Life science news 8 June 2026: ASCO delivers landmark oncology data, GSK achieves hepatitis B functional cure breakthrough, and Servier secures a $2.65 billion rare disease deal in a milestone week for the industry.
Revolution Medicines presented full Phase 3 data for daraxonrasib at ASCO 2026, with simultaneous publication in the New England Journal of Medicine, building on top-line results first reported in May. Data from the RASolute 302 trial showed daraxonrasib nearly doubled overall survival compared with standard intravenous chemotherapy, extending median overall survival from 6.7 months to 13.2 months in the overall study population (hazard ratio 0.40; p<0.0001), representing a 60% reduction in the risk of death. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma carries a five-year survival rate of approximately 3% in metastatic disease; the PanCAN Chief Scientific and Medical Officer described the results as “jaw-dropping” and “the most significant advance we have ever seen in pancreatic cancer.” Revolution Medicines plans to submit a new drug application to the FDA and intends to benefit from the FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher pilot programme, which is designed to accelerate review of therapies aligned with US national health priorities.
Akeso and Summit Therapeutics reported landmark data for their bispecific antibody ivonescimab from the Phase 3 HARMONi-6 trial in previously untreated advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer, with results simultaneously published in The Lancet. Presented in a Plenary Session at ASCO 2026, this marks the first time a China-originated investigational drug has featured in the ASCO Plenary Session in the conference’s 61-year history. The trial showed ivonescimab plus chemotherapy reduced the risk of death by 34% compared with tislelizumab plus chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.66), with median overall survival of 27.89 months versus 23.69 months for the comparator. The result positions ivonescimab as the first regimen to demonstrate clinical superiority over an active PD-1 inhibitor control in the first-line setting for this cancer type.
GSK published pivotal Phase 3 data for bepirovirsen, its investigational antisense oligonucleotide for chronic hepatitis B, at the European Association for the Study of the Liver congress in Barcelona on 28 May 2026, with simultaneous publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. Pooled results from the B-Well 1 and B-Well 2 trials across more than 1,800 patients in 29 countries showed a 19% functional cure rate across the overall study population and 26% in patients with lower baseline surface antigen levels, compared with 0% in the placebo arm. Current standard of care, which typically involves lifelong antiviral therapy, achieves functional cure in fewer than 1% of patients. Chronic hepatitis B affects more than 240 million people worldwide and accounts for approximately 56% of global liver cancer cases. The FDA has assigned 26 October 2026 as the PDUFA goal date for bepirovirsen, and regulatory reviews are also under way in China, where GSK has entered a commercial collaboration with SBP Group.
Servier agreed to acquire the muscular dystrophy business of Edgewise Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $2.65 billion, comprising $1.55 billion in upfront payments and up to $1.1 billion in regulatory and commercial milestones. The acquisition centres on sevasemten, a first-in-class oral fast skeletal myosin inhibitor currently under pivotal investigation in Becker muscular dystrophy and in Phase 2 development for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Both forms of the disease are rare, debilitating, and currently offer patients limited therapeutic options. Servier said the deal advances its Servier 2030 strategic ambition in rare neurology. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory clearance.
In further life science news 8 June 2026, Medtronic posted its strongest annual revenue growth in a decade, the UK saw a new NICE recommendation for a liver disease treatment, and US legislators introduced legislation targeting Chinese biotech partnerships.
Medtronic reported its highest annual revenue growth in ten years as the global medical device maker posted fiscal year 2026 revenue of $36.4 billion, representing 5.8% organic growth. The company guided to FY27 organic revenue growth of 6.75% to 7.25% and raised its quarterly dividend to $0.72 per share, marking its 49th consecutive year of dividend increases. Medtronic also completed several acquisitions during the year, including CathWorks in coronary diagnostics, and announced plans to acquire SPR Therapeutics in neuromodulation. Chief Financial Officer Thierry Pieton said the company was entering fiscal 2027 with strong momentum and a robust pipeline, and guided to non-GAAP diluted EPS of $5.90 to $6.00 for the year.
Biotech and pharma M&A is tracking towards its best year since the pre-Covid era, with dealmaking momentum continuing to build despite rising interest rates. According to HSBC Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare Equity Research Rajesh Kumar, pharma companies have been buying assets aggressively in 2026, with average deal value spiking to $527.3 million per transaction from $365 million in 2025. Total sector M&A surged to $209 billion in 2025, and that momentum has accelerated into 2026. Analysts project a record-breaking year, and analysts say pent-up capital and depleted near-term pipelines are driving continued acquisition activity across oncology, rare disease, and metabolic therapies.
NICE recommended Gilead’s Livdelzi (seladelpar) for use on the NHS in England for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis, a rare autoimmune liver disease. Around 3,700 people in England are expected to benefit from the recommendation. Seladelpar, a selective PPAR-delta agonist taken orally once a day, can be used in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid for patients with an inadequate response to standard therapy, or as monotherapy for those unable to tolerate it. NICE noted that the treatment addresses both disease progression and one of the most burdensome symptoms of the condition, persistent and severe itching. The drug received MHRA approval in January 2025 and FDA accelerated approval in August 2024.
The MHRA and NICE confirmed this week that first guidance under their new aligned pathway is expected to be issued in June, marking a significant milestone for UK medicines access. Launched on 1 April 2026 as part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England and Life Sciences Sector Plan, the aligned pathway enables NICE to deliver its technology appraisal guidance simultaneously with the MHRA’s marketing authorisation decision, potentially bringing new medicines to NHS patients three to six months sooner than under the previous process. Twenty-seven pharmaceutical companies have registered as early adopters, and the first treatments are now progressing through the programme. MHRA Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon said the initiative was designed to make the UK an even more attractive launch market for the global life sciences industry and to boost R&D investment and economic growth.
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced the Biotech Investment National Security Act of 2026, a bill that would expand federal scrutiny of US investments and dealmaking with Chinese biotech firms, including licensing agreements, joint ventures, and equity stakes. The proposal reflects growing tension between policymakers seeking tighter restrictions on China ties and those in the biotech industry who argue that such limitations could hurt US competitiveness, patient access, and drug development timelines. Chinese biotech dealmaking with global pharma has accelerated significantly in recent years; AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb have each committed more than $16 billion to collaborations with Chinese drugmakers since the start of 2025, according to BioPharma Dive data. The bill follows broader policy scrutiny around data security and outbound biotech investment that has been building across both major US political parties.
That’s your life science news digest for 8 June 2026, back next Monday with the latest from pharma, biotech and healthcare at www.lifesciencedaily.news.
Missed last week’s roundup? Read the Weekly News Roundup for 1 June 2026 here.
This weekly digest is produced by the Life Science Daily News editorial team. All stories are selected and written independently.
