Amivantamab-VMJM

Takeda's $1.3 billion restructuring plan, semaglutide generic launches in India and Gilead's $2.2 billion Ouro acquisition made our news this week. Takeda is launching a restructuring, targeting nearly $1.3 billion in annual savings. Generic versions of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide reached India in chaotic fashion. Gilead Sciences is paying up to $2.2 billion to purchase a Chinese "NewCo." And more.1. Takeda targets $1.3B in cost savings in further restructuringTakeda is launching another round of restructuring, aiming to achieve 200 billion Japanese yen ($1.26 billion) in annual gross savings by its 2028 fiscal year. Resources will be reallocated to support upcoming launches, late-stage programs and strategic technology investments. To achieve increased efficiency, the company expects to incur 150 billion yen in restructuring expenses in fiscal 2026. 2. With Novo's semaglutide going off patent, Indian drugmakers set to launch their cheaper genericsGenerics to Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide have launched in India. More than 10 brands have launched online, and shortages have already happened despite inventory build-ups by companies, according to a March 26 note by Jefferies. For injectable versions, the monthly prices range between 1,290 rupees ($13.7) to 4,500 rupees ($47.8). “Companies are testing the waters with demand and supply, and they expect the market to settle down in the next few months,” Jefferies’ analysts said.3. Gilead's $2.2B Ouro buyout delivers autoimmune T-cell engager, new purpose for GalapagosGilead Sciences is paying $1.675 billion upfront for Ouro Medicines, a “NewCo” built on ex-China rights to a BCMAxCD3 T-cell engager from China’s Keymed Biosciences and funding from GSK and Monograph Capital. Known as gamgertamig, or OM336, the drug is being studied for autoimmune disorders. Gilead is planning for its partner Galapagos to essentially absorb Ouro.4. Novartis joins Lilly, AZ in China expansion with $480M commitment to boost manufacturing, R&DNovartis said it will invest 1.5 billion yuan ($220 million) to upgrade its manufacturing facility in Beijing and will spend another 1.8 billion yuan to initiate a second phase of its Shanghai R&D campus. “China is crucial to Novartis’ long-term development and innovation,” CEO Vas Narasimhan said at the 2026 China Development Forum.5. Dizal's Zegfrovy clinches landmark phase 3 win in NSCLC subtype, setting up challenge to J&J's RybrevantA global phase 3 trial of Dizal’s Zegfrovy has met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival in first-line EGFR exon 20-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, the Chinese biotech announced. The oral drug—as a monotherapy—beat chemo where Johnson & Johnson’s injectable Rybrevant achieved in combination with chemo. 6. Novo Nordisk prepares to go global as triple-G prospect passes midphase diabetes test in ChinaThe United Laboratories, licensor of Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triple agonist, reported a Chinese midphase win against semaglutide in Type 2 diabetes. After 24 weeks of once-weekly injections, levels of HbA1c fell up to 2.16% in the UBT251 cohorts, compared to declines of 1.77% for semaglutide. Novo plans to start a global phase 2 trial in diabetes this year.Other News of Note: 7. Biogen pays $20M upfront to tap into Alteogen's subQ delivery tech8. Massive class action seeking RICO penalties against Takeda, Lilly presses forward with SCOTUS order9. Innovent delivers first year of net profit amid growing sales, global partnerships (release)10. InnoCare achieves profitability for the first time thanks to 2 BD deals (release)11. Hengrui posts 13% annual revenue growth, but quarterly profit misses forecasts (Reuters)12. Sino Biopharm touts 26% sales growth from innovative drugs (release)13. Innovent sees path to China approval after eye disease drug matches Eylea in phase 314. WuXi Bio's record number of new projects in 2025 leaned heavily on US clients15. Akeso advances oncology strategy as revenue jumps 44% (release, PDF)16. Shionogi pays Apnimed $100M for joint venture to awaken sleep disorder dream17. BrightGene's oral dual agonist sees up to 8% weight loss at 8 weeks in slice of early data18. GSK partners with Shanghai Pharma to bring hepatitis B vaccine back to China (Yicai)

Dizal's global phase 3 Wu-Kong28 trial, which tested Zegfrovy (sunvozertinib) as a monotherapy, has met its primary endpoint in first-line non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. Watch out, Johnson & Johnson. Dizal has reported positive phase 3 results for its oral Zegfrovy that could put more pressure on the pharma giant’s injectable Rybrevant in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).The global phase 3 Wu-Kong28 trial, which tested Zegfrovy (sunvozertinib) as a monotherapy, has met its primary endpoint, Dizal announced Saturday. The EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus platinum-based chemotherapy in treatment-naïve patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.In addition to the “statistically significant and clinically meaningful” improvement in PFS, Dizal also reported “superior results” for Zegfrovy in all secondary endpoints, which are measuring tumor response rates and duration as well as a safety profile that’s consistent with previous studies.The success of the Wu-Kong28 study positions Zegfrovy as the first oral, chemo-free regimen to demonstrate superior clinical benefit over standard chemo in the first-line EGFR exon 20 NSCLC setting. The positive readout sets the stage for a continued market battle with Johnson & Johnson’s Rybrevant. While Rybrevant got its first-line FDA approval two years ago, it is an injectable bispecific antibody that needs to be used in combination with chemo. As a single-agent oral regimen, Dizal’s Zegfrovy could offer a potentially more convenient and less toxic alternative. However, before Dizal can claim a competitive edge, the Wu-Kong28 results need to be benchmarked against J&J’s Papillon trial, which showed Rybrevant plus chemo resulted in a 61% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death versus chemo alone. Detailed data from Wu-Kong28 will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting, and Dizal said it plans to engage with regulatory authorities about potential drug applications. “Finding a drug targeting EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations is especially challenging due to their enormous heterogeneity,” Dizal CEO Xiaolin Zhang, Ph.D., said in a March 21 statement. “Despite tremendous efforts, there is no success yet in finding an effective target drug that can spare patients from chemotherapies. WU-KONG28 study has the potential to change all that.” Before Zegfrovy, Takeda’s small-molecule TKI Exkivity (mobocertinib) failed a study in the first-line EGFR exon 20 setting, leading to a global market withdrawal in 2023. Depending how the FDA views the Wu-Kong28 results, Dizal could also turn Zegfrovy’s accelerated approval in previously treated patients into a full nod. Dizal also recently launched what currently appears to be a China-only phase 3 trial testing Zegfrovy as an adjuvant therapy in stage 1b to 3a NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations or PACC mutations.A spinout from AstraZeneca, Dizal reported 2025 revenue of 801 million Chinese yuan ($116 million), which represents a 123% jump over the prior year after the company’s two commercial products—Zegfrovy and c-Met/VEGFR2 inhibitor golvatinib—landed coverage on China’s national insurance scheme. With an expanding pipeline that also includes the pivotal-stage, potential first-in-class noncovalent LYN/BTK dual inhibitor birelentinib, the Chinese biotech is seeking a second listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.  Meanwhile, other than the rare exon 20 setting, J&J is spending much energy on a high-stakes battle with AZ’s EGFR king Tagrisso in the bigger exon 19/exon 21 market. After a delay, J&J managed to improve Rybrevant’s convenience and safety profile—and seemingly also efficacy—with an FDA approval for a subcutaneous version.