Global Scans · Pharmaceuticals · Weekly Summary

• [New] IQVIA will integrate its AI-enabled clinical trial capabilities in a biosimilar development and commercialization collaboration with Kexing Biopharm. Contract Pharma
• [New] By 2026, more pharmaceutical manufacturing plants will deploy connected digital platforms spanning discovery, development, scale-up, manufacturing, and supply chain. International Multispeciality Journal of Health
• [New] Well over a million people die each year from drug-resistant bacteria, and by 2050, the World Health Organization estimates that number could be 10 times higher. New York Post
• [New] Looming tariffs, reportedly up to 200%, on U.S. pharmaceutical imports could drive up costs and affect international trade dynamics. BUSINESS 2.0 NEWS
• [New] Novo Nordisk is raising its forecast for 2026 as the weight-loss drug Wegovy is selling better than expected, helped by a pill version launched in January. Sweden Herald
• [New] The pharmaceutical group said it now expects adjusted sales and operating profit for 2026 to decline between 4% and 12% at constant exchange rates, representing a narrower contraction than previously anticipated and reflecting stronger expectations for its GLP-1 treatment portfolio. Yahoo Finance
• [New] President Donald Trump's deals with pharmaceutical companies to drop some of their U.S. prescription drug prices to what they charge in other countries could save $529 billion over the next decade. MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
• [New] The first psychedelic drug might be approved in 2026. Houston Public Media
• [New] FDA discussion spikes unusually, likely tied to drug shortages from Iranian supply disruptions that hit pharmaceutical imports. TheEye
• [New] The Ozempic oral pill, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), offers an option for adults with type 2 diabetes to manage blood sugar and cardiovascular risk alongside diet and exercise. Pharmaceutical Technology
• [New] Mr Trump's most favoured nation drug policy, which aims to lower US prescription drug costs by pegging them to the lowest prices in other developed nations, could still lead to pricing pressures in the near term. ST
• [New] A single validated liver-chip workflow could save the pharmaceutical industry $3 billion by replacing a single toxicity test. Yahoo News UK
• [New] In 2026, overall drug spending will exceed $1 trillion for the first time - a milestone driven primarily by more patients using more medications, not because of rising prices. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Drug-resistant infections could cause 40 million deaths by 2050. Wired
• [New] The weight-management drug Wegovy has become widely used and now comes in a convenient pill form - but recently, a study flagged that the popular medication may carry a risk of eye stroke, also called ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), which can cause rapid vision loss. Live Science
• [New] Momentum strengthened further after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration signaled an accelerated regulatory path, announcing that it will offer ultra-fast review mechanisms for select psychedelic therapies targeting conditions such as depression and PTSD. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Between 2023 and 2028, drugs with combined annual revenues exceeding $200 billion are expected to face generic or biosimilar competition. Extent Research

Last updated: 19 May 2026