More than 100 biopharma executives and experts told Scrip their predictions for therapeutic area advances in the coming year. The recent commercial success of GLP-1s in diabetes and obesity and their potential in further disease areas fuelled excitement around the metabolic space. Expectations were also positive in neurology following the launch of Leqembi for Alzheimer’s disease in 2023, while the multiple opportunities to improve cancer treatment kept oncology top of the pile overall.

Restructuring Edition: FibroGen follows its clinical setback with a 32% reduction in force, cutting 104 jobs. Also, Amarin named a new CEO, but cut all US sales and 30% of non-sales US roles, and 9 Meters is headed for dissolution after Chapter 7 bankruptcy, while several others seek strategic alternatives.

The US biotech is hoping to either partner off its wholly owned pipeline or become a target for an acquisition or merger after AstraZeneca’s asthma exit left it with dwindling cash, and a need to cut costs.

Months after a disappointment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the US firm’s pamrevlumab has missed the mark in a pivotal idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis trial, boding poorly for other trials and forcing the firm to enter cost-cutting mode.