2024 EcoVadis sustainability assessment for its Jiangsu and Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) sites in China.

Novo Holdings has finalized its USD 16.5 bn acquisition of leading CDMO, Catalent, after the deal passed months of debate over potential antitrust issues involving U.S. authorities and the European Commission.

The European CDMO industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by a shift toward localized manufacturing. In a bid to enhance supply chain security, ensure compliance with EU regulations, and improve logistical efficiency, the industry has seen a rise in "friend-shoring", whereby European companies are increasingly favoring European neighbors over those on other continents.

The CDMO industry saw significant growth in 2024, as biotech and pharmaceutical companies continued the trend toward outsourcing R&D activities. This surge was evident in the global CDMO market value, which ended the year with a valuation of USD 185 billion.

SCHOTT Pharma, the pharma drug containment solutions and delivery systems company, has unveiled a groundbreaking nest design for ready-to-use cartridges to improve operational efficiency and sustainability for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

French biotech, Samabriva, has unveiled a significant expansion with a new 1,400-square-meter biomanufacturing facility located in Liege, Belgium, to aid the transition from research and development to industrial-scale production. The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with proprietary bioreactors specifically designed for hairy root culture, enabling the production of natural molecules for pharmaceutical applications.

German CDMO Adragos Pharma has acquired Swiss manufacturer Baccinex, marking the addition of its sixth global manufacturing site and strengthening its position in sterile manufacturing. The facility, based in Courroux, Switzerland, specializes in fill-finish services for clinical trials and small-to-medium-scale commercial production. It will continue to operate under the leadership of founder and CEO Ursula Bausch.

Biomanufacturing CDMO, National Resilience, has announced plans to lay off approximately 105 employees at its Alachua, Florida facility as part of a strategic pivot away from government business toward commercial development and manufacturing. The restructuring coincides with a leadership change, as CEO Rahul Singhvi steps down and is replaced by William Marth. However, the company will continue to expand elsewhere, including a USD 225 mn investment in Cincinnati and creating 440 new jobs at its West Chester, Ohio facility.

Massachusetts biotech Agenus is undergoing its second reorganization in 16 months, pivoting to include CDMO services at its 25,000-square-foot Berkeley clinical facility and 83,000-square-foot Emeryville commercial plant for third-party biologics manufacturing.

The European Commission has granted unconditional approval for Novo Holdings A/S to acquire Catalent, Inc., with the acquisition expected to close by the end of 2024. Catalent's CEO Alessandro Maselli has welcomed the approval, while Novo Holdings' Senior Partner Jonathan Levy affirmed their commitment to supporting Catalent's future growth. The transaction remains subject to final regulatory clearances and closing conditions.

South Korean pharma, Boryung Corp., has announced a partnership with Taiwanese CDMO Lotus Pharmaceutical, for services focused on cytotoxic drugs and will take on the role of manufacturing an anticancer injection for Lotus.