Novo Nordisk is under scrutiny as Danish regulators have requested the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to review reports of a rare eye disease in patients taking Ozempic (semaglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This safety concern emerges as Novo Holdings, the parent company of Novo Nordisk, finalizes its $16.5 billion acquisition of CDMO Catalent after receiving all necessary regulatory clearances.
The acquisition, which involves Novo Holdings selling three sites to Novo Nordisk, represents a substantial investment in manufacturing. This move reflects a broader trend in the biopharmaceutical industry, where companies are increasingly focusing on strengthening their supply chains. The year has been marked by strategic manufacturing investments, shifting M&A activity, and a challenging environment for IPOs, with many newly public biotechs experiencing stock price declines.
On the clinical research front, 2024 has seen both successes and setbacks. A notable failure was AbbVie’s emraclidine, a schizophrenia hopeful acquired through the company's nearly $9 billion purchase of Cerevel. This setback occurred following the approval of Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS) Cobenfy (deutetrabenazine), a product of the Karuna acquisition, which was the first new schizophrenia medication in over three decades.
