Life science news 6 April 2026: A landmark obesity pill approval, 100% pharma tariffs and a record $6.3 billion life sciences fund headline a transformative week for the global pharmaceutical industry.
The FDA approved Eli Lilly’s once-daily obesity pill Foundayo (orforglipron) on 1 April, making it the second oral GLP-1 therapy approved for weight management in the US and the fastest approval of a new molecular entity since 2002. Foundayo is a small molecule that can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, distinguishing it from Novo Nordisk’s rival Wegovy pill. Patients can access the drug from as little as $149 per month for self-pay and $25 per month with commercial insurance. Lilly began shipping via LillyDirect on 6 April.
President Trump signed a proclamation on 2 April imposing tariffs of up to 100% on imported patented pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act 1962, citing national security concerns over US dependence on foreign drug manufacturing. Companies that have already signed pricing and onshoring agreements with the administration are exempt, as are generics and biosimilars. The tariffs take effect on 31 July 2026 for larger companies and 29 September 2026 for all others.
Blackstone closed its largest ever life sciences fund on 30 March, raising $6.3 billion for Blackstone Life Sciences VI, nearly 40% larger than its $4.6 billion predecessor. The oversubscribed fund focuses on late-stage Phase 3 clinical trial financing in partnership with pharma, medtech and biotech companies, and takes Blackstone Life Sciences’ total assets under management to $15 billion.
Biogen received FDA approval on 30 March for a high-dose regimen of SPINRAZA (nusinersen) for spinal muscular atrophy, comprising 50 mg loading doses followed by 28 mg maintenance doses every four months. The new regimen is backed by Phase 2/3 DEVOTE study data showing significantly better motor skill outcomes compared to sham control and was granted a broad label covering all patients living with SMA.
United Therapeutics reported on 30 March that its TETON-1 Phase 3 study of nebulised Tyvaso in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis met its primary endpoint, demonstrating superiority over placebo in absolute forced vital capacity change of 130.1 mL after 52 weeks of treatment. Analysts described the result as opening a significant new market opportunity for Tyvaso beyond its established pulmonary arterial hypertension indication, sending United’s stock up 16%. The company plans to submit a priority review supplemental new drug application to the FDA by end of summer 2026 to add IPF to Tyvaso’s approved indications.
In further life science news 5 April 2026, Kailera Therapeutics filed for a US IPO this week, becoming the latest obesity-focused biotech to seek a public listing. The company raised $1 billion in venture funding since its 2024 launch to develop GLP-1 competitor drugs now in late-stage testing.
Biopharma layoffs in Q1 2026 numbered 33 rounds across the sector, roughly half the level seen in Q1 2025 and well below totals from 2023 and 2024, according to data from Fierce Biotech. The easing pace reflects post-2024 restructuring completion at many companies, although uncertainty around pharma tariffs and AI-driven operational changes is expected to continue.
Six pharma and biotech companies announced acquisitions totalling up to $25.5 billion over an eight-day period at the end of March and start of April, in an unusually concentrated burst of M&A activity that included two deals exceeding $5 billion on the same day. The acceleration reflects mounting pressure from patent expiries and the need for pipeline reinforcement across multiple large companies.
Viridian Therapeutics reported positive Phase 3 data on 30 March for elegrobart in active thyroid eye disease from the REVEAL-1 trial, the largest pivotal study ever conducted in this indication. The drug, delivered as a subcutaneous autoinjector every four or eight weeks, met its primary endpoint and the company described it as potentially the first subcutaneous autoinjector treatment for the condition.
That concludes this week’s life science news 6 April 2026 roundup. Check back next week for the latest life science news from across the global pharmaceutical and biotech industry, and visit www.lifesciencedaily.news for daily updates.
