Industry News

AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have achieved a significant regulatory milestone after the European Commission approved Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) solid tumours who have no satisfactory treatment options.

Eli Lilly and Company India has announced the launch of Tanstrive (selpercatinib) in India following marketing authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). The targeted therapy is indicated for patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours driven by rearranged during transfection (RET) gene alterations, offering a new precision medicine option for eligible cancer patients.

Merck KGaA has signed a definitive agreement to acquire U.S.-based life sciences company Bio-Techne in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately USD 11.3 billion (EUR 9.9 billion). The acquisition is expected to significantly strengthen Merck's position in rapidly growing life sciences segments, including multi-omics, spatial biology, precision diagnostics, and cell & gene therapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new indication for Pfizer's IBRANCE (palbociclib), allowing its use in combination with trastuzumab, with or without pertuzumab, and endocrine therapy as maintenance treatment for adults with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer following induction therapy. The approval marks a significant expansion for the widely used CDK4/6 inhibitor.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken another significant step toward strengthening the quality, safety, and regulation of herbal medicines by advancing the development of an International Herbal Pharmacopoeia (IHP). During the 5th WHO Expert Meeting held in Hong Kong SAR (China) from 16–18 June 2026, experts from all six WHO regions met to accelerate the creation of globally harmonized standards for herbal medicines.

The European Union has awarded 15 million euro under its Horizon Europe research and innovation program to launch REPhRAME, an ambitious international project aimed at developing a new treatment strategy for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Coordinated by Universitätsmedizin Frankfurt under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Maria J.G.T. Vehreschild, the five-year project will evaluate phage therapy as a potential alternative to antibiotics in patients suffering from recurrent bacterial infections.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has announced the acquisition of Innovcare Lifesciences Private Limited. The deal, valued at approximately ₹271.2 crore, will give Sun Pharma complete ownership of the Mumbai-based healthcare company.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Antimicrobial & Antiparasitic has asked M/s Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited to revise its proposed Active Post-Marketing Surveillance (PMS) protocol for Liposomal Amphotericin B Injection 50 mg/vial (Lyophilized) before it can be considered further.

The recommendation was made during the 6th SEC (Antimicrobial & Antiparasitic) meeting of 2026, held on June 11, 2026, at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) headquarters in New Delhi.